Middle East & Africa Frozen Food Market Outlook, 2029

The frozen food market in the Middle East and Africa has seen considerable growth and transformation over the past few decades, driven by changing consumer lifestyles, urbanization, and increasing disposable incomes. Historically, the market in these regions was limited, with frozen food consumption being relatively low compared to other parts of the world. However, as urban centers expanded and more consumers adopted busier lifestyles, the demand for convenient and reliable food options grew. In the Middle East, the market began to gain momentum in the latter half of the 20th century, with the introduction of Western retail chains and advancements in cold chain logistics. In Africa, particularly in more developed economies like South Africa, the market has been steadily growing, supported by improvements in infrastructure and rising consumer awareness. Today, the frozen food market in the Middle East and Africa includes a wide range of products, from frozen vegetables and seafood to ready meals and snacks, catering to diverse cultural and culinary preferences. In the Middle East and Africa, frozen food regulations and rules are established by individual countries, often influenced by international standards and guidelines to ensure food safety, quality, and consumer protection. While there isn't a unified regulatory framework across the entire region, many countries have developed their own sets of standards. These regulations typically cover aspects such as hygiene practices, labeling requirements, permissible additives, and packaging standards to ensure that frozen food products are safe for consumption. For instance, in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, food safety regulations are quite stringent, aligning closely with international benchmarks, including Codex Alimentarius standards. In Africa, regulatory bodies such as the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) set guidelines for frozen food products, including specifications for storage, transportation, and handling to maintain product integrity. Compliance with these regulations is crucial for manufacturers and distributors to ensure that frozen food products meet the required safety and quality standards, thereby protecting consumer health and fostering trust in the market. According to the research report "Middle East & Africa Frozen Food Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the Middle East & Africa Frozen Food market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 13.5 Billion by 2029. Several factors influence the frozen food market in the Middle East and Africa, shaping its growth and development. One key factor is the rapid urbanization and demographic shifts occurring across the region. As more people move to urban areas and adopt busier lifestyles, the demand for convenient and easy-to-prepare food options has increased, driving the growth of the frozen food market. This urban migration often results in smaller household sizes and dual-income families, further boosting the need for quick meal solutions. Economic factors also play a significant role, with rising disposable incomes enabling more consumers to afford frozen food products. As economies in the Middle East and Africa continue to develop, there is a growing middle class with greater spending power and a higher propensity to purchase convenience foods. Additionally, the expansion of modern retail infrastructure, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores, has improved access to frozen food products, making them more widely available to consumers across the region. Cultural and dietary trends also influence the market. In the Middle East, there is a growing interest in Western-style frozen foods, such as pizzas and ready meals, alongside traditional regional dishes offered in frozen formats. In Africa, there is a similar trend, with an increasing variety of both local and international frozen food options becoming popular among consumers. Health and wellness trends are also impacting the market, with a rising demand for healthier frozen food options, including organic, low-fat, and gluten-free products.

The frozen food market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is diverse, encompassing a variety of product categories tailored to meet the region's culinary preferences and lifestyle needs. Key product types include frozen vegetables and fruits, which cater to health-conscious consumers looking for convenient and nutritious options. Frozen meat, poultry, and seafood are significant segments, driven by demand for high-quality protein sources that can be stored for extended periods. Ready-to-eat meals and convenience foods, such as pizzas, snacks, and desserts, are increasingly popular, reflecting a growing trend towards time-saving meal solutions amidst busy lifestyles. Additionally, the market features frozen bakery products, including bread, pastries, and dough, catering to both households and foodservice sectors. The diversity of these products highlights the market's ability to cater to varying tastes, dietary requirements, and the evolving consumption patterns in the MEA region. Moreover, the frozen food market is growing due to the consumer’s interest in frozen pizza and versatile breakfast. The rising interest in convenience and on-the-go frozen ready-to-eat items has increased the adoption of frozen food products in MEA. Further, adopting efficient strategy to procure frozen food to ensure cost effectiveness from imported products is anticipated to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. In addition, the innovation or improvement in frozen food items such as peas, pizza, sausages, plain chicken, and other frozen food products containing low fat, low cholesterol, whole wheat, and artificial additives will propel the demand in this region. The development of the Middle East & Africa frozen food market is driven by the rising interest of the convenient and on the go frozen ready to eat items. Adaption of frozen food products is still at the growing stage in these regions due to a lack of awareness and low penetration in the region. However frozen food products are gaining popularity, especially in the Middle-Eastern region due to lack of agro-based products and arable land. The middle-Eastern region has the highest presence of frozen meat and potato products whereas frozen fish & seafood posing prominence in the African region. Further, the frozen food trend in Africa has been observed as comparatively low as compared to Middle Eastern countries. This has been due to several underdeveloped and small middle-class countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya, etc. in the African region.

