Dublin, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Frozen Foods in the U.S.: Hot Meals, Sides, and Snacks, 6th Edition" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

Sales of frozen foods over the 2016-2021 period will experience a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.2%, going from over $22 billion to around $21 billion for the four key frozen food categories: Frozen Dinners/Entres; Frozen Pizzas; Frozen Side Dishes; and Frozen Appetizers/Snacks.

Overall sales of frozen foods in the United States are flat,reflecting in part a growing consumer preference for fresh foods. Nonetheless, the market is being strengthened by robust investment in productinnovation, which includes developing bold and unique flavors, varietiesinspired by world cuisines, product offerings that accommodate special dietaryconcerns, and products with cleaner labels and healthier nutritionprofiles. Rollouts of such new products are being supported by strongmarketing and advertising initiatives.

Among packaged food products consumed as hot meals, frozen foods are considered the most affordable and the most convenient by a substantial margin over their shelf-stable and refrigerated/fresh counterparts. However, between 2014 and 2016, frozen foods lost ground to these alternatives on all counts, including convenience, which has traditionally been thought of as the driving factor in purchase of frozen foods. But at the same time, quality and healthfulness have risen in importance, reflecting the recent reformulating and repositioning of leading brands and the growing presence of emerging brands that emphasize these qualities. In addition, convenience may play a less decisive role than might be expected, as consumers simply assume that this is a feature automatically associated with frozen meal items.

Rollouts of new products are being supported by strong marketing and advertising initiatives. Nevertheless, grocery store brands are increasing in their share of overall frozen food sales, accounting for 4% of total dollar sales through all outlets. In 2014, private label accounted for slightly less than 3% of overall sales. Growth is due in part to the overall trend toward higher-quality store brands and a higher opinion of them among consumers, along with the lower price points associated with store brands compared to branded equivalents.

Key Topics Covered:

CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

• The Market
• Competitive Environment
• Product Trends
• Retail and Foodservice
• Consumer Trends

CHAPTER 2 MARKET OVERVIEW

NOTE ON METHODOLOGY

MARKET CATEGORIES

OVERALL MARKET AT $22.3 BILLION

• Frozen Foods Market Remains at $20.8 Billion in IRI-Tracked Sales
• Frozen Dinner/Entrée Sales Show Negative Five-Year Growth
• Frozen Pizza Showing Signs of Reviving?
• Side Dishes Sales Flatten
• Growth Falters in Frozen Appetizers/Snacks

MARKET OUTLOOK

• Share of Consumers Who Buy Frozen Hot Meal Items Jumps to 90%
• Declining Household Usage Rates Shown for Frozen Hot Meal Items
• But Current Frozen Foods Consumers Are Buying More
• Nutritional Value of Frozen Foods a Growing Concern
• Level of Agreement with Statement: Most Frozen Dinners Have Little Nutritional Value, 2012-2016 (percent of U.S. population)
• Frozen Considered More Affordable, Convenient Than Other Hot Meal Products
• Quality the Most Important Factor to 80% of Frozen Foods Consumers
• Frozen Foods Consumers Perceive Refrigerated/Fresh as Higher Quality
• Preference for Fresh Presents a Formidable Challenge
• Schwan: Consumers Have Complicated Relationship With Frozen
• FDA Issues Draft Guidance to Food Industry for Voluntary Sodium Reduction Targets

PROJECTED MARKET GROWTH

• Product Innovation Will Slow Frozen's Loss to Fresh

CHAPTER 3 THE MARKETERS

LEADING MARKETERS

LEADING BRANDS AND USAGE TRENDS

• Banquet Remains Tops in Household Frozen Dinner Usage
• Banquet Family Entrees the Most Frequently Consumed Frozen Entrées
• DiGiorno Controls the Highly Consolidated Frozen Pizza Segment
• Ore-Ida the Sole Frozen Potatoes Brand Eaten on a Frequent Basis
• Hot Pockets Frequent Usage a Constant in Dynamic, Fragmented Hot Snacks Segment
• Private Label Frozen Vegetables Consumed More Often Than National Brands

OVERVIEWS OF LEADING MARKETERS AND BRANDS

• Nestlé
• Conagra
• Schwan's
• Pinnacle Foods
• Kraft Heinz
• Amy's Kitchen
• General Mills
• Bellisio Foods
• Tyson/Hillshire
• Bueno Foods (El Encanto, Inc.)

