Frozen Meals and Desserts Ascend

Frozen foods continue to innovate and resonate with consumers, with a growing number of people able to select their fair share of quality options across all three dayparts.

Research by Future Market Insights reveals that the global frozen ready meals market is estimated to grow at a compounded annualized growth rate of 8.2%, to $89.7 billion during the forecasted period between 2022 to 2032.

Drilling down, frozen chicken and frozen snacks have accounted for more than 60% of the worldwide frozen ready meal market, according to Namrata Naidu, digital marketing executive for Future Market Insights, a global market intelligence and consulting service based in Dubai.

“Many individuals were confined to their houses and [apartments during the pandemic], they were forced to rely on quick and ready-to-eat meals to get by. Diners and other businesses closed as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown and social distancing practices, increasing market demand for frozen ready meals,” Naidu said.

Frozen novelties and desserts have a natural connection with frozen meals, and these varieties are flashing a healthy dose of innovation as well. Consumers are seeking more dairy-free options, according to SPINS data. Plant-based novelties (any treat on a stick, cone or sandwich) grew market share of the total frozen desserts category by 35% in 2021. 

Click through for seven recent frozen meals and dessert/novelty items.

Emma-Leigh & Co., a plant-based frozen food company, launched new innovations starting with Mini Beef Empanadas and Sausage Pizza Empanadas. The products incorporate plant-based ground beef from Beyond Meat. All products are produced locally in Boston.

Australis Aquaculture expanded and refreshed its The Better Fish line of frozen Fair Trade-certified barramundi white fish with the introduction of two new freezer-to-oven varieties: Tuscan Herb Butter Barramundi and Crispy Fish Tenders. Other varieties in the lineup include Lemon Herb Butter and Garlic Teriyaki. The new packaging for The Better Fish Barramundi frozen bag line is rolling out across the U.S. to over 5,000 retail and club locations nationwide on Instacart, and Amazon in the first quarter of 2022. Each The Better Fish 12-ounce bag has an SRP of $9.99.

 

Made with four simple ingredients, Goya Frozen Churros allow consumers to enjoy these sweet treats at home in just five minutes. Goya Frozen Churros are available in three flavors: Sugar and Cinnamon, Chocolate, and Dulce de Leche.

Eggo’s Eggoji Waffles feature an animated face inspired by six digital emojis, including the heart eyes and laughing tears emojis. Packs of Eggo Eggoji Waffles include 10 waffles and can be found in the freezer aisle.

Saffron Road’s lineup of frozen dishes expanding with Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken, Butter Chicken, and Sweet and Sour Chicken. The new offerings mark the brand’s first expansion into Chinese cuisine. Saffron also launched a family-sized line that includes its preexisting Chicken Pad Thai and Chicken Biryani meals, as well as its new Pineapple Fried Rice. All Saffron Road frozen meals are made with clean, ethically sourced ingredients.

GoodPop’s Chocolate Vanilla Sandwiches is an oatmilk frozen dessert sandwich that is 100% plant-based and gluten-free. Each sandwich has 110 calories and 8 grams of sugar per serving. A four-pack has an SRP range of $4.99 to $5.99. “With plant-based novelties being the fastest-growing segment in the ice cream category and consumer feedback showing demand for better-for-you frozen desserts, the time was right to take our philosophy and elevated sourcing standards to expand beyond the pop and create our version of an ice cream sandwich as we continue to redefine the frozen novelties category,” said Rahul Shah, president and COO for Austin, Texas-based GoodPop.

Luigi’s Real Italian Ice from J&J Snack Foods has added Luigi’s Gelato to its portfolio. The line comes in three flavors: Mint Chocolate, Sweet Cream Churro and Italian Cannoli. Inspired by timeless Italian and fan-favorite flavors, Luigi’s Gelato has an SRP of $3.50 per four-count box. “Luigi’s Gelato fulfills a market need for portion-sized novelties in trendy international flavors,” said Lynwood Mallard, chief marketing officer for J&J Snack Foods.