In May 2014, the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), McLean, Va., launched a national effort to encourage consumers to take a fresh look at frozen foods. The “Frozen. How Fresh Stays Fresh.” initiative is compiled of leading American frozen food makers who have come together to inform and remind consumers that freezing simply pauses just-picked, just-baked and just-crafted foods, locking in their freshness, flavor and nutrients.

“Keeping food fresh is what freezing is all about,” says Kraig Naasz, president and CEO of AFFI. “Freezing is simply nature’s pause button that keeps fresh foods at their peak of freshness.”

Fast forward to today, and the frozen foods industry continues to overcome consumers’ negative perception about the health and wellness of frozen foods.

In honor of March being National Frozen Foods Month, this is Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ annual Top 150 Frozen Foods Processors report, which breaks down the Top 25 frozen food processors in each of the six sectors. Processors are ranked by annual net sales and listings.

While 50.8% of the processors updated their profile(s) via our online portal (22 companies appear in more than one category), other processors declined to provide annual sales or refused to update company information. Those frozen foods sales figures and estimates, which are marked with an asterisk (*), are based on company reports, news releases, market analysts’ reports, industry media and more. This report represents Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ best efforts to reflect pertinent sales from all channels.

A special thank you goes to Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ sister publications—National Provisioner and Dairy Foods—for providing projected sales figures in the meat/poultry and dairy foods sections, respectively. And, of course thank you to all of the respondents for taking the time to update their company information. Going straight to the source is a million times more credible than pulling information from the internet, so for that, we appreciate your cooperation.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT!

Here's how the report works: hover over each company name to find a compilation of articles pertaining to that company.
 

Meals & Entrées: Acquisitions Extend Category Growth

First, Ajinomoto North America acquired Windsor Foods, then High Liner Foods acquired Atlantic Trading Co. and in January, AdvancePierre Foods acquired Landshire, all within six months of each other. These are just some of the major acquisitions unfolding within the frozen meals and entrées category.

Changes from last year’s report

• Deleted The Hillshire Brands Co. because it merged with Tyson Foods and is now consolidated under one profile.
• Added John Soules and Hanover Foods.
• As a result, deleted Nippon Suisan and Frozen Specialties.

Significant events in 2014-15

• In March, Nation Pizza and Foods shuttered one of its McPherson, Kan., plants.
• Ruiz Foods completed two line expansions at its Denison, Texas, facility, purchased Heinz' former frozen foods facility in Florence, S.C., and celebrated its 50th anniversary. Also, co-founder Fred Ruiz retired.
• In September, Ajinomoto North America acquired Windsor Foods. As of press time, it announced plans to restructure the North American division.
• In September, Little Lady Foods named Rick Anderson as new president and CEO.
• Also in September, Tyson Foods completed its merger with The Hillshire Brands Co. The combination created one single company.
• Sue Gin, founder and CEO of Flying Food Group, passed away Sept. 26 after suffering a stroke.
• In October, High Liner Foods acquired Atlantic Trading Co., and in December, opened a new state-of- the-art headquarters for its U.S. business in Portsmouth, N.H. Meanwhile, High Liner USA appointed Peter Brown as new president and COO, taking over for Keith Decker, who was promoted to president and COO of High Liner Foods Inc.
• Also in October, Nestlé USA expanded its quality assurance lab in Dublin, Ohio, which tests samples of DiGiorno pizza and Häagen-Dazs ice cream, among other brands, for foodborne pathogens, flags environmental contaminants and verifies nutritional claims.
• In November, Pinnacle Foods acquired Garden Protein International Inc., a manufacturer of frozen alternative-meat products.
• In January 2015, AdvancePierre Foods acquired Landshire, Inc., and in February 2015, acquired Better Bakery and relocated production to Landshire’s Caseyville, Ill., facility.
• In February 2015, Sean Connolly, former CEO of The Hillshire Brands Co. prior to its sale to Tyson Foods, was named new chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, replacing Gary Rodkin.

Significant events still to come in 2015

• Ruiz Foods announced plans to construct an addition to its newly purchased Florence, S.C., distribution center.
• Nestlé USA announced plans to re-position its Lean Cuisine, Hot Pockets, Stouffers and California Pizza Kitchen brands to address the rising organic and ethnic trends.

Meat, Poultry & Seafood: Overcoming Food Fraud One Acquisition at a Time

Between protecting the food chain from food fraud and controlling Salmonella outbreaks, the frozen meat, poultry and seafood category has been tasked with some super-sized food safety initiatives.

Thankfully, these Top 25 players overcome food safety dilemmas with company acquisitions, new product developments and more.

Find out who acquired whom, what companies expanded and what’s in store for this forward-thinking category for the remainder of the year.

