Caleb Andrew's blog : GCC Frozen Food Market: Are Frozen Food Meals a Healthy Choice for Your Business?

What makes frozen food meals healthy?

The assumption that frozen meals are unhealthy is a misconception. Nutritious meals can be prepared just as easily as frozen. Here’s the reason:

Nutrient Retention: Nutrients are frozen to preserve the nutrients. Frozen fruits and vegetables can retain just as many, if not more, vitamins and minerals than their fresh counterparts, which have been stored for a long time.
Portion Control: Pre-packaged frozen meals are portioned, making it more convenient for customers to track their caloric intake and adherence to dietary goals.
Balanced Ingredients: Most modern frozen meals include a combination of carbohydrate, protein, and fat to promote wellness, along with vegetables. They are designed to be nutritionally balanced. Lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables are included.

As per GMI Research, the GCC Frozen Food Market is estimated to grow at a robust CAGR during the forecast period till 2030.

Why frozen food meals are optimal for delivery business

Serving frozen food meals provides a unique value for your business operational needs and consumer value.

• Longer shelf life: Unlike fresh meals that have a shelf life of a day a frozen meal can be stored for weeks or even months. This creates easier inventory control and food waste mitigation.

• Increased delivery range: Since meals are frozen, they are not time sensitive, and you can widen your delivery range to include more remote customers.

• Decreased delivery frequency: Less frequent trips may be needed to drop off orders relative to fresh food deliveries. This lowers operational costs and risk exposure challenges.

• Better unit economics: More frozen meals can be prepared in bulk and thus streamlines your capability to grow the business.

Benefits of selling frozen food meals

Attracting health-conscious customers: As many health-conscious customers are becoming more aware of the importance that healthy eating has, there is a corresponding rising demand that comes from these customers in the prepared (nutritionally healthy, low sodium, preservative-free, and other meal health conscious parameters) frozen meal offerings.

Convenience and flexibility

Frozen meals are more convenient than any other meal option for customers who don't have time to cook. Providing frozen meals allows you to serve customers who appreciate having the option to heat and eat their meals when and where they want, whether at home or at work.

Lower operational costs

Frozen meals enable bulk preparation of meals, which translates to lower labour costs and kitchen overhead. In addition, frozen foods have a longer shelf life, which means fewer losses are incurred from meals that go unsold, adding to the cost efficiency of the business.

The following best practices can help you attract more health-conscious customers with your frozen food meals.

Use fresh, high-quality ingredients

The best food to freeze, especially frozen meals, start with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The initial freshness of the ingredients directly correlates with the overall quality of the meal. Whenever possible, opt for organic vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and whole grains.

Focus on nutrient density

Healthy meals are made with nutrient-dense ingredients – vegetables, especially leafy greens, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. It is also important to avoid highly processed ingredients and excessive additives, as they can lower the meal’s nutritional value.

Focus on seasoning

Food that is good for you also can be enjoyable. Use things such as herbs, spices, and naturally occuring flavorings to improve your frozen meal's flavor. All customers can enjoy their meal without having to concern themselves with unhealthy seasonings such as an overabundance of salt or sugar.

Create different meal