Frozen food sales rose significantly the final week of April, according to new research by the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), 210 Analytics, and IRI. The +50.3% increase was the highest since the height of mid-March stockpiling by consumers, when frozen food sales peaked at +94.4% compared to 2019 sales for the same time period. The +50.3% increase translates to $1.3 billion compared to $442 million in 2019.

The adage, "shoot for the moon and you'll still land among the stars" comes to mind when assessing frozen food sales since early March. The rocket launch of consumer stockpiling created astronomical sales figures that were impossible to sustain, but now that buying has leveled off, the year-over-year numbers look like they'll be hovering around +30% over 2019 sales for weeks to come, if not the rest of 2020, according to new data from the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and 210 Analytics. That means the meteoric sales arc created by panic buying in March has a long way to go before it comes down to normal levels. 

As we respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is vital that we communicate accurate information about our food system. I have some important information to share. 

Attendees representing the $57 billion frozen food and beverage supply chain gathered in Las Vegas recently for the 2020 AFFI Frozen Food Convention (AFFI-CON), where new AFFI officers were elected: Meghan Swan of J.R. Simplot Company as chair; Julia Sabin of The J.M. Smucker Company as chair elect; and Mike McEvoy of Sargento Foods as immediate past chair.

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) discusses some best food safety practices for listeria control in frozen food facilities.

We are now in Week 4 of the partial government shutdown, with little to no resolution in sight.