U.S. Consumers Return to the Convenience of Frozen Foods

After years of being in the shadows of the health-focused “fresh” movement that kept more consumers in the perimeter of the store where fresh produce is merchandized, consumers are returning to the frozen foods aisle, reports The NPD Group. Last year frozen foods were included in 9.8 billion eating occasions in home, up 2 percent from a decade ago, an increase that represents billions of meals, according to NPD’s daily tracking of U.S. consumers’ eating behaviors.

“Demographic shifts, like Millennials moving into the busiest times of their lives juggling spouses, kids, and a career, are fueling a greater need for the convenience that frozen foods offer,” says David Portalatin, NPD Food Industry Advisor and author of Eating Patterns in America. “Manufacturers are also doing their part in...

U.S. Food Market Outlook 2019: 4 Key Trends

What’s in store for the food industry in 2019? Market research firm Packaged Facts predicts “disruptive innovation” that will shake up years of subtle stagnation in the mature food industry and spur growth over the foreseeable future.

In U.S. Food Market Outlook 2019, the latest edition of its best-selling series, Packaged Facts examines “disruptive innovation” across 14 essential food categories: Cereal, Chocolate Candy, Cookies, Fresh Bread, Fresh Packaged Salads, Frozen Dinners/Entrees, Frozen Pizza, Ice Cream/Frozen Novelties, Meal/Snack Bars, Meat/Poultry, Natural & Specialty Cheese, Salty Snacks, Soup, and Yogurt.

Packaged Facts identifies several key disruptive trends to watch for in 2019. Four of these top trends involve...

Gen Z Adults Seek Foods Fitting Their Busy, Yet Health Conscious Lifestyles

Gen Z young adults have been caught up in the change in America's food culture that has moved consumers away from three sit-down meals at fixed times and in the direction of multiple eating experiences that occur throughout the day. As a result, today's 18- to 24-year-olds are more likely than their Millennial predecessors to say they often snack between meals (74% vs. 66%). When they do slowdown to prepare a meal, Gen Z young adults are much more likely to prefer simple, easy-to-prepare meals (58% vs. 40%). The findings were published in Looking Ahead to Gen Z: Demographic Patterns and Spending Trends, a report from Packaged Facts, a leading market research company.

Data published in the report further reveal that households headed by adults under age 25 are 29% more likely to ...