With the pandemic easing, consumers and cold food processing providers have settled into a new normal. “New” applies to just about everything – what consumers are choosing to eat, how it’s being purchased and how it’s being distributed. Builders in the cold food processing space are meeting growing demands and there are no signs of it slowing down. According to MarketsandMarkets, the cold chain is expected to be valued at $10.2 billion by 2026. That’s up from $4.7 billion in 2021. Further, CRBE predicts the need for cold storage space to increase by 100 million square feet in the same time period.

Many consumers are shifting to a healthier lifestyle post-pandemic. A recent study by the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) indicates that many consumers are seeking a wider selection of frozen foods made with fewer, and more premium, ingredients, particularly with dairy and pet food clients. The AFFI study showed more than half of shoppers are purchasing more frozen foods, 58% are purchasing different kinds of frozen foods and 57% are purchasing different brands than they did pre-pandemic. This shift is a driver for the increase in cold storage demand and is expected to maintain pace through 2022.