Growth, Consolidation, And Emerging Opportunities

Courtesy of Ardo

The frozen vegetable industry is heading into a period of steady expansion, encouraged by new consumer habits, stronger logistics networks, and new technology in food preservation.

Market size is expected to reach USD20.37bn in 2025 and climb to USD27.11bn by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of nearly 6%.

Driving this growth is the pursuit of convenience. According to Mordor Intelligence, urban households and dual-income families are increasingly opting for ready-to-cook vegetables that balance time savings with nutritional value. The adoption of air fryers and microwave steam bags has amplified demand, offering consumers quick meals without sacrificing taste or texture.

“Frozen meals account for 32% of total frozen sales, with younger generations advocating for a broader range of options, including global cuisines and healthier alternatives,” Conagra Brands said in its 2025 frozen food report. Technological innovation plays an equally important role. Individual Quick Freezing, energy-efficient refrigeration, and advanced packaging now ensure that frozen vegetables retain flavor, texture, and nutritional content while reducing spoilage.

The German Frozen Food Institute reported that Germany’s sales volume of deep-frozen vegetables reached 522,180 tons in 2024. In the United States, cold storage facilities held 2.23 billion pounds of frozen vegetables in 2024, according to the Department of Agriculture. Europe remains the dominant market, capturing more than a third of global revenue in 2024, supported by mature consumption habits, robust infrastructure, and a growing preference for sustainable diets.

Belgium has emerged as a leading exporter, shipping peas and mixed vegetables across the continent, while Germany, France, and the UK are focusing on value-added products such as organic, low-salt, and eco-friendly packaged offerings.

Asia-Pacific, however, is set to outpace other regions, with growth projected at just over 6% annually through 2030. China is investing heavily in cold-chain infrastructure, and India is expanding IQF capacity to meet demand from restaurants and urban households.

Eastern European markets have a lot of room for growth

Euromonitor data reveals that the Eastern European market for frozen processed fruit and vegetables reached USD2.53bn in 2024, representing a 7.4% growth year-on-year from 2023 (USD2.36bn). Looking ahead, the market is projected to expand to USD2.64bn in 2025, though at a more moderate growth rate of 4.4%. This deceleration in growth suggests a maturing market that continues to expand but at a more sustainable pace.

Western Europe’s market for frozen processed fruit and vegetables substantially outperforms its Eastern European counterpart, valued at USD12.43bn in 2024. This represents a 4.9% increase from 2023’s USD11.84bn. The market is expected to grow to USD12.88bn in 2025, with growth moderation to 3.7%.

Despite the slowing growth rate, the sheer size of this market presents significant opportunities for industry players. The per capita consumption figures highlight significant regional disparities: Eastern Europeans spent USD8.1 per person on frozen fruit and vegetables in 2024, expected to rise to USD8.5 in 2025, while Western Europeans spent significantly more at USD24.0 per person in 2024. (projected to reach USD24.8 in 2025).

These substantial differences in per capita consumption between regions highlight potential growth opportunities in Eastern European markets, where consumer spending on frozen foods has considerable room to increase toward Western European levels.

To read the entire article, please access your complimentary e-copy of Frozen Food Europe September-October, 2025 issue here.