Speaking at the British Frozen Food Federation’s (BFFF) annual gathering, chief executive John Hyman said: “In the 12 months since we last met the industry has achieved a significant milestone: retail sales worth over £6 billion.
“When combined with £2.3 billion worth of sales in foodservice, we have a UK frozen food market worth £8.3 billion, and it’s growing in volume as well as value.
“We are getting closer to reaching the £10bn target and I expect great things from frozen as many of the factors driving retail and foodservice markets are favourable to frozen food.”
The conference at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole hotel was attended by over 300 delegates and ran alongside the BFFF’s Health & Safety Seminar and newly launched Technical Seminar.
Speakers included Kate Forbes, head of category development at Birds Eye, Iceland’s trading director, Bev Mitchell, and commercial director of Bidfood, Andy Roberts, who encouraged frozen food producers to “innovate” to generate more sales in foodservice.
Nick Downing of the IGD, Graeme Littlejohn from the Scotch Whisky Association, Chris Hayward of Kantar Worldpanel and Simon Stenning of MCA also spoke.
Hyman added: “Sales of frozen in retail are buoyant and I expect to see further growth as our members continue to innovate and develop premium products and more choice across every category enabling more consumers to trade up to frozen.
“Frozen scores highly when it comes to current consumer trends such as health, convenience and food waste. Freezing is a natural process that captures nutrients and vitamins and when you combine this with the ability of most foods to be cooked from frozen, in just the right portion size, it’s a win-win for consumers.
“The buoyant foodservice market is also playing in favour of frozen. Great taste, ease of preparation, portion control and reduced food waste all have a key role in helping busy kitchens make money, facts that are now widely recognised by chefs.
“As an industry, our supply chain is more efficient and controlled than ever before, with investment only growing. The frozen food industry is united in its commitment to innovation, investment and insight and will continue to drive forward in 2018 and beyond."