Other frozen ready meals
Utilizing advanced preservation methods, other frozen ready-meals undergo meticulous processing to maintain quality. Swift freezing below -18°C halts microbial growth and preserves texture. Vacuum sealing prevents moisture loss and freezer burn, ensuring product integrity. Advanced freezing techniques minimize ice crystal formation, preserving meal texture. These meticulous procedures ensure retained taste, texture, and nutritional value, offering consumers convenient and satisfying options.
Frozen ready meals are pre-packaged, fully cooked food products that have been frozen to preserve freshness. They are prepared simply by reheating, which is what makes them a quick and hassle-free dining option for the consumer and a high-volume, repeat-purchase category for the manufacturer.
The category covers several distinct product types, each with its own process and packaging demands. Frozen pizza combines a pre-made crust, sauce, cheese and toppings, and is baked in the oven for a quick and easy meal. Frozen breakfast meals include items such as frozen waffles, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos. Frozen soups and stews are pre-made meals that can be heated on the stove or in the microwave.
The market case is straightforward. The global frozen food market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.9% from 2021 to 2026. According to a report by Technavio, the global frozen pizza market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% from 2021 to 2025, driven by factors such as the increasing popularity of plant-based pizza and the growth of online sales channels.
Major players operating in this market include Nestle, Conagra Brands, McCain Foods, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Nomad Foods, Dr. Oetker and Ajinomoto Co., Inc. For a promoter entering the segment, the choice of product type determines the cooking, assembly, freezing and cold-chain infrastructure the plant must be designed around.