Frozen Food Remains A Steady Player For Grocers
Frozen food remains a steady player in the assortment of grocers and leading food retailers, according to the latest report on the category by the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and FMI — The Food Industry Association.
In the third edition of Power of Frozen in Retail, the report noted frozen food sales reached $74.2 billion over the past year while the core consumer audience remains steady. Surveying more than 1,700 consumers, respondents indicated they find value in frozen foods as total meal solutions that save them time, are easy to prepare, and meet their taste expectations.
Frozen food’s core consumers, defined as those who consume these foods daily or every few days, held at 38% of all shoppers. In addition to appreciating the convenience and time-savings made possible by frozen foods, the core consumer also reports enjoying the quality and nutrition found in the frozen food aisle.
“The Power of Frozen in Retail shows that the category retains reliable performance and draws consistent core shoppers since before 2020, creating predictability for retailers and opportunities for future success,” said Alison Bodor, AFFI president and CEO. “Frozen foods offer the complete package of solutions for today’s shoppers.”
The new research also identified that consumers turn to the frozen food aisle as they look for better-for-you products. The majority (66%) of core consumers are more likely to believe that the frozen food department offers a wide variety of better-for-you options. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of shoppers occasionally or frequently look for better-for-you attributes when purchasing frozen foods.
Additionally, consumers said they plan to continue their purchases of frozen foods into the future, with 94% saying they will buy the same or more frozen products in the coming months.
“Frozen foods remain relevant to shoppers through product innovation, variety and important attributes like sustainability and health and well-being, said Rick Stein, vice president of industry relations at FMI. “Frozen foods continue to be essential to shoppers and there is an opportunity for food retailers to apply the insights from core frozen food shoppers to other shoppers and see real gains.”
