It was just a couple of years ago that e-commerce took the grocery landscape by storm, forever changing the future of the industry.
Refrigerated and frozen food manufacturers altered production processes in order to fulfill multiple SKUs. Grocers revamped business plans to incorporate delivery and pickup services. And, meal delivery service providers made their subscription-based products available on retail shelves.
See the charts here!
We interrupt this program with… disruption.
Disruption in new product development, where startups are infiltrating freezercases and refrigerated aisles.
Disruption with market leaders, where the big companies become bigger thanks to mergers and acquisitions.
Disruption in market trends, where new flavor profiles and consumer trends drive growth, and incubators and innovation centers create opportunities.
Disruption in operations, where many of today’s companies are more transparent, responsible and environmentally-friendly.
Disruption in supply chains, where technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, smart controls and digitalization allow companies to operate more accurately and efficiently.
These “gamechangers” are interrupting the status quo way of making food by adopting cutting-edge trends and solutions, and educating consumers on what better-for-you food really means.
So, please allow us to disrupt your day, and introduce you to Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2019 State of the Industry report.
New to this year’s report is a restructuring of content, discussing overall industry trends, as well as trends surrounding agriculture, food and beverage processing, retail vs. e-commerce and foodservice distribution.
Keep an eye out for charts that break down certain categories by Top 10 revenue-generating companies.
Discover statistics involving food automation trends, courtesy of Clear Seas Research, the market research firm owned by BNP Media, Troy, Mich., which also owns Refrigerated & Frozen Foods.
And, learn the Top 10 refrigerated and frozen markets based on sales.
While the term “disruption” can sometimes be perceived as negative, when companies and products disrupt the food and beverage industry, they’re innovating, developing, growing, implementing, automating, building and succeeding.
Overall Industry Trends
Discover overall industry trends, where the market experiences the most growth and where the industry is headed in terms of robotics, automation, blockchain and more.
Agriculture
Learn trends surrounding sustainable farming, including hydroponic farms, aeroponics and more.
Food & Beverage Processing
Check out today’s food and beverage processing trends, including packaging enhancements, new product development, plant design trends and more.
Retail vs. E-Commerce
Uncover the overlap of retail and e-commerce, what retailers are doing to play in the e-commerce space and how both can co-exist in a modern grocery landscape.
Foodservice Distribution
Find out the supply chain and logistics trends pertaining to foodservice distribution, and how the above trends shape the future of transporting temperature-sensitive products from Point A to Point B.
