Report Code : CVMI0606252 | Published Date : June 6, 2025

1 | Market Overview:

The frozen food market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expanding rapidly, driven by urbanization, changing lifestyles, rising disposable incomes, and a surge in the modern retail sector. Increasing demand for convenience and the growing young population in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa are accelerating the shift toward frozen meals, snacks, and staples. The rise of QSR chains, cloud kitchens, and online food retail has further fueled frozen food consumption. Government investments in food security and local manufacturing, particularly in Gulf nations, are strengthening regional supply chains.

 

2 | Market Size and Forecast

Year

Market Value (USD Billion)

Notes

2019

6.2

Historical baseline

2024

9.1

Five-year CAGR 7.9%

2031

16.7

Seven-year CAGR 9.0%

The MEA frozen food market is projected to nearly double between 2024 and 2031, fueled by increasing urban demand, enhanced logistics, and growth in regional processing capacity.

 

3 | Key Market Drivers

  • Urban Population Boom: Fast-growing cities in the GCC, Egypt, and Sub-Saharan Africa drive demand for convenient frozen meal solutions.
  • Modern Retail and E-Commerce: Chains such as Carrefour, Lulu, and Checkers are expanding freezer shelf space.
  • Foodservice Sector Growth: Hotels, airlines, and QSRs are major buyers of frozen meat, snacks, and ready meals.
  • Food Security Investments: Governments in the GCC are investing in local cold storage and manufacturing to reduce import dependency.

 

4 | Market Challenges

  • Infrastructure Gaps: Inconsistent cold chain networks in parts of Africa affect product quality and availability.
  • Cultural Preferences: Traditional food habits in rural areas may slow adoption.
  • Pricing Sensitivity: High energy and logistics costs increase end-consumer prices.

 

5 | Competitive Landscape

The MEA frozen food market is fragmented, consisting of a mix of multinational corporations, regional manufacturers, and rapidly growing private labels.

Market Share Estimates (2024):

Company

Estimated Market Share

Regional Presence

Al Islami Foods

9%

GCC – meats and ready meals

BRF Sadia

8%

Wide Middle East network – poultry and snacks

Americana

7%

Pan-regional – Arab cuisine frozen meals

McCain Foods

6%

Potatoes and appetizers – strong in South Africa and Gulf

Private Labels

28%

High in GCC and Egypt via retail chains

Regional & Local Players

42%

Diverse offerings, including halal and ethnic cuisines

 

6 | Market Segmentation
By Product Type:

  • Frozen Meat & Poultry
  • Frozen Vegetables & Fruits
  • Frozen Fish & Seafood
  • Ready Meals (Arab, Asian, Western)
  • Frozen Snacks & Breads (samosas, spring rolls, flatbreads)
  • Frozen Dairy (ice cream, frozen yogurt)

 

By Distribution Channel:

  • Hypermarkets & Supermarkets
  • Discounters & Traditional Retail
  • Online Grocery & Delivery Apps
  • HoReCa (Hotels, Airlines, Caterers)
  • Institutional Buyers (Hospitals, Schools, Camps)

 

By Region:

  • Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
  • North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Algeria)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria)
  • Levant (Jordan, Lebanon)

 

7 | Strategic Outlook
 

Growth will hinge on expanding region-specific product portfolios (halal, spicy, vegetarian), upgrading last-mile cold chain logistics, and investing in digital order fulfillment. Partnerships between international brands and regional manufacturers will unlock localisation and cost synergies.





Reasons To Buy

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Scope

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Key Players

  • General Mills Inc.
  • Nestlé S.A.
  • Al Kabeer Group
  • Sunbulah Group
  • Kraft Heinz Company
  • McCain Foods Limited
  • American Group Inc.
  • Tyson Foods Inc.
  • Seara (in Saudi Arabia)
  • Al Islami Foods

 