Changes from last year’s report

• Deleted The Hillshire Brands Co. because it merged with Tyson Foods and is now consolidated under one profile.
• Added John Soules Foods back to the report.

Significant events in 2014-15

• Butterball was named one of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ Processors to Watch in 2014 (September 2014 issue). Butterball also named Kerry Doughty as new president and CEO.
• OSI Group, LLC opened its newest facility in Riverside, Calif., May 14.
• In July, Hormel Foods acquired CytoSport, the makers of Muscle Milkproducts.
• Also in July, West Liberty Foods acquired Quantum Foods and its Bolingbrook, Ill., facility. Earlier this year, it announced plans to install a fifth high-pressure processing (HPP) line to the Bolingbrook facility.
• In September, Tyson Foods completed its merger with The Hillshire Brands Co. The combination created one single company.
• In other Tyson news, Tyson Foods received Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2014 Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year award (May 2014 issue).
• In October, High Liner Foods acquired Atlantic Trading Co., and in December, opened a new state-of- the-art headquarters for its U.S. business in Portsmouth, N.H. Meanwhile, High Liner USA appointed Peter Brown as new president and COO, taking over for Keith Decker, who was promoted to president and COO of High Liner Foods Inc.
• Herb Lotman, founder of Keystone Foods, passed away May 8 from complications of heart failure.
• In January 2015, AdvancePierre Foods acquired Landshire, Inc., and in February 2015, acquired Better Bakery and relocated production to Landshire’s Caseyville, Ill., facility.
• Right before press time, Smithfield Foods announced a realignment of its organization and key senior management appointments to unify all independent operating companies, brands, marketing and the more than 48,000 global employees under one corporate umbrella.

Significant events still to come in 2015

• JBS USA announced a $75 million expansion project at its Hyrum, Utah, beef processing complex.
• J.R. Simplot Co. formed a joint venture with Caviness Beef Packers to build a new beef processing plant in Kuna, Idaho.
• Golden State Foods announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art meat processing facility in Opelika, Ala.
• As of press time, news sites hinted at Hormel Foods nearing a deal to acquire Applegate Farms.

Dairy: New Product Development Shapes the Future of the Frozen Dairy Market

In a market where companies are growing, building and acquiring, the frozen dairy market for the most part, has remained stagnant. However, a noteworthy list of indulgent new ice cream flavors and a variety of frozen Greek yogurts keep the Top 25 frozen dairy processors in the game.

Changes from last year’s report

• Added The Schwan Food Co.
• As a result, Hershey Creamery was bumped from the list.

Significant events in 2014-15

• The Dannon Co. was named one of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ Processors to Watch in 2014 (September 2014 issue).
• Nestlé S.A. expanded its Cero Agua (Zero Water) dairy factory in Mexico, what is said to be the most zero-water factory in the world.
• After Safeway sold off its long-time Chicago grocery chain, Dominick’s, it was then acquired by Cerberus Capital Management, owner of Albertson’s.
• In February 2015, Sean Connolly, former CEO of The Hillshire Brands Co. prior to its sale to Tyson Foods, was named new chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, replacing Gary Rodkin.

Significant events still to come in 2015

• Safeway and Albertson’s owner AB Acquisition LLC, controlled by an investor group led by Cerberus Capital Management, completed their proposed merger, which will create a network of 2,230 stores, 27 distribution facilities and 19 manufacturing plants with over 250,000 employees across 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Snacks, Appetizers & Side Dishes: Consolidation Leads to Greater Growth

For the frozen snacks, appetizers and side dishes sector, it’s all about consolidation, consolidation, consolidation. Whether it’s combining two manufacturing facilities into one or merging with another company, these players remain in the Top 25 of their market thanks to some strategic moves that make them bigger and better than before.

Significant events in 2014-15

• Ruiz Foods completed two line expansions at its Denison, Texas, facility, purchased Heinz' former frozen foods facility in Florence, S.C., and celebrated its 50th anniversary. Also, co-founder Fred Ruiz retired.
• In September, Tyson Foods completed its merger with The Hillshire Brands Co. The combination created one single company. In other Tyson news, Tyson Foods received Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2014 Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year award (May 2014 issue).
• Nestlé USA consolidated production of its HOT POCKETS snacks from its Chatsworth, Calif., facility to the Mt. Sterling, Ky., plant.
• H.J. Heinz Co. celebrated six decades of producing Ore-Ida Tater Tots with the release of new packaging.
• ConAgra Foods, Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its Lamb Weston potato processing facility in Shangdu, Inner Mongolia, in November, the company’s first plant in China. ConAgra Foods acquired the facility in July when it purchased TaiMei Potato Industries Ltd.
• In February 2015, Sean Connolly, former CEO of The Hillshire Brands Co. prior to its sale to Tyson Foods, was named new chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, replacing Gary Rodkin.

