THE LAST WORD
The last WORD
A frozen future Brian Young looks at how the frozen food market can help combat rising food prices
UK consumers are having a tough time in the current economic climate and government spending cuts, fuel price rises, stagnating incomes and increasing living costs have meant that the average consumer has much less disposable income.
luxuries such as red meat and fish. In addition to this the food industry is being put under increased pressure by other factors, as persistent bad weather during the past year has led to higher ingredient costs but lower product quality and reduced nutritional content. All of which are making some ‘fresh’ products more expensive and therefore less appealing to consumers. Despite this challenging
T
environment, the frozen industry is predicting yet another positive year for 2013. I expect the frozen industry to continue to maintain its growth trend after recent figures showed a value increase for the frozen retail market in 25 of the last 26 quarters.
Brian Young is director general of British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)
Increasingly the nutritional, quality and price benefits of buying frozen are becoming more widely acknowledged in the UK. And this is likely to continue as recognise frozen products can be
his of course has an impact on the amount they spend on food – particularly on
stored without losing integrity for significantly longer, they are harvested when crops are in abundance and frozen at their peak, making frozen food much less affected by the poor weather conditions.
Furthermore, the reduction in waste and CO2 emissions brought by frozen foods means that frozen food has the potential to offer solutions to a whole host of consumer concerns. This presents retailers with a significant opportunity to maintain their share of consumer household budgets. However, it’s up to retailers to take advantage of the opportunity and help to communicate these benefits to their customers. We’ve seen a range of revamps in some major retailers as they look to capitalise on frozen opportunities and tempt consumers down the frozen aisle. We’d like to see more retailers recognising the potential of frozen in 2013 and beyond by introducing wider, more premium ranges. For 2013 we expect positive trends to continue for the frozen industry as the UK continues to struggle in recession. Financial and economic implications along with food price rises and concerns over quality will result in more and more consumers looking to take advantage of the benefits of frozen in providing nutritious meals for their families.
BFFF is the leading Trade Association for the frozen food sector. Its mission is to promote and protect the interests of the frozen food industry. Members cover the whole of the entire cold chain including large companies to SMEs. The Federation works to increase its influence with Government and develop alliances with outside
agencies affecting the success of frozen foods. It is involved in a wide range of consultations with Government departments, covering a diverse set of issues affecting the frozen food industry.
www.bfff.co.uk
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