The Charts
Top 10 Frozen Breakfast Entrées
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hillshire Brands Co. | $331,162,906 | 8.1% | 47.26 | 0.38 | 122,513,285 |
2 | Kellogg Co. | $96,996,779 | 9.0% | 13.84 | 0.22 | 29,588,337 |
3 | DE Wafelbakkers LLC | $87,361,402 | 14.9% | 12.47 | 0.83 | 25,617,954 |
4 | Private Label | $68,280,406 | 3.5% | 9.74 | -0.35 | 31,483,715 |
5 | Heinz North America | $17,620,610 | -5.4% | 2.51 | -0.34 | 8,496,669 |
6 | Bellisio Foods | $15,975,815 | 19.2% | 2.28 | 0.23 | 4,585,493 |
7 | Pinnacle Foods Group LLC | $14,058,700 | 29.2% | 2.01 | -1.03 | 7,053,171 |
8 | Schwan Food Co. | $10,057,338 | 8.0% | 1.44 | 0.01 | 2,658,598 |
9 | Bob Evans Farms Inc. | $8,785,859 | 4.1% | 1.25 | -0.04 | 2,520,738 |
10 | Amy's Kitchen Inc. | $7,417,940 | -0.6% | 1.06 | -0.08 | 1,724,029 |
FZ Breakfast Entrées | $700,726,324 | 7.2% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 248,650,890 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Frozen Fruit
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $761,383,709 | 4.9% | 70.88 | 4.08 | 162,332,985 |
2 | Dole Packaged Foods LLC | $113,041,265 | -9.5% | 10.52 | -0.97 | 19,662,006 |
3 | Jasper Wyman & Son | $75,413,372 | 3.6% | 7.02 | 0.32 | 8,859,491 |
4 | Goya Foods Inc. | $20,642,667 | 8.2% | 1.92 | 0.17 | 7,710,055 |
5 | Matosantos Communications Corp. | $15,542,367 | -14.6% | 1.45 | -0.23 | 1,196,362 |
6 | Welch Foods Inc. | $15,300,605 | -0.6% | 1.42 | 0.01 | 2,288,587 |
7 | Earthbound Farm | $7,798,574 | -23.9% | 0.73 | -0.22 | 1,065,993 |
8 | La Fe Foods | $4,717,084 | 18.4% | 0.44 | 0.07 | 1,592,035 |
9 | Birds Eye Foods Inc. | $4,537,199 | -22.4% | 0.42 | -0.12 | 2,132,786 |
10 | Woodstock Farms | $4,259,793 | -5.8% | 0.40 | -0.02 | 791,824 |
FZ Fruit | $1,074,185,300 | -1.2% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 219,125,820 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Frozen Single-Serve Dinners/Entrées
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nestlé | $1,336,552,264 | -1.1% | 30.00 | -1.27 | 520,856,892 |
2 | Conagra Brands | $1,284,999,375 | 12.5% | 28.84 | 2.41 | 569,193,488 |
3 | Bellisio Foods | $408,659,674 | -6.0% | 9.17 | -0.89 | 268,691,281 |
4 | Amy's Kitchen Inc. | $315,042,650 | 2.4% | 7.07 | -0.05 | 73,050,854 |
5 | Pinnacle Foods Group LLC | $197,339,359 | -3.6% | 4.43 | -0.31 | 66,740,533 |
6 | Heinz North America | $191,372,117 | -13.1% | 4.29 | -0.80 | 95,326,470 |
7 | Kraft Heinz Co. | $128,174,637 | 13.8% | 2.88 | 0.27 | 41,107,868 |
8 | Private Label | $97,953,621 | 7.2% | 2.20 | 0.09 | 41,830,248 |
9 | Ajinomoto Windsor Inc. | $79,093,554 | 15.0% | 1.78 | 0.18 | 31,887,144 |
10 | Phil's Fresh Foods Inc. | $62,407,796 | -4.0% | 1.40 | -0.10 | 16,048,782 |
Single Serve FZ Dinners/Entrées | $4,455,740,260 | 3.0% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 1,823,007,071 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Frozen Pizza
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nestlé USA Inc. | $1,997,765,317 | 1.7% | 41.67 | -1.27 | 436,452,127 |
2 | Schwan Food Co. | $909,336,111 | 6.7% | 18.97 | 0.34 | 253,571,624 |
3 | Private Label | $582,349,215 | 5.6% | 12.15 | 0.09 | 182,546,644 |
