The IQF process is widely used for ingredients such as herbs, rice and noodles, reports Jonathan Thomas.
Although estimates regarding its size vary, the global market for food ingredients and additives continues to expand, driven by increased demand from the processed and convenience foods industry, as well as heightened consumer interest in more natural and clean-label solutions, especially for products such as colourants and starches. According to Persistence Market Research, the global market was worth almost USD34.5bn in 2022, with annual growth expected to average around 5% in the years leading up to 2033. By this time, global market value is forecast to reach nearly USD55bn.
Much of the growth within the processed and convenience foods industry is coming from less developed regions, examples of which include the Asia-Pacific countries and parts of Latin America and Africa. In these parts of the world, consumers (especially from within the younger age groups and those living in urban locations) are increasingly adopting western-style diets, encompassing foods such as ready meals, pizzas, and other pre-prepared dishes. This has increased demand for herbs, as well as rice and noodles, all of which are now widely produced for frozen food applications using the individual quick freezing (IQF) process.
Herbs
The world has a large and expanding market for herbs, which are used extensively in cooking and food preparation. Herbs are sold in a range of formats, examples include fresh, dried, and frozen, with global sales worth in the region of USD10bn. In recent years, market growth has been slightly higher for dried herbs, as they are considered more affordable and convenient than fresh varieties by many consumers. For the rest of the decade, annual growth within the global herbs market is expected to average around 6%, driven by the ongoing expansion in popularity of ethnic cuisines and dishes as consumer tastes become more sophisticated, as well as greater interest in a wider range of aromas and taste profiles.
Some of the world’s most popular herbs include rosemary, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, and sage. The market also features blended herbs – notable examples include Herbs de Provence (which contains ingredients such as basil, lavender, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and sage and is commonly used as a seasoning or a rub for meat-based dishes) and Fines Herbes, another French creation which blends parsley, chives, chervil and tarragon and is considered especially suitable for salads and egg-based dishes. Europe represents one of the world’s leading regional markets for herbs, although there are some variances in consumer tastes. For example, parsley and thyme are especially popular in the UK, whereas chives and dill are favoured by German consumers and garlic and oregano feature strongly as an ingredient in many of the Mediterranean countries.
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