The frozen processed food market comprises products such as ready-to-eat meals, pizza and pasta, meat products, vegetables and fruits processed foods among others. These foods provide advantages such as long shelf life without the need for refrigeration, convenience of preparation within minutes and balanced nutritional content. The need for convenient and ready-to-eat meals has been increasing owing to busy lifestyles and dual income households. The Global frozen processed food market is estimated to be valued at US$ 167115.0 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the frozen processed food are Nestle S.A., ConAgra Foods, Inc., Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd, BRF S.A., General Mills, Inc., Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., and Unilever Plc. Key players such as Nestle S.A. and General Mills, Inc. have been focusing on launch of innovative product offerings to meet the increasing demand for convenient food options.

The demand for frozen processed foods has been increasing significantly owing to changing lifestyles, rise in disposable income and growing working woman population globally. Developed regions including North America and Europe account for larger share currently however developing regions in Asia Pacific and Latin America are expected to witness higher growth.

Key players have also been expanding their presence globally through mergers and acquisitions to tap the opportunities in emerging markets. For instance, Nestle acquired General Mills' European frozen food business in 2017 to enhance their market position.

Market Key Trends

One of the key trends in the frozen processed food market is the shift towards plant-based offerings. With increasing health consciousness, consumers are preferring vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Key players have been launching innovative products focused on plant-based proteins to cater to this growing consumer segment. Furthermore, customized and specialized product lines targeted for specific dietary requirements such as paleo, keto, are also gaining traction in the market.

Porter's Analysis
Threat of new entrants: High capital requirements for setting up food processing plants pose barrier for new entrants. Bargaining power of buyers: Large retail chains have significant bargaining power over food processors and manufacturers. Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers of raw materials like vegetables and fruits have moderate bargaining power due to availability of substitutes. Threat of new substitutes: Products like canned food and ready-to-eat meals pose threat of substitution. Competitive rivalry: Intense competition exists among existing players leading to pricing pressures.

Geographical regions of concentration
North America accounts for the largest share in the global frozen processed food market value owing to high per capita consumption and presence of key players. The US is the major revenue generator for frozen processed foods in the region.

Fastest growing region
Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period due to rising health awareness, increasing disposable incomes and changing consumer preferences towards healthy and convenient food options in developing countries like India and China. Rapid urbanization is also driving the demand for frozen processed foods.