4 | General Mills Inc. | $362,453,589 | -0.8% | 7.56 | -0.43 | 217,576,336 |
5 | Bernatello's Pizza Inc. | $120,706,768 | 18.5% | 2.52 | 0.29 | 27,602,034 |
6 | Palermo Villa Inc. | $119,967,801 | -17.6% | 2.50 | -0.68 | 23,273,845 |
7 | Home Run Inn | $82,940,892 | 2.2% | 1.73 | -0.04 | 14,621,654 |
8 | Newman's Own Inc. | $73,327,183 | 14.6% | 1.53 | 0.13 | 12,927,880 |
9 | Amy's Kitchen Inc. | $60,027,741 | -3.8% | 1.25 | -0.11 | 8,752,991 |
10 | Dro. Oetker USA | $55,400,823 | -6.3% | 1.16 | -0.14 | 15,419,075 |
FZ Pizza | $4,794,665,400 | 4.8% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 1,310,610,392 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Frozen Potato Specialties
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Heinz North America | $637,760,124 | -2.5% | 38.62 | -3.02 | 204,929,919 |
2 | Private Label | $580,687,265 | 1.3% | 35.16 | -1.32 | 248,026,932 |
3 | Lamb Weston Inc. | $214,191,230 | 59.4% | 12.97 | 4.42 | 71,698,251 |
4 | Alexia Foods | $115,191,343 | 6.5% | 6.98 | 0.09 | 32,385,271 |
5 | McCain Foods USA Inc. | $35,317,068 | 18.1% | 2.14 | 0.24 | 13,399,467 |
6 | Mr. Dell Foods Inc. | $10,055,282 | 18.1% | 2.14 | 0.24 | 13,399,467 |
7 | JR Simplot Co. | $9,893,967 | -3.1% | 0.60 | -0.05 | 4,160,677 |
8 | Treasure Valley Food Group | $8,378,467 | 2.5% | 0.51 | -0.01 | 3,666,625 |
9 | Cavendish Farms Operations Inc. | $7,315,639 | -2.9% | 0.44 | -0.01 | 2,464,741 |
10 | Mr. Dees Inc. | $6,481,565 | -9.9% | 0.39 | -0.07 | 2,619,657 |
FZ Potato Specialties | $1,651,444,170 | 5.1% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 594,135,840 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Frozen Side Dishes
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Birds Eye Foods Inc. | $286,772,584 | 11.5% | 43.22 | 3.71 | 114,917,047 |
2 | B&G Foods Inc. | $123,900,721 | 4.4% | 18.67 | 0.44 | 41,763,912 |
3 | Kraft Heinz Co. | $50,119,637 | 2.5% | 7.55 | 0.04 | 9,401,258 |
4 | Nestlé USA Inc. | $31,551,430 | -20.3% | 4.75 | -1.33 | 12,325,445 |
5 | Private Label | $27,068,666 | -17.0% | 4.08 | -0.93 | 10,549,857 |
6 | Innovasian Cuisine Enterprises | $16,797,034 | -10.9% | 2.53 | -0.37 | 4,488,565 |
7 | Heinz North America | $15,159,090 | -22.2% | 2.28 | -0.71 | 4,704,803 |
8 | Alexia Foods | $12,578,878 | 212.8% | 1.90 | 1.28 | 3,132,216 |
9 | Conagra Brands | $9,842,543 | -5.8% | 1.48 | -0.12 | 2m746m434 |
10 | Old Fashioned Kitchen | $8,877,667 | 3.0% | 1.34 | 0.01 | 2,194,795 |
FZ Side Dishes | $663,586,415 | 2.0% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 229,444,686 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $350,126,953 | 6.9% | 47.13 | 1.99 | 217,484,649 |
2 | Birds Eye Foods Inc. | $237,466,962 | -1.5% | 31.97 | -1.26 | 103,501,253 |
3 | Pictsweet LLC | $68,142,395 | 0.9% | 9.17 | -0.13 | 34,010,269 |
4 | B&G Foods Inc. | $41,250,900 | -2.5% | 5.55 | -0.28 | 23,812,886 |
5 | Norpac Foods Inc. | $19,458,723 | 3.6% | 2.62 | 0.03 | 10,415,636 |
6 | Hanover Foods Corp. | $8,299,421 | -7.4% | 1.12 | -0.12 | 4,282,033 |
7 | Goya Foods Inc. | $3,586,365 | 15.1% | 0.48 | 0.05 | 1,383,608 |
8 | La Fe Foods | $3,051,543 | -6.9% | 0.41 | -0.04 | 1,274,580 |
