MEA Frozen Bakery Market - By Product Type: Frozen Bread (flatbreads, rolls, sandwich bread), Viennoiseries (croissants, Danish, puff pastries), Cakes & Muffins, Pizza Bases & Dough; Savoury Pastries; By Distribution Channel: Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Discounters & Grocery Chains, Online Retail Platforms, HoReCa (Hotels, Cafés, Caterers), Institutional (Airlines, Schools, Hospitals).
1 | Market Overview
The frozen bakery market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is witnessing strong growth due to increasing demand for convenient, affordable, and consistent-quality bakery products. Rapid urbanisation, growth in tourism and hospitality, and the spread of Western food habits are fueling the uptake of frozen bread, pastries, and snacks across countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and South Africa. The market benefits from improved cold chain logistics, expansion of modern retail and QSRs, and a rising preference for long shelf-life, hygienically prepared baked goods.
2 | Market Size and Forecast
|
Year |
Market Value (USD Billion) |
Notes |
|
2019 |
2.1 |
Historical baseline |
|
2024 |
3.0 |
Five-year CAGR 7.4% |
|
2031 |
5.6 |
Seven-year CAGR 9.2% |
The MEA frozen bakery market is forecast to grow rapidly, particularly in the Gulf countries and North Africa, supported by foodservice demand and expanding supermarket penetration.
3 | Key Market Drivers
4 | Market Challenges
5 | Competitive Landscape
The market includes a blend of global bakery conglomerates, regional manufacturers, and in-house supermarket brands. Multinational brands are expanding via distributor networks, while local players target value-oriented segments.
Market Share Estimates (2024):
|
Company |
Estimated Market Share |
Key Regions of Strength |
|
Lantmännen Unibake |
10% |
GCC – pastries, bread, QSR supply |
|
Aryzta |
9% |
UAE, Egypt – premium and artisanal frozen bakery |
|
Almarai |
7% |
KSA – frozen dough, Middle Eastern breads |
|
Private Labels (Carrefour, Spinneys, Shoprite) |
25% |
Region-wide – value SKUs and localised offerings |
|
Local Manufacturers |
35% |
Bread, flatbreads, pastries with halal & cultural relevance |
|
Others (importers and niche players) |
14% |
Speciality and vegan SKUs |
6 | Market Segmentation
By Product Type:
By Distribution Channel:
By Regional Market:
7 | Strategic Outlook
Localisation and private-label innovation will be key success levers. Companies should adapt Western formats for regional tastes (e.g., halal croissants, zaatar muffins) and invest in freezer penetration in emerging areas. In parallel, sustainability efforts via recyclable packaging and solar-powered cold storage are expected to gain importance.
Need help?
Chat with our team in a minute.