The market for UK frozen food is anticipated to grow during the forecast period on an account of rising applications of frozen food in multiple applications. Growing number of working population in the country is the key growth factor contributing to the market growth.
The frozen food undergoes a process of rapid freezing and is kept for freezing at the temperature which helps the moisture to remain in solid state. The freezing procedure makes the food more durable and is affordable to the consumers. Easy availability coupled with long durability factor plays a crucial role for the growth of the market in next coming years.
Furthermore, the increasing number of working population is probably to upsurge the market in the next coming years, as the working people gets less time for preparing meals. Attributing to the time saving and affordability factor, the demand for frozen food from working population is expected to grow at a faster pace.
Growing health awareness among people, high sodium content in frozen food, high content of fats, sugar, and preservatives are anticipated to be the crucial aspects hampering the market growth. Additionally, government policies associated with health of the people, high cost of maintenance & logistics, and lack of distribution facilities in semi-urban & rural areas are major challenges for the frozen food market. Nevertheless, busy life style, high availability of raw materials in adequate quantity, rising people’s purchasing power, and presence of numerous manufacturers in the region is projected to bolster the market growth in UK.
The frozen food market for UK is segmented on the basis of food type and distribution channel. The food type segment is further segregated into Frozen Ready Meals, Frozen Fish/Seafood, Frozen Meat, Frozen Pizza, Frozen Potato Products, Frozen Vegetables, Frozen Bakery Products and others. The other segment comprises of ice creams, desserts, and confectioneries. The frozen bakery product segment accounted for the largest market share in 2016, owing to the huge consumption of bakery products.
The development in freezing technologies are driving the frozen vegetables and fruits market as it helps producer to preserve the nutritional value of the vegetables and fruits for longer period. Moreover, it helps to restore important nutrients those lost in pre-freezing processes. Packaging products such as Wrappers, Bags, Trays, Boxes, Cartons, Cans, Pouches, and others classify UK Frozen Food Market. Frozen food packages protect plain and prepared vegetables, fruits, meat, and potatoes for suitable delivery to the customer by maintaining firmness and nutritional quality of food.
Frozen food is segmented on the basis of distribution channel, offline and online. The offline channel includes hypermarket and supermarkets. In 2016, offline channel segment held the largest market share for frozen food in UK, owing to the ease of access factor and presence of numerous retail stores in the country. The end-use industry for frozen food involves food service industry and retail consumer segment. The food industry comprises of restaurants, fast food outlets, and other business consumers. UK Frozen Food Market is segmented geographically into England (Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool), Wales (Swansea and Cardiff), Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow), and Northern Ireland (Belfast and Londonderry).
The key players in UK Frozen Food Market are Sainsbury's, Birds Eye, McCain, Brakes Group, and Total Foodservice. Given the competitive nature of the market, inorganic growth moves by active vendors remains inevitable over the forecast period.
