Frozen Specialty Food Market in the USA - Key Insights

IndexBox has just published a new report, the U.S. Frozen Specialty Food Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The revenue of the frozen specialty food market in the U.S. amounted to $19.8B in 2018, increasing by 1.6% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The category of frozen specialty food includes food products like frozen dinners, entrees, side dishes, as well as frozen pizza, frozen whipped topping, and frozen waffles, pancakes, and french toast. 

The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% over the period from 2013 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014, with an increase of 5.9% against the previous year. Frozen specialty food consumption peaked in 2018, and is expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

Frozen Specialty Food Production in the USA

In value terms, frozen specialty food production amounted to $19.7B in 2018. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% over the period from 2013 to 2018; the trend pattern remained generally consistent. 

Frozen Specialty Food Exports
Exports from the USA

In 2018, approx. 7.8K tonnes of frozen specialty food were exported from the U.S.; declining by -2.5% against the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.9% from 2013 to 2018; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded over the period under review. In value terms, frozen specialty food exports stood at $20M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Exports by Country

South Korea (2.7K tonnes) was the main destination for frozen specialty food exports from the U.S., accounting for a 30% share of total exports. Moreover, frozen specialty food exports to South Korea exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Chile (1.3K tonnes), twofold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by the UK (1K tonnes), with a 12% share.

From 2013 to 2018, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to South Korea totaled +1.3%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Chile (+22.6% per year) and the UK (+29.1% per year).

In value terms, the UK ($3.9M), Chile ($3.2M) and South Korea ($2.4M) were the largest markets for frozen specialty food exported from the U.S. worldwide, with a combined 47% share of total exports. These countries were followed by Costa Rica, Taiwan, Chinese, Colombia, Australia, Bermuda and Panama, which together accounted for a further 28%.

Export Prices by Country

The average frozen specialty food export price stood at $2.3 per kg in 2018, growing by 4.2% against the previous year. Over the last five years, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.6%.

Export prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest export price was Colombia ($5 per kg), while the average price for exports to South Korea ($900 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was recorded for supplies to Australia (+34.5% per year), while the export prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Frozen Specialty Food Imports
Imports into the USA

In 2018, imports of frozen specialty food into the U.S. amounted to 61K tonnes, picking up by 16% against the previous year. In value terms, frozen specialty food imports totaled $184M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Imports by Country

Italy (26K tonnes), China (13K tonnes) and South Korea (6.3K tonnes) were the main suppliers of frozen specialty food imports to the U.S., with a combined 74% share of total imports. Japan, Germany, Thailand and France lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 23%.

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by Thailand (+25.5% per year), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Italy ($91M) constituted the largest supplier of frozen specialty food to the U.S., comprising 50% of total frozen specialty food imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by China ($31M), with a 17% share of total imports. It was followed by Thailand, with a 7.1% share.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the average frozen specialty food import price amounted to $3 per kg, picking up by 6.2% against the previous year. In general, the frozen specialty food import price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern.

There were significant differences in the average import prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2018, the country with the highest import price was France ($4.6 per kg), while the price for Japan ($1.8 per kg) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by Germany (+4.9% per year), while the import prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Companies Mentioned in the Report

Kraft Pizza Company, The Schwan Food Company, Heinz Frozen Food Company, Ruiz Food Products, Pinnacle Foods Group, Pinnacle Foods Finance, Amy's Kitchen, The Stouffer Corporation, Pinnacle Foods, Request Foods, The ICEE Company, Great American Appetizers, Lady Little Foods, Bottom Line Food Processors, Nestle Prepared Foods Company, Cedarlane Natural Foods, Don Miguel Mexican Foods, Overhill Farms, Nation Pizza Products, Camino Real Foods, G.A. Food Services of Pinellas County, Bellisio Foods, Richelieu Foods, Bernatello's Pizza, Flagship Food Group

Source: IndexBox AI Platform