Significant events still to come in 2015

• Nestlé USA announced plans to re-position its Lean Cuisine, Hot Pockets, Stouffers and California Pizza Kitchen brands to address the rising organic and ethnic trends.

Bakery: Frozen Bakery Aisle Intensifies with Change

From company acquisitions to plant expansions, the frozen bakery market is experiencing a great deal of change.

Find out how the Top 25 frozen bakers experienced growth through expansion, consolidation and mergers and acquisitions.

Changes from last year’s report

• Changed Maplehurst Bakeries to Weston Foods, Frozen.
• Deleted The Hillshire Brands Co. because it merged with Tyson Foods and is now consolidated under one profile.

Significant events in 2014-15

• In July, Weston Foods announced plans to expand its Lebanon, Ind., Maplehurst Bakeries facility.
• In August, Wenner Bread announced plans to move a bulk of its operations to a New Brunswick, N.J., facility.
• In September, Tyson Foods completed its merger with The Hillshire Brands Co. The combination created one single company.
• In December, Dianne’s Fine Desserts acquired Daystar Desserts.
• Irene Chang Britt, president of Pepperidge Farm, announced her intent to leave the company earlier this year. Luca Mignini, currently the president of Campbell International, will take over Britt’s position until the parent company completes its reorganization.
• Earlier this year, Kilmer Capital Partners Ltd. sold Give and Go Prepared Foods to OMERS Capital Partners.
• Gonnella Baking opened a new cold storage and distribution center in Schaumburg, Ill., that will serve as the Chicagoland pick-up point for Gonnella’s frozen baked line of products.
• In February 2015, Sean Connolly, former CEO of The Hillshire Brands Co. prior to its sale to Tyson Foods, was named new chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, replacing Gary Rodkin.

Significant events still to come in 2015

• Dianne’s Fine Desserts announced plans to expand offerings to the retail, in-store bakery and additional foodservice channels.
• Aryzta A.G. is set to ramp up its presence in North America by acquiring Canada-based Pineridge Bakery and Chicago-based Cloverhill Bakery.

Fruits & Vegetables: Frozen is Key to a Balanced Diet

While Americans struggle to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, a recent study reveals one simple solution—frozen. That’s why many of today’s frozen fruit and vegetable processors are taking a front seat to their fresh counterparts.

Changes from last year’s report

• Deleted Rader Farms and Fresh Frozen Foods and combined into their parent company, Inventure Foods, per company request.
• Deleted Watt Brothers Farms and National Frozen Foods Corp. and combined into their parent company, ConAgra Foods, Inc., per company request.
• Deleted McCain Foods, as it now only produces frozen vegetables for the overseas market.
• As a result, added Lisa’s Organics, Seapoint Farms and Stahlbush Island Farms to the report.

Significant events in 2014

• Goya Foods expanded its West Coast headquarters with a new facility and distribution center in City of Industry, Calif., and unveiled a new state-of-the-art distribution center in McDonough, Ga.
• NORPAC Foods, Inc. opened the doors to its new 225,000-square-foot frozen food storage and distribution facility in July.
• In November, Pinnacle Foods Inc. acquired Garden Protein International Inc.
• In December, Lakeside Foods closed its Seymour, Wis., canning operation.
• In February 2015, Sean Connolly, former CEO of The Hillshire Brands Co. prior to its sale to Tyson Foods, was named new chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, replacing Gary Rodkin.

INDUSTRY NEWS & TRENDS

Study Reinforces Nutritional Benefits of Frozen Foods

While Americans struggle to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, a recent study reveals one simple solution - frozen. The Frozen Food Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, partnered with the University of California-Davis (UC Davis), Davis, Calif., to evaluate the nutrient content of eight commonly-purchased frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables—blueberries, strawberries, carrots, corn, broccoli, green beans, green peas and spinach. The study used methodologies designed to eliminate discrepancies in the harvesting, handling and storage of fruits and vegetables. Findings revealed that the nutritional value of frozen fruits and vegetables are generally equal to—and in some cases better than—their fresh counterparts.hile Americans struggle to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, a recent study reveals one simple solution—frozen.

The study, conducted by lead researcher Dr. Diane Barrett of UC Davis, used methodologies designed to eliminate discrepancies in the harvesting, handling and storage of fruits and vegetables. Like produce found in farmers’ markets, the fruits and vegetables used in the study were locally grown, harvested and stored by the UC Davis research team. Each fruit and vegetable was analyzed under the following conditions—frozen (analyzed within 24 hours of harvest and after 10 and 90 days of storage in a freezer) and fresh-stored (analyzed within 24 hours of harvest and after three and 10 days of storage in a refrigerator).

