Comprehensive sales, social media, and search
data point to five key trends driving innovation and change across
the U.S. frozen food department.
CHICAGO, Jan. 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Globally inspired flavors,
evolving use of kitchen appliances, and a surge in breakfast foods
are just some of the emerging trends identified in Future
of Frozen Food 2024, the inaugural, comprehensive, data-driven
report from Conagra Brands that examined how the $78 billion1 United States (U.S.) frozen food market may
evolve in 2024.
Future of Frozen Food 2024 leveraged Conagra Brands'
demand science expertise, combined with robust sales data from
NielsenIQ, in-home consumption behaviors from Circana's National
Eating Trends®, and in-depth social media trend
predictors from Black Swan Data to identify five trends in the U.S.
frozen food department.
"The frozen food industry, which began with our own Clarence Birdseye over a century ago, will
continue to evolve with product innovation, flavor experimentation
and changes to how and when people want to enjoy frozen food," said
Bob Nolan, senior vice president of
demand science at Conagra Brands. "Unlike conventional consumer
surveys or online polls, we leveraged our Demand Science team to
dive deep into data and other insights, unearthing tastes and
experiences for the year ahead."
2024 Emerging Trends:
A collection of sales data and insights on food consumption and
preparation helped identify five trends driving frozen food
innovation and growth in 2024, including:
- A Taste of Global Cuisine: Historically, more
conventional 'meat-and-potatoes' and fewer bold flavors shaped
frozen food aisles. Today, consumers are being exposed to a broader
set of global flavors and cuisines. Asian-inspired foods, such as
Indian and Korean BBQ, are rapidly influencing food
preferences1, as well as global cuisine related social
media trends in 2024.
- Frozen Foods Rising and Shining at Breakfast: The "most
important meal of the day" is increasingly becoming a hot time of
the day for frozen food consumption. Frozen croissant sandwiches,
breakfast burritos and biscuit sandwiches are among the most
popular items driving growth. Frozen breakfast sandwiches alone now
account for $2.3 billion1
in sales. Time savings, variety, and both indulgent and healthy
morning-time options are driving growth.
- Big Appetites for Bites and Mini Portions: Small in size
but big on flavor, this frozen space has surged thanks to growing
options which mirror increased snacking culture. Food producers are
promoting bites and minis for portion control, healthier options,
and quick satisfaction. In the past year alone recipes for bites
and minis were included in more than three million internet
searches2.
- Fun and Convenient Kids Meals: Frozen foods that kids
enjoy and are easy for parents to prepare have seen significant
growth. Kid-friendly frozen food now generates more than
$248 million in annual sales, up 122%
over the past four years1. Beyond convenience, taste and
growing variety, families leverage frozen foods to help control
food budgets and reduce food waste.
- The Air Fryer's Influence on Food Prep: The report notes
air fryer ownership has jumped 27 points since 2020.3 As
a result, the number of frozen foods with air-frying instructions
has jumped 90% in the past four years.1 Air-fryer
preparation often saves time, can be a healthier food prep option
and emits less heat for year-round cooking.
"Americans increasingly want new, exciting and unique frozen
food flavors," said Nolan, "These trends point to the vast
possibilities for continued innovations."
US Frozen Food Snapshot
The U.S. is by far the
world's largest frozen food marketplace.4 Eight in 10
Americans choose frozen food at least once weekly, and most consume
them about four times each week.5 More than half of
Americans have frozen food on hand, especially vegetables, and
nearly half now own at least one secondary freezer.3
The new report found that prepared foods (including meals,
handhelds, and appetizers), desserts, and seafood are the three
largest categories by dollar share. The report also examined some
generational differences in frozen food preferences and habits,
including those among Gen Z, Millennials, Boomers, Gen X, and
"empty nesters" and senior couples.
About the Future of Frozen Food 2024
The Future of Frozen Food 2024 is a first-of-its-kind report from
Conagra, going beyond traditional consumer surveys and online polls
and instead leveraging Conagra's cutting-edge demand science and
insights expertise. The report includes robust sales data from
NielsenIQ, Black Swan Data's analysis of 120 million+ social media
conversations, as well as multiple other sources to identify key
trends. Together, they shaped a comprehensive, data-driven look at
the future of the nearly $78 billion
U.S. frozen food department.1 Report research and data
spans the past four years, including the most recent NielsenIQ data
through November 2023. Future of
Frozen Food 2024 can be reviewed in its entirety on the Conagra
Brands website.
1 Conagra calculation based on data reported by NIQ
through NielsenIQ Discover for the Frozen
department for 52 weeks ending 12/02/23 for the Total US xAOC + Conv
according to the NIQ standard product hierarchy. Copyright © 2024,
Nielsen Consumer LLC.
2 Similarweb U.S. search engine data (desktop + mobile
search volume) through November 2023.
3 Circana, LLC, Kitchen Audit, 2020 and 2023.
4 Euromonitor International data as of 12/1/2023. Market
sizing includes all frozen categories.
5 Circana, LLC, National Eating Trends: Sourced
In-Home/Retail. Data for year ending October 2023
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG),
with headquarters in Chicago, is one of North
America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an
entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of
making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The
company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food
preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds
Eye®, Duncan
Hines®, Healthy Choice®, Marie
Callender's®, Reddi-wip®, and Slim
Jim®, as well as emerging brands, including
Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®,
Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and
Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more
information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
For all media inquiries, please contact
media@congara.com
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SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.