The frozen food retail sector is now worth over £6 billion for the first time according to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel.
An increase in premium frozen food items has reportedly led to a 5.4 per cent increase in frozen food sales, compared to a 0.6 per cent decline a year prior.
Frozen confectionery and frozen fish saw the biggest increases in sales, rising 7.7 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively.
Sales have grown consistently over the last three quarters, as manufacturers have focused on the “premiumisation” of frozen meals.
“A lot of work has been done in communicating the benefits of frozen food to consumers, with focused and innovative marketing campaigns from brands and retailers contributing significantly to the change in consumer perceptions that we’ve seen in recent years,” chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation John Hyman said.
“Consumers are much more tuned-in to the benefits of frozen food including waste reduction, convenience and health and are discovering the breadth of choice in high-quality, on-trend products that are available to them with little preparation at home.
“As the number of Brits eating out of home declines, consumers are heading for the premium products on offer in the frozen aisles and this has contributed to this value milestone.”
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