Continued growth for frozen food while retail stalls

The UK frozen food market has grown in value by 2.5%, according to the latest retail statistics from Kantar Worldpanel. The report values the frozen food market at just under £5.8 billion.

The Kantar Worldpanel statistics, which look at the 52 weeks ending 22 June 2014, show that the value of frozen food has continued to grow, despite it being a tough year for food retailers. Three of the four major retailers have shown like for like sales declines in the same time period.

The main area of growth for frozen food came in the ice cream market, growing in volume at 7.1% year on year. The ice cream market is now valued at £850 million, increasing in value at a rate of 9.9%.

Brian Young, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, comments, “The retail frozen food market has now enjoyed year-on-year value growth for the last 14 quarters. This steady growth is particularly impressive when you compare it with the food retail market in general.

“Whilst undoubtedly we are seeing an economic tipping point in the food industry now, as there are real signs of life in foodservice, growth in retail is beginning to stall. It seems that frozen food is bucking this trend. In the retail world it’s the freezer specialists, the discounters and the premium retailers that are still enjoying growth.”

The Kantar Worldpanel results also highlighted the success of frozen potato products and frozen savoury foods, with a year on year growth in value of 5.6% and 4.3% respectively.

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