OTHER KEY MARKETERS

• B&G Foods
• Ajinomoto Windsor Foods
• Gold Star Chili
• J&J Snack Foods
• On-Cor Frozen Foods
• Ruiz Foods
• Skyline
• Tabatchnick Frozen Soups
• Willow Tree Farm

MEDIA, ADVERTISING, AND PROMOTIONS

• B&G Re-Introduces Green Giant With The Giant Awakens Theme
• Conagra Romances Women Consumers
• Nestlé Touches All the Bases With Fit Kitchen
• Bueno Foods Celebrates Anniversary With Free Cookbook
• Schwan's Reminds Consumers Life Is Delicious
• Bellasio Takes to Twitter for Eat!2.0

CHAPTER 4 PRODUCT TRENDS

PRODUCT TRENDS

CLEAN LABEL

• Stouffer's Kitchen Cupboard Effort Promises Fewer, Simpler, Familiar Ingredients
• Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers Feature Clean Label, On-Trend Recipes
• Evol Invites You to Love What You Eat

CUISINES OF THE WORLD

• Bellisio's EAT! Frozen Entres Offer Global, Adventurous Flavors
• Lean Cuisine's Limited-Time Entrées Inspired by International Culinary Trends
• Mouth Meets South: First-Ever Packaged Frozen Soul Food Meals

SPECIAL DIETARY PREFERENCES

MAKING VEGGIES RELEVANT AGAIN

CHAPTER 5 RETAIL AND FOOD-SERVICE TRENDS

KEY POINTS

• Supermarkets by Far the Dominant Channel for Frozen Food Spending
• Private Label Plays a Significant Role in Some Frozen Food Segments
• Schwan's: Retailers Can Make the Frozen Aisle a Linger-Worthy Destination

NATIONAL FROZEN & REFRIGERATED FOODS ASSOCIATION EMPHASIZES QUALITY AND FRESHNESS TO PROMOTE FROZEN

CHAPTER 6 CONSUMER TRENDS

KEY POINTS

FROZEN FOODS CONSUMPTION TRENDS

• Over Half of U.S. Households Use Frozen Vegetables, Pizza, Potatoes
• Age, Race, Presence of Children Strong Predictors of Use
• African Americans, Households With Teens Are Heaviest Users of Frozen Dinners
• Nine in 10 Consumers Buy Packaged Frozen Hot Meal Items
• Half of Frozen Foods Consumers Keep Hot Meal Items on Hand
• Frozen Foods Consumer Attitudes and Opinions
• Quality Remains Most Important Factor in Purchase Decisions
• Frozen Considered Most Convenient, Affordable Type of Hot Meal Item
• Frozen Foods Consumers Are Busy and Strapped for Time
• Concern About Nutritional Value of Frozen Skews Upscale
  

Companies Mentioned

• Ajinomoto Windsor Foods
• Amy's Kitchen
• B&G Foods
• Bellisio Foods
• Bueno Foods (El Encanto, Inc.)
• Conagra
• General Mills
• Gold Star Chili
• J&J Snack Foods
• Kraft Heinz
• Nestl
• On-Cor Frozen Foods
• Pinnacle Foods
• Ruiz Foods
• Tabatchnick Frozen Soups
• Tyson/Hillshire
• Schwan's
• Skyline
• Willow Tree Farm

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2f3rn5/frozen_foods_in

CONTACT: Research and Markets
         Laura Wood, Senior Manager
         press@researchandmarkets.com
         For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470
         For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630
         For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
         U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
         Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
         Related Topics: Snacks and Confectionery, Frozen Food