Global Frozen Food Packaging Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID 19 Impact, And Trends By Product Type (Ready Meals, Meat And Poultry, Seafood, Fruits And Vegetables, Dairy, Others), By Packaging Type (Bags And Pouches, Trays, Cups And Tubs, Wraps, Others), By Material Type (Plastics (PET, Polyethylene), Paper And Paperboards, Metals, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The global frozen food packaging market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.47% to reach a market size of US$33.082 billion in 2027 from US$24.366 billion in 2020.

The growth in urbanization has paved the way for a surge in the disposable income of individuals and increased their spending power. However, their corporate and work lives have become harder, as they have to put in more effort at work. This has resulted in a majority of working-class individuals having less time to cook proper and traditional foods at home and shifting their consumption preference towards frozen food products.

The changing lifestyle, taste, and preferences of individuals has resulted in an increased demand for different types of convenience foods, which is causing a surge in the demand for frozen food packaging solutions

In addition, as the number and the participation of female workers have increased in corporate jobs at different levels, the consumption of frozen items has risen significantly, which has resulted in a rise in the demand for frozen food packaging solutions and thus is augmenting the market growth.

The governments of many countries, such as India, the UK, and the US, have imposed lockdowns, thus hindering the free movement of individuals except for purchasing essential products such as food and beverages or daily requirements, to control the spread of disease, effectively. This has resulted in a majority of individuals shifting their food consumption choices to frozen food items such as frozen dairy products, meat, and seafood products instead of fresh products owing to the extended shelf life the former products offer. Hence, this is leading to an increased demand for frozen food packaging solutions and is contributing to market growth.

Guidelines and restrictions are in place that regulate the packaging process and proper storage of packaged foods.

There are strict guidelines and regulations that the market players must adhere to ensure food quality assurance. There are some materials, such as special composite materials and films, that have adequate barrier properties and sealing properties that must be used to prevent soiling, microorganism infestation, moisture, and other contaminants that can deteriorate the quality of the food.

Moreover, there are strict labelling requirements that need to be adhered to, such as the additional information that must be printed on the packaging material for the reference of the consumer or other end-users. Some of these necessary guidelines include- the date of manufacturing and the best before date, the temperature the product needs to be stored to prevent spoilage, and labelling that mentions whether the product is flash-frozen, deep-frozen, etc. among other essential information.

Thus, these regulations encourage market players to adhere to them strictly to prevent losses or penalties and thereby contribute to the growth of the market.

 Major Market Players' Product Offerings in the Frozen Food Packaging MarketSpace

The offering of better and more advanced frozen food packaging materials and products with enhanced protection, quality, and durability, among other properties, by the existing and new players in different markets, is estimated to lead to increased adoption and propel the market growth further over the forecast period.

One of the examples of product offering is as follows:

WestRock Company, which is among the leading company that is involved in offering different types of packaging solutions for different applications, also provides its solution for frozen foods. It offers a product called the “PolarShield Frozen Cup”, which is a product that has been made using paperboard coated with a type of clay to provide a strong coating and prevent exposure to moisture. This product has been specifically designed to meet the requirements for packing ice cream. One of the main features of this product is that it can withstand the burden posed by varying freeze-thaw cycles in cold chains.

The North American region is expected to hold a notable share over the forecast period, and the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness a substantial increase in its market share over the forecast period

The North American region is expected to hold a notable share over the forecast period because there are a wide variety of packaging solutions available for the packaging of frozen food effectively. In addition, there is a majority of individuals are into eating fried food and frozen meats and products, which is adding to the demand and contributing to the market share of the region.

In addition, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness a substantial increase in its market share over the forecast period, which is attributable to the fact that there are increasing investments and initiatives being taken to improve the standing of the packaging industry in countries such as India. In addition, the rising disposable income and increasing consumption of meat and poultry items are increasing the demand for frozen foods and other types of convenience foods.

Trays,  bags, and pouches hold a considerable share and will witness significant growth over the forecast period.

Trays are an increasingly popular packaging solution, which is used for the packing of frozen foods such as frozen poultry meat, frozen red meat, seafood, and fruits and vegetables. It is expected to hold a considerable share over the forecast period because the consumption of meat is growing among the population owing to the changing tastes and preferences of individuals.

In addition, the bags and pouches are also gaining popularity among the frozen food packing companies and manufacturers, as there has been an increase in the demand for ready-to-cook foods such as French fries, burger patties, and other types of frozen food, which is pushing them to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

Recent Developments

For the leading frozen food retailer in the UK, Iceland, Mondi Group introduced biodegradable and sustainable frozen food packaging in December 2021 that was made with 80% less plastic.

Amcor Plc introduced its first recycled container for cocoa powder in Latin America in May 2021.

A new line of eco-friendly packaging materials for the frozen food market was announced by Finnish packaging material provider Walki in June 2022.  To make the packaging completely recyclable in the paper stream, the new materials are anticipated to suit the needs of the frozen food business.

ProAmpac has announced the launch of ProActive Recyclable R-2000F in February 2021 to address the market's need for superior and high-performance recyclable frozen food packaging. The newest product in the ProActive Sustainability® product line, this patent-pending film has been prequalified for retail drop-off recycling via polyethene recycling streams.

When Lidl introduced the novel solution with their cinnamon buns and cardamom buns in Sweden in May 2022, Trioworld released the first post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic film, authorized for frozen food packaging.

COVID-19 Impact on the Global Frozen Food Packaging Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the global frozen food packaging market. According to the Food Industry Association and the American Frozen Food Institute, sales of frozen food in the U.S. increased by approximately 21% in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic drove consumers to hoard frozen foods. Furthermore, sales increased in the first two quarters of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to Nomad, the owner of the Findus, Birds Eye, and Iglo brands in Europe. Hence, the high demand for foods and beverages, especially frozen food products, as they may be eaten for a longer period increased the demand for frozen food packaging.

Global Frozen Food Packaging Market Scope:

Segmentation:

• By Product Type
  • Ready Meals
  • Meat and Poultry
  • Seafood
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Dairy
  • Others
• By Packaging Type
  • Bags and Pouches
  • Trays
  • Cups and Tubs
  • Wraps
  • Others
• By Material Type
  • Plastics
    • PET
    • Polyethylene
  • Paper and Paperboards
  • Metals
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Indonesia
    • Taiwan
    • Others

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What will be the frozen food packaging market size by 2027?
A1. The frozen food packaging market is projected to reach a total market size of US$33.082 billion in 2027. 

Q2. What is the size of the global frozen food packaging market?
A2. Frozen Food Packaging Market was valued at US$24.366 billion in 2020. 

Q3. What are the growth prospects for the frozen food packaging market?
A3. The frozen food packaging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.47% over the forecast period. 

Q4. What factors are anticipated to drive the frozen food packaging market growth?
A4. The changing lifestyle, tastes, and preferences of individuals have resulted in an increased demand for the different types of convenience food, which is causing a surge in the demand for frozen food packaging solutions. 

Q5. Which region holds the largest market share in the frozen food packaging market?
A5. The North American region is expected to hold a notable share over the forecast period owing to the fact that there are a wide variety of packaging solutions available for the packaging of frozen food effectively.