9 | Small Planet Foods Inc. | $2,718,324 | 3.9% | 0.37 | 0.01 | 978,880 |
10 | Southeastern Meats | $1,634,069 | 70.0% | 0.22 | 0.09 | 383,004 |
FZ Mixed Vegetables | $742,857,992 | 2.4% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 400,082,879 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Ice Cream
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $1,026,236,435 | -1.4% | 18.39 | 0.00 | 339,366,343 |
2 | Nestlé Dreyers Ice Cream Co. | $930,071,444 | 2.7% | 16.67 | 0.66 | 234,531,275 |
3 | Blue Bell Creameries LP | $510,195,462 | 4.6% | 9.14 | 0.52 | 107,593,561 |
4 | Good Humor Breyers | $506,428,345 | -5.8% | 9.08 | -0.43 | 133,672,222 |
5 | Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. | $501,395,106 | 4.4% | 8.99 | 0.50 | 123,937,707 |
6 | Wells Enterprises Inc. | $296,733,443 | -6.7% | 5.32 | -0.30 | 68,154,158 |
7 | Turkey Hill Dairy | $266,653,851 | 3.9% | 4.78 | 0.24 | 88,827,006 |
8 | Eden Creamery LLC | $253,170,039 | -33.2% | 4.54 | -2.16 | 60,543,269 |
9 | Unilever Bestfoods North America | $231,727,373 | 4.6% | 4.15 | 0.24 | 55,824,683 |
10 | Friendly's Ice Cream LLC | $152,473,951 | -1.4% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 1,490,213,780 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Refrigerated Almond Milk
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Blue Diamond Growers | $487,905,260 | 11.9% | 40.06 | 0.20 | 143,510,763 |
2 | Danonewave | $420,000,525 | 5.3% | 34.48 | -1.98 | 128,437,256 |
3 | Private Label | $217,278,965 | 20.4% | 17.84 | 1.34 | 83,486,189 |
4 | Califia Farms LLC | $83,478,267 | 18.9% | 6.85 | 0.44 | 20,894,948 |
5 | Hiland Dairy Foods Co. LLC | $4,222,343 | -5.1% | 0.35 | -0.06 | 1,388,316 |
6 | Mooala Brands LLC | $1,414,092 | 313.6% | 0.12 | 0.08 | 281,820 |
7 | New Barn | $1,190,237 | 51.4% | 0.10 | 0.03 | 223,043 |
8 | Smith Dairy Products | $1,110,815 | 4.3% | 0.09 | -0.01 | 360,466 |
9 | Malk Organics | $659,784 | -37.5% | 0.05 | -0.04 | 126,482 |
10 | Pop & Bottle Inc. | $280,613 | -24.1% | 0.02 | -0.01 | 65,739 |
RFG Almond Milk | $1,217,975,531 | 11.4% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 378,849,605 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Refrigerated Bacon
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $1,159,592,880 | 7.1% | 24.08 | 1.09 | 257,352,845 |
2 | Kraft Heinz Co. | $944,062,777 | 3.1% | 19.60 | 0.17 | 181,461,692 |
3 | Hormel Foods LLC | $595,650,378 | 3.8% | 12.37 | 0.18 | 102,788,050 |
4 | Wright Brand Foods Inc. | $412,136,234 | 3.5% | 8.56 | 0.10 | 39,176,379 |
5 | Smithfield | $396,434,728 | 9.1% | 8.23 | 0.52 | 85,471,297 |
6 | Farmland Foods Inc. | $170,925,831 | -3.0% | 3.55 | -0.19 | 35,812,380 |
7 | Bar S Foods Co. | $83,033,474 | 4.8% | 1.72 | 0.04 | 23,772,062 |
8 | Clougherty Packing LLC | $74,971,366 | -1.5% | 1.56 | -0.06 | 15,515,681 |
9 | Smithfield Packaged Meats | 71,846,240 | -9.8 | 1.49 | -0.20 | 20,906,928 |
10 | Hillshire Brands Co. | $71,236,719 | 34.7% | 1.48 | 0.36 | 19,477,042 |
RFG Bacon | $4,816,132,209 | 2.3% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 975,555,331 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Refrigerated Dips
