FROZEN FOOD GAINING POPULARITY
By Adnews Staff
About $10.3 billion worth of frozen foods were sold in the U.S.1995, up from $9.8 billion in 1994. Sales are expected to reach $10.8 billion in 1996, and jump to $12.3 billion in 1999. These numbers and predictions come from the New-York-based research firm FIND/SVP. The company says the dinners/entrées category led the way in 1995 with sales of $4.2 billion. Pizza came in second at $1.9 billion and could jump to $2.5 billion in 1999. Baked goods rounded off the top three categories with estimated sales of $1.3 billion in 1995. Frozen hand-held entrees could reach sales of $953 million in 1999, says FIND/SVP. In 1995 estimated sales were $740 million. The growth is largely fueled by introductions of ethnic foods and pizza varieties. Dramatic growth is predicted for frozen appetizers: to $429 million in 1999 from $315 million in 1995. Consumers of prepared frozen foods tend to be 35 to 54 years old and single or divorced. They have low to moderate incomes, are not college graduates and live in urban areas. Frozen pizza fans tend to be younger. Vegetables are the most commonly purchased frozen foods.