The frozen retail market has demonstrated year-on-year growth of 0.5%, compounded by a volatility in the market, according to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel.
The nominal growth over the last 12 months has seen the value of the sector increase to nearly £5.8bn, the consumer insights provider added. Highlights of the past year included 6.3% volume growth and 5.5% value growth year-on-year within the frozen pizza category, due in part to the growing recognition of products’ quality and convenience.
Frozen ready meals have also grown by 2.1% in terms of volume and 0.8% in terms of value year-on-year, at a time when much of the retail market has remained flat. There has been further growth for the ice cream, frozen confectionery and frozen potato product categories.
British Frozen Food Federation chief executive Brian Young said: “We’re currently living in a period of real uncertainty for the retail industry with the big four continuing to suffer at the hands of changing shopping habits and the increasing popularity of discounters. In light of this, to see such positive results in frozen food is encouraging yet also unsurprising.
“We’re increasingly seeing consumers start to recognise the benefits as well as the quality of frozen food which is reflected in positive growth in several sectors of the industry. It is essential that the industry continues to push quality NPD to ensure these trends continue.”
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