For the 52 weeks to March 29th 2015 the market grew by 0.5% year-on-year to £5.8bn. The frozen pizza category has seen a 6.3% volume and 5.5% value growth year-on-year.
Frozen ready meals have also grown by 2.1% volume and 0.8% value yoy at a time when much of the retail market has remained flat.
Brian Young, chief executive of British Frozen Food Federation commented on the figures: “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.”
Ice cream, frozen confectionary and frozen potato products have all also seen positive volume growth yoy.
Mr Young concluded: “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.”
BFFF is the leading trade association for the frozen food sector and its members cover the whole of the cold chain of supply. The association campaigns with its members to educate, promote and inform consumers, retailers and the foodservice sector about the value of frozen food.