The increase in the cost of the basic basket worldwide has led to an increase in the consumption of frozen food due to its price-quality ratio, in addition to the fact that this type of food is found in a wide variety of presentations.
The United Kingdom is experiencing the highest inflation since the 1970s, which has forced consumers to look for other, cheaper options for their consumption without sacrificing quality, which is why frozen meals are a good option.
This was announced by Rupert Ashby, CEO of the British Frozen Food Federation, who commented that consumers are increasingly liking this food sector for the multiple benefits they offer, such as variety, shelf life and quality.
Redefined value
Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Trends for 2023 highlights how cost and value for money have become more important to more than half of consumers worldwide, who are more circumspect today and spend more time saving as much as possible Thinking through the details of the purchase.
Which?, a 2022 survey from the UK, detailed that one in five households bought more frozen meals, which translated to “buying frozen meals can save you money on most items in our analysis”.
However, not all frozen foods have fared so well, mixed vegetables have not escaped inflation and increased by 31.9% in just one year, being one of the everyday items that saw the biggest increase in value. is of.
One of the reasons that makes frozen food cheaper is that it has a very low level of wastage, as it is always kept in the freezer maintaining its quality, while the rest of the food is lost throughout the supply chain.
Consumers don’t waste expensive food
Due to inflation around the world, consumers are more conscious of their waste, as even basic foods have become a luxury.
Ashby points out that 1.6 million metric tons are wasted in the world, one of the most common reasons being that food is purchased and not much is consumed or prepared at home, but these details are increasingly being taken care of. Used to be.
British food waste NGO WRAP recently published a study which found that large portion sizes in meals taken away from home contributed significantly to food waste, so frozen food is a great option as it lasts longer .
Frozen foods are a convenient, sustainable and economical option
A spokesperson for Nomad Foods says that in times of economic crisis, frozen food is a very convenient, sustainable and cost-effective option for consumers with minimal food wastage.
Therefore, earnings are expected to increase by 12.8% over 2022, in addition to the fact that organic products continue to grow in sales due to sustainable trends throughout the food industry.
On the other hand, experts ensure that the nutrients in frozen foods are preserved, which makes them a premium and healthy option.
Restaurant food at home
One of the wider options offered by frozen foods, and one that piqued interest during the last pandemic, were ready-to-eat meals that you can thaw and cook at home in a simple way.
In addition to the boom in foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFFS), only 85% of the net sales of Birds Eyes, a frozen food company, in 2014 were not sales of fatty foods, which reiterates that This trend is no longer in the interest of the consumers.