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $215,593,670 | 27.1% | 20.08 | 2.74 | 64,447,255 |
2 | Mega Mex Foods | $141,521,761 | 5.0% | 13.18 | -0.59 | 32,522,398 |
3 | T. Marzetti Co. | $81,484,224 | 1.5% | 7.59 | -0.61 | 22,375,963 |
4 | Ventura Foods LLC | $75,672,218 | 2.2% | 7.05 | -0.51 | 37,586,146 |
5 | Heluva Good Cheese Inc. | $63,263,097 | 4.0% | 5.89 | -0.33 | 29,015,889 |
6 | Sabra Dipping Co. LLC | $62,217,355 | 7.0% | 5.79 | -0.15 | 16,346,037 |
7 | Curation Foods Inc. | $61,630,733 | 3.8% | 5.74 | -0.33 | 14,041,006 |
8 | Kraft Heinz Co. | $41,256,607 | 61.8% | 3.84 | 1.24 | 20,886,586 |
9 | Kachwa Food Group | $23,665,140 | 13.2% | 2.20 | 0.07 | 5,408,513 |
10 | Good Foods Group | $18,746,446 | 16.4% | 1.75 | 0.10 | 4,955,508 |
RFG Dips | $1,073,748,194 | 9.7% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 331,907,291 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Refrigerated Fresh-Cut Salad
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $2,215,828,791 | 4.7% | 38.53 | 1.33 | 755,654,874 |
2 | Fresh Express Co. Inc. | $1,090,164,585 | -3.5% | 18.95 | -0.89 | 407,133,244 |
3 | Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. | $767,813,432 | -3.1% | 13.35 | -0.57 | 291,813,645 |
4 | Taylor Fresh Foods | $485,600,239 | 7.0% | 8.44 | 0.47 | 148,793,856 |
5 | Ready Pac Foods Inc. | $393,946,118 | -14.8% | 6.85 | -1.28 | 118,432,370 |
6 | Orga Nicgirl | $171,275,805 | 19.2% | 2.98 | 0.45 | 37,976,651 |
7 | Earthbound Farm | $132,754,865 | -10.0% | 2.31 | -0.29 | 35,536,203 |
8 | Apio Inc. | $122,307,187 | 28.7% | 2.13 | 0.46 | 38,131,339 |
9 | Veg Pro International | $56,311,327 | 6.6% | 0.98 | 0.05 | 18,756,974 |
10 | Olivias Organics | $44,955,553 | -14.7% | 0.78 | -0.14 | 9,789,391 |
Refrig. Fresh-cut salad | $5,751,366,570 | 1.1% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 1,939,316,895 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.
Top 10 Refrigerated Prepared Salad
Rank | Vendors | Dollar Sales | Dollar Sales% Chg YAgo |
Dollar Share of Type |
Dollar Share of Type Chg YAgo |
Unit Sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Private Label | $578,256,229 | 13.0% | 62.74 | 3.80 | 171,424,475 |
2 | Reser's Fine Foods Inc. | $136,047,541 | -1.6% | 14.76 | -1.16 | 32,790,416 |
3 | Del Monte Foods Inc. | $81,196,418 | -6.0% | 8.81 | -1.14 | 37,193,401 |
4 | St. Clair Foods Inc. | $15,256,381 | -4.9% | 1.66 | -0.19 | 2,865,358 |
5 | Sandridge Food Corp. | $13,493,030 | -2.6% | 1.46 | -0.13 | 3,167,522 |
6 | Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen Inc. | $8,111,134 | 13.1% | 0.88 | 0.05 | 1,508,174 |
7 | Hans Kissle | $7,998,467 | 4.7% | 0.87 | -0.01 | 1,875,140 |
8 | Papa John's Salads & Produce | $6,128,137 | -0.1% | 0.66 | -0.04 | 1,570,445 |
9 | Sundia Corp. | $5,121,503 | -47.8% | 0.56 | -0.58 | 3,723,763 |
10 | Lipari Foods Inc. | $4,746,818 | 3.3% | 0.51 | -0.05 | 1,393,767 |
Refrig. Prepared Salad | $921,715,801 | 6.2% | 100.00 | 0.00 | 273,626,370 |
Source: IRI Chicago. Total U.S. multi-outlet (grocery, drug, mass market, military, select club dollar retailers). Latest 52 Weeks Ending March 24, 2019.