MEA Frozen Food Market Report

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  1. 1. MEA Frozen Food Market Research Report
    1. 1.1 Study Objectives
    2. 1.2 MEA Frozen Food Market - Overview
    3. 1.3 Reason to Read This Report
    4. 1.4 Methodology and Forecast Analysis
  2. 2. MEA Frozen Food Market Research Report - Preface
    1. 2.1 MEA Frozen Food Market Research Report – Detailed Scope and Definitions
      1. 2.1.1 By Product Type
      2. 2.1.2 By Distribution Channel
      3. 2.1.3 By Region
  3. 3. MEA Frozen Food Market Dynamics
    1. 3.1. Drivers - Macro-Economic Based, Supply Side, and Demand Side Drivers
    2. 3.2. Restraints – By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Country
    3. 3.3. Opportunities – By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Country
    4. 3.4. Trends – By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Country
    5. 3.5. PEST Analysis
    6. 3.6. Porters Five Rule Analysis
    7. 3.7. Company’s Share Analysis (CSA) by Region or By Country
    8. 3.8. MEA Frozen Food Market Research Report – DROTs Impact Analysis
    1. 4. MEA Frozen Food Market Research Report, Historic Data 2019 - 2023 and Forecast Analysis Data 2024 - 2031
    2. 4.1. Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    3. 4.2. Annual Market Trend Assessment – Year-on-Year (YoY) Growth Analysis (%)
    4. 4.3. Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and 2024 - 2031
    5. 4.4. Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
  1. 5. MEA Frozen Food Market, By Product Type, 2019 - 2023 and Forecast, 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 5.1 Frozen Meat & Poultry
    2. 5.1.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    3. 5.1.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    4. 5.1.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    5. 5.1.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. 5.2 Frozen Vegetables & Fruits
    7. 5.2.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    8. 5.2.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    9. 5.2.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    10. 5.2.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    11. 5.3 Frozen Fish & Seafood
    12. 5.3.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    13. 5.3.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    14. 5.3.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    15. 5.3.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    16. 5.4 Ready Meals (Arab
    17. 5.4.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    18. 5.4.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    19. 5.4.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    20. 5.4.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    21. 5.5 Asian
    22. 5.5.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    23. 5.5.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    24. 5.5.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    25. 5.5.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    26. 5.6 Western)
    27. 5.6.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    28. 5.6.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    29. 5.6.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    30. 5.6.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    31. 5.7 Frozen Snacks & Breads (samosas
    32. 5.7.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    33. 5.7.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    34. 5.7.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    35. 5.7.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    36. 5.8 spring rolls
    37. 5.8.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    38. 5.8.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    39. 5.8.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    40. 5.8.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    41. 5.9 flatbreads)
    42. 5.9.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    43. 5.9.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    44. 5.9.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    45. 5.9.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    46. 5.10 Frozen Dairy (ice cream
    47. 5.10.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    48. 5.10.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    49. 5.10.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    50. 5.10.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    51. 5.11 frozen yogurt)
    52. 5.11.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    53. 5.11.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    54. 5.11.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    55. 5.11.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. MEA Frozen Food Market, By Distribution Channel, 2019 - 2023 and Forecast, 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 6.1 Hypermarkets & Supermarkets
    2. 6.1.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    3. 6.1.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    4. 6.1.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    5. 6.1.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. 6.2 Discounters & Traditional Retail
    7. 6.2.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    8. 6.2.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    9. 6.2.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    10. 6.2.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    11. 6.3 Online Grocery & Delivery Apps
    12. 6.3.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    13. 6.3.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    14. 6.3.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    15. 6.3.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    16. 6.4 HoReCa (Hotels
    17. 6.4.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    18. 6.4.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    19. 6.4.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    20. 6.4.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    21. 6.5 Airlines
    22. 6.5.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    23. 6.5.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    24. 6.5.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    25. 6.5.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    26. 6.6 Caterers)
    27. 6.6.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    28. 6.6.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    29. 6.6.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    30. 6.6.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    31. 6.7 Institutional Buyers (Hospitals
    32. 6.7.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    33. 6.7.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    34. 6.7.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    35. 6.7.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    36. 6.8 Schools
    37. 6.8.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    38. 6.8.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    39. 6.8.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    40. 6.8.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    41. 6.9 Camps)
    42. 6.9.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    43. 6.9.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    44. 6.9.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    45. 6.9.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
  1. 7. MEA Frozen Food Market Forecast, By Region, 2019 - 2023 and 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 7.1 MEA Frozen Food Market - Opportunity Analysis Index, By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, and Region, 2024 - 2031
  1. 8. Competition Landscape
    1. 8.1 Strategic Dashboard of Top Market Players
    2. 8.2 Company Profiles (Introduction, Financial Assessments, Portfolio of Offerings, Milestones and Achievements, Strategic Initiative, and SWOT Analysis)
      1. 8.2.1 General Mills Inc.
      2. 8.2.2 Nestlé S.A.
      3. 8.2.3 Al Kabeer Group
      4. 8.2.4 Sunbulah Group
      5. 8.2.5 Kraft Heinz Company
      6. 8.2.6 McCain Foods Limited
      7. 8.2.7 American Group Inc.
      8. 8.2.8 Tyson Foods Inc.
      9. 8.2.9 Seara (in Saudi Arabia)
      10. 8.2.10 Al Islami Foods
  1. 9. Data Collection Method and Research Approach
  1. 10. Principal Presumptions and Acronyms