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Manmayi Raval

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Backed by increasing number of time-poor consumers coupled with development of healthy snacking options in the market, the frozen snacks market is progressively paving its way in overall snack industry of the region. Companies such as Grand Mills Bakeries owned by Agthia, are offering frozen bakeries products including baguettes, with the firm claiming the use of most modern frozen bakery technology in the GCC. Although the share of working women in Middle Eastern countries is relatively low, the population is continuously rising over the years, which is expected to drive convenience foods market including frozen snacks. Further due to the technological innovations in the food industry, the range of convenience food has expanded to frozen, portion-controlled, shelf-stable, microwave-able, and others. Ready-to-cook meat products has slowly emerged as one of the fastest growing segments in the packaged and produced food market, owing to increasing purchasing power and urbanization. Foodservice and institutional channels play a vital role in the distribution of frozen food products in MEA. Restaurants, cafes, catering services, and other foodservice establishments purchase frozen ingredients and pre-prepared meals to streamline their operations, reduce food waste, and ensure consistency in menu offerings. Similarly, institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities rely on frozen food products for their meal programs, providing convenient and cost-effective solutions for feeding large volumes of people. Moreover, wholesale and distribution channels facilitate the movement of frozen food products from manufacturers to retailers, foodservice operators, and institutional buyers. Distributors play a crucial role in managing inventory, logistics, and warehousing, ensuring that frozen foods reach their intended destinations efficiently and in optimal condition. Additionally, direct sales channels, such as farmer's markets, specialty food stores, and food co-ops, provide opportunities for smaller-scale producers to connect with consumers seeking locally sourced and artisanal frozen food products. Online retail platforms have emerged as a significant sales channel for frozen foods, allowing consumers to browse and purchase products from the comfort of their homes and have them delivered directly to their doorstep. E-commerce platforms offer a convenient way to access a broader selection of frozen food options, including specialty and niche products that may not be available in brick-and-mortar stores. In the overall Middle East and Africa, Saudi Arabia along with Egypt dominated the Middle East and Africa frozen food market revenues owing to the growing population together with rapid urbanization. Additionally, growing consumer preference for low trans-fat and high nutritional value products would spur the demand for frozen food in the Middle East and African market. The Middle East & Africa Food Frozen Market is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the coming years on the back of the growth of restaurants, hotels & resorts. Additionally, the freezing process slows down chemical presence which tends to prevent the human body from harmful chemical intake and is estimated to benefit the profound growth of the frozen food market. Further, rising awareness about less wastage of food backed by rise in the replacements of frozen food over fresh food which is considered to be an imperishable food is expected to instigate the adoption for frozen food and would spur the profound growth of the Middle East & Africa frozen food market in the coming time frame.

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Major companies present in the market General Mills Inc., Kraft Heinz Company, Ajinomoto Co. Inc, Cargill Incorporation, Nestle S.A., Kerry Group, Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. De C.V, Mccain Foods Limited, Tyson Foods, Inc., Kellogg Company, JBS S.A, Rich Product Corporation, Al Kabeer Group Considered for the report: -Geography: Middle East & Africa -Historic year: 2018 -Base year: 2023 -Estimated year: 2024 -Forecasted year: 2029 Aspects covered in this report - Middle East & Africa frozen foods market with its value and forecast along with its segments -Country-wise frozen foods market analysis -Various divers and challenges -Ongoing trends and developments -Five force models -Top profiled companies -Strategic recommendation Countries covered in the report -UAE -Saudi Arabia -Israel -South Africa By Product Type -Frozen potato -Frozen fruits & vegetable -Frozen ready meal -Frozen meat & poultry -Frozen fish & seafood By End User -Commercial -Residential By Sales Channel - Supermarket /modern retail/ hypermarket -Independent Retailers / Departmental /convenience store -On-line Shop The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering, the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience This report can be useful to Industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the frozen food products industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry. Keywords: Frozen food, Ready to Eat, frozen potatoes, frozen meat and poultry, frozen fish and seafood, frozen fruits and vegetables, Middle East & Africa, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Africa.