The frozen fruits and vegetables market in the world contributes a meagre percentage to the total consumption of fruits and vegetables. In the developed markets such as Europe and the US, frozen vegetables contribute 10% to the total vegetable consumption. In the under-developed and developing markets, its share is much lower. However, in the recent years, this category has gained importance due to some basic advantages it offers in comparison to fresh fruits and vegetables. With a strong back-up from technological innovations, the advantages of frozen fruits and vegetables have made it much more reachable and affordable to consumers around the globe.
The ability to preserve food has enabled food companies to make their products available to consumers in any part of the world. Added to this is the advantage of convenience, which has become very relevant in today’s world as people are leading busier lives. As a result, the frozen food category is expanding at a steady pace. The advent of new technologies has made frozen food affordable for the masses. The share of frozen fruits and vegetables category is expected to grow in future at the expense of fresh fruits and vegetables. These market realities have made this category attractive to food manufacturers and exporters. Therefore, a lot of countries and companies are focusing their efforts to capture some share in the world market for frozen fruits and vegetables.
Frozen fruits and vegetables present a huge opportunity in Asia and Russia, as these markets are practically untouched by these product categories. Fresh fruits and vegetables still dominate the scene in these regions. In Europe, a mixed trend is being observed. In countries such as Germany and the UK, growth of frozen food is gradually stagnating. However in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, a healthy growth rate of frozen food is being noticed.
 As a part of the trend, the product composition in the frozen fruits and vegetables category has also undergone transformation. It has evolved from food in a raw form to prepared and processed food. There is an increasing demand for more consumer packs as compared to bulk packs. Increased demand for consumer packs is directly related to the packaging industry as it requires convenient and attractive packaging as compared to the bulk packs.
Frozen vegetables pitched against traditional food products
In its current stage, frozen fruits and vegetables are fighting a mighty competitor in the form of conventional food — fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen vegetables market, which constitutes 10% of the total vegetables market, is still considered as a niche segment.
Although the consumption of frozen vegetables is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.5% in the present decade, there are certain dampening factors associated with it. These are the controversy as regards genetically modified (GM) foods and a general perception of frozen food not being equally nutritious. This can only be dealt with by continuous innovation and spreading awareness.
Therefore, the key driver in the UK frozen vegetables market includes convenience and value-addition. An increasing number of consumers are opting for products that considerably reduce the time involved in conventional preparation of unprocessed vegetables. Excerpts from a report by Technopak Advisors Pvt Ltd |
