Market Trends of Asia-Pacific Freeze-Dried Food Industry
Rising Consumer Expenditure on Convenience Food Products
The growing middle-class population and the availability of products from international players in the region lead to the increased demand for freeze-dried foods. Moreover, consumers in the country are opting for freeze-dried products as they have become an easy meal choice, are convenient, and provide a long shelf life. Food created from natural resources is receiving a lot of attention in the region. This has prompted market participants to introduce a wide range of freeze-dried fruits, including exotic and tropical fruits, orchard and citrus fruits, berries, and others. Additionally, they are increasingly substituting natural tastes and colors for synthetic flavors and preservatives.
The market is primarily driven by rising expenditure on food and beverage, introducing products with longer shelf lives, increasing impulse purchasing, and growing demand for convenience foods that can be prepared quickly due to a shortage of available time. For instance, according to the Ministry of Commerce (Thailand), the growth rate of chilled and frozen ready-to-eat food exports from Thailand was 9.2 percent in 2021. Owing to fast-paced lifestyles and the need for a quick meal among adults, there has been a growing demand for healthy and convenient food that can be consumed instantly. Frozen foods are considered to provide that benefit as most of them can be cooked within less time for consumption. These factors have been propelling the market growth.
Australia is the Fastest Growing Country
The presence of local players offering freeze-dried products in Australia is boosting the market growth in the country. The players are freeze-drying fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products like meats to add value to foods in terms of long shelf life, being lightweight, and preserving nutrition. The active lifestyle of people in the country makes them opt for freeze-dried foods. Moreover, retail shops in the country are stocking freeze-dried products for increased shelf visibility of different freeze-dried food brands, suiting consumers' unique needs. According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Australia), the majority of imported sheepmeat to China from Australia was kept frozen. Frozen lamb and frozen mutton accounted for respectively 52 and 47 percent of Australian sheepmeat imports to Greater China in 2021.
Also, increasing tourism and other outdoor activities have fuelled the growth of the freeze-dried food market in Australia. For example, camping rations and freeze-dried food are generally preferred by campers during their trips due to the convenience offered by these products. For instance, Campers Pantry offers a range of freeze-dried food options that customers can carry for expeditions and similar activities. Freeze-dried foods are popular in Australia as they are light and compact and can be easily prepared with little to no changes in flavor, texture, and nutritional value. As products preserved through freeze-drying retain their flavor and nutrient content, consumers are more often purchasing freeze-dried foods over other instant foods, thereby enabling market growth.
