Refrigerated and frozen food manufacturers are driving sales through innovation, product development and meeting the needs of consumers in new ways.

AFFI President and CEO, Alison Bodor, and RFA Technical Director, Doug Marshall, join us to discuss the state of the cold chain in 2023.

Lauren Edmonds, president of the Refrigerated Foods Association and vice president of marketing and product development for St. Clair Foods, Inc. joins us.

The cold chain continues to adapt to ever-changing economic pressures and evolving consumer habits. While new challenges exist, the cold chain looks robust at the mid-point of 2022.

Labor is a vital part of warehouse operations, and notable retention is a key part of keeping costs and performance in check. 

Plant-based food sales were already growing before COVID-19, and the category has long enjoyed a healthy halo around its products as beneficial to both consumers and the environment. However, a closer look at some of the labels for plant-based meats, for example, reveal they’re not much healthier than their animal-based counterparts, particularly when it comes to saturated fat, sodium, and the highly processed method of re-creating the taste and texture of an animal protein. Because of this, we’re currently on the cusp of a second era in alternative meats that will continue to focus on flavor, but also honor their “better-for-you” halos with simpler ingredients and minimal processing.  

A multi-segment view of how those working along the cold chain have been affected by COVID-19 so far in 2020. 

Our annual July State of the Industry issue is now ready to read in our redesigned digital magazine--even easier to navigate than before. We also feature our annual North American Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Warehouse Guide. put together with the help of the Global Cold Chain Alliance. In this issue, we dive deeper into how COVID-19 has not just impacted, but altered many areas of the cold foods supply chain the first half of 2020. It's a mid-year snapshot that also serves as a map for what will likely continue the rest of the year.

Today’s frozen and dairy departments are clearly connecting with shoppers showing combined sales of $125 billion in the 52 weeks ending June 29, 2019. Nearly every U.S. household buys from the frozen and dairy departments annually, and the diverse appeal of these products crosses generational, multicultural and socio-economic demographics.