Frozen foods, long relegated to second-tier status in the culinary traditions of Spain and Portugal, are surging in popularity.
The latest retail data from Euromonitor shows a significant upswing in frozen food consumption across the Iberian Peninsula, highlighting not just a trend but a broader shift in consumer behavior that blends economic pressures with evolving lifestyles.
According to Euromonitor International data, Spain, Europe’s fourth-largest economy, continues to dominate the region in absolute market size. In 2023, Spaniards spent EUR564.6m on frozen processed fruit and vegetables, a figure that is expected to climb to EUR651.1m by 2025.
Sales of frozen processed meat and seafood followed similar trajectories, projected to reach EUR193.3m and EUR276.0m respectively within the same timeframe. Meanwhile, the frozen meat and seafood substitutes segment, still in its infancy, is set to expand rapidly—from EUR7.9m in 2023 to EUR10.1m by 2025—suggesting a budding interest in plant-based alternatives even in a traditionally meat-loving culture.
Portugal, with a population roughly a quarter of Spain’s, has a smaller frozen food market in terms of total euros spent. Yet, in per capita terms, Portuguese households are often outspending their Spanish counterparts. In 2023, households in Portugal spent EUR34.8 on frozen fruits and vegetables, compared to EUR30.0 in Spain.
That difference is consistent across other categories. Per household expenditure on frozen seafood, for example, is forecasted to reach EUR15.0 in Portugal by 2025, outpacing Spain’s EUR14.4. Even in the niche category of frozen meat and seafood substitutes, Portuguese households are projected to spend nearly three times as much per year as Spanish households by 2025.
This divergence between total market size and per household expenditure points to a compelling dynamic. In Spain, the growth of the frozen food sector is being driven primarily by scale—more households buying more products, even if individual spending remains modest. In Portugal, the smaller base appears more committed to frozen alternatives, suggesting either a preference for higher-quality offerings or a deeper integration of frozen foods into everyday meal planning.
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