“The study was designed to mimic the quality of produce found at farmers’ markets or grown in consumers’ backyards,” says Barrett. “The study revealed that in most cases, frozen produce is nutritionally equivalent and often superior to its fresh-stored counterpart. In particular, the vitamin C content of frozen corn, green beans and blueberries was significantly higher than their fresh-stored counterparts.”

The nutritional value of water-soluble vitamins—namely the amount of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid)—was generally the same or greater in frozen vs. fresh produce.

The study also found that freezing has a positive effect on the vitamin E content of the fruits and vegetables as compared with fresh.

Additionally, the nutrient value of five minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and iron), fiber and total phenolics (health-promoting plant compounds) were for the most part well-conserved in frozen fruits and vegetables as compared to fresh.

“Freezing is simply nature’s pause button,” says Kraig Naasz, president of the Frozen Food Foundation and president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), an affiliation of the foundation. “This research adds to a growing body of evidence that supports the important role frozen fruits and vegetables can play to help Americas meet daily intake requirements.”

Likewise, new analysis from the 2003-2010 What We Eat In America (WWEIA) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicates that consumers of frozen meals (compared to consumers of quick-service restaurant meals) consume fewer calories and reached a better Healthy Eating Index score.

“The analysis shows consumers of frozen meals come a little closer to meeting Dietary Guidelines for Americans than consumers of quick-service restaurant meals, and they do it with 253 fewer calories a day,” says Dr. Victor Fulgoni, co-author of the analysis and vice president of Nutrition Impact, LLC, Battle Creek, Mich.

That’s why in May 2014, AFFI launched a national effort to encourage consumers to take a fresh look at frozen foods.

The “Frozen. How Fresh Stays Fresh.” initiative is compiled of leading American frozen food makers, most included in this year’s Top 150 Frozen Foods Processors report, who came together to educate consumers that freezing simply pauses just-picked, just-baked and just-crafted foods, locking in their freshness, flavor and nutrients.

The campaign is a 3-year, $30 million-per-year effort to engage consumers where they live, work and shop through national television, digital and print advertising, online engagement and in-store and out-of-store promotion.

Study Shows Consumers Warming up to Frozen Foods

For the past couple of years, consumers’ negative perception of frozen foods has placed some unnecessary pressure on processors to better educate their shoppers. However, a recent study shows that the hard work is paying off. That’s because frozen foods still appeal to the majority of American consumers, according to “Frozen Foods in the U.S.: Hot Meals, Sides and Snacks,” a report conducted by market research publisher Packaged Facts. 

“Frozen foods of all kinds have been challenged in recent years as a result of the convergence of several trends, especially but not exclusively, a growing demand for fresh products, or at least, fresher products in refrigerated rather than frozen form. Nevertheless, frozen food products still have much to offer,” says David Sprinkle, research director. “For instance, frozen products identified as natural or organic are having a more positive experience than frozen foods in general. These organic and natural frozen foods appeal to the consumer who is both cost conscious and health conscious.”or the past couple of years, consumers’ negative perception of frozen foods has placed some unnecessary pressure on processors to better educate their shoppers.

However, a recent study shows that the hard work is paying off. That’s because frozen foods still appeal to the majority of American consumers, according to “Frozen Foods in the U.S.: Hot Meals, Sides and Snacks,” a report conducted by market research publisher Packaged Facts.

Packaged Facts estimates that sales of the collective frozen food categories, such as dinners/entrées, pizzas, side dishes and snacks/appetizers will edge up to $23 billion in 2019. And, increased sales will be based on the ability of major marketers to adjust to the changing consumer environment that calls for more variety, healthier foods and better pricing.

Nominations Open for Several of this Year’s Cover Stories

Nominations are officially open for several of this year’s cover stories. Who can submit nomination forms? Anyone and everyone within the cold food industry, including cold food companies, A/E and design-build firms, suppliers or others qualified to provide a detailed rationale for a particular company or facility.

Processors to Watch

Our annual Processors to Watch cover story profiles a cold food processor in each of the six categories that exemplifies food safety, environmental initiatives, plant expansions, new product development, packaging optimization and more. No plant tour necessary. Go here to learn more about the award and submit a nomination. Entries are due May 1.

Frozen Foods Processor of the Year

Here is where Refrigerated & Frozen Foods honors a frozen foods processor for year-over-year growth and leadership in promotions, packaging, new products, energy management initiatives, plant expansions and more. Go here to learn more about the award and submit a nomination. Entries are due July 1.

Get noticed, receive exposure from your customers and peers and showcase your company’s achievements by getting on the cover of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods.