Frozen foods boast a long shelf life and can be prepared quickly and effortlessly, making them an ideal choice for busy consumers who want fresh, nutritious food without spending too much time cooking.
Frozen food wholesalers primarily supply frozen dairy products, quick-frozen vegetables and juices to retailers and food service institutions. Furthermore, they provide value-added services like product usage reports and other data, menu planning advice, and inventory management assistance to their customers.
Quality
Quality Frozen Foods is one of the largest kosher frozen food wholesaler New Zealand. It offers frozen and refrigerated items like cheese, dark cherries, pizza bagels and fish fillets/nuggets to customers such as local mom-and-pop shops, large independent kosher stores, national chain stores and convenience stores; its product portfolio also includes gluten-free options and specialty items. To learn more about this company, read IBISWorld’s industry research report.
Value
Frozen food wholesaler New Zealand resell frozen goods, such as packaged frozen meats, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, juices, bakery products, pizzas and other frozen meals to restaurants, food service outlets and grocery stores. Some are specialty wholesalers offering only certain product types like premium frozen novelties or diet foods; others provide complete lines of frozen products and warehousing services for their customers.
These companies mainly distribute their products to fast-food restaurants, cafeterias and grocery retailers. Furthermore, they engage in marketing, merchandising and product servicing activities for their clients.
Furthermore, many wholesalers provide point-of-sale merchandising material and display ideas. In addition, these companies can aid their clients in selling more frozen food by offering various sales promotion opportunities like specials and bundled packages.
The industry faces volatile prices and an increasing consumer preference for natural, fresh food products. Therefore, wholesalers must be flexible and creative with their product offerings, marketing strategies and advertising tactics to maintain a competitive market position.
Market players strive to maintain a positive brand image and foster strong connections with retail customers. But unfortunately, the lack of consumer trust in the industry has hurt sales growth.
Despite the challenges, frozen food demand remains strong. Rising agricultural and crude oil prices are expected to support industry revenue. Furthermore, rising consumer spending on discretionary items will likely fuel industry sales growth.
Private equity firms: These investors are eager for scale and profitability in frozen food companies, provided they can help the target expand its market presence and geographic reach. Ideal targets should possess mature internal capabilities, experienced management teams, and the capacity to utilise their assets effectively.
Deal flow in the frozen food industry has remained consistent since 2017 in the U.S. and Europe; however, there was a temporary lull in activity during 2020. Deal timing can be affected by geopolitical tensions and various macroeconomic factors. In addition, investor demand for vital assets exceeds supply in frozen food industries, increasing competition and valuations.
Service
The frozen food wholesaling industry comprises numerous companies that distribute to food service institutions and retail grocery outlets. In 2012, sales to these establishments constituted 23% of the industry’s revenues.
These companies sell food items, from canned meats and seafood to prepared dishes and frozen fruits and vegetables. Despite rising demand for fresh foods, frozen food wholesalers compete with general-line grocery merchant wholesalers and fast food restaurants.
Some frozen food wholesalers specialise in specific product lines, such as premium frozen novelties or frozen diet foods. These businesses tend to be smaller and less well-known than full-service wholesalers.
Distribution firms that supply frozen food to restaurant establishments often offer value-added services such as menu planning advice, food safety instruction and product usage reports. Furthermore, these firms provide a wide selection of frozen items like soups, salads and desserts.
One frozen food wholesaler, in particular, offers an innovative solution for handling their overstock. They purchase large amounts of product and then freeze it using unique technology, maintaining quality and consistency while freeing up space at their facility.
This type of solution is particularly advantageous as it saves the distributor time and money and eliminates the need to store overstock in their facility. As a result, businesses can save up to 20 per cent of their total storage and freezer space which can then be put towards other goods.