UK Frozen Food Market - By Product Type: Frozen Ready Meals (British classics, Indian, Asian), Frozen Vegetables & Fruits, Frozen Meat & Poultry, Frozen Fish & Seafood, Frozen Bakery & Snacks, Frozen Desserts & Ice Cream; By Distribution Channel: Supermarkets & Hypermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda), Discount Stores (Aldi, Lidl), Online Grocery (Ocado, Tesco.com, Amazon Fresh), Foodservice Distributors, Institutional (Schools, NHS, Contract Caterers); By Consumer Segment: Budget-Conscious Families, Young Urban Professionals, Seniors & Health-Focused Buyers, Institutional Buyers.
1 | Market Overview
The United Kingdom’s frozen food market is a mature and resilient sector driven by shifting consumer preferences towards convenience, value, and longer shelf life. This category has evolved far beyond basic staples, with increasing demand for ready meals, plant-based options, and frozen international cuisine. The growing presence of discounters, digital grocery platforms, and heightened interest in food waste reduction continue to expand the appeal of frozen formats. Post-pandemic habits, cost-of-living concerns, and health-focused reformulations are shaping the next phase of market growth.
2 | Market Size and Forecast
|
Year |
Market Value (USD Billion) |
Notes |
|
2019 |
11.1 |
Historical benchmark |
|
2024 |
14.3 |
Five-year CAGR 5.2% |
|
2031 |
20.8 |
Seven-year CAGR 5.5% |
The UK frozen food market is projected to surpass USD 20 billion by 2031, fuelled by evolving retail dynamics, economic value, and health-forward innovation.
3 | Key Market Drivers
4 | Market Challenges
5 | Competitive Landscape
The UK market is led by national players, global food brands, and strong supermarket-owned labels competing across every frozen category.
Market Share Estimates (2024):
|
Company |
Estimated Market Share |
Focus Categories |
|
Birds Eye (Nomad Foods) |
18% |
Vegetables, fish fingers, ready meals |
|
Iceland Foods |
15% |
Frozen-only retail; strong in ready meals and family packs |
|
Aunt Bessie’s (Nomad Foods) |
9% |
Yorkshire puddings, roast accompaniments |
|
Private Labels (Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s) |
36% |
Price-led frozen range across all categories |
|
Others (Greggs, vegan startups, regional brands) |
22% |
Plant-based, ethnic, and premium offerings |
6 | Market Segmentation
By Product Type:
By Distribution Channel:
By Consumer Segment:
7 | Strategic Outlook
Retailers and brands must deliver on both cost efficiency and dietary relevance. Opportunities lie in healthy frozen snacks, global flavours, clean-label ingredients, and low-sodium reformulations. Investments in energy-efficient storage, sustainable packaging, and last-mile delivery optimisation will shape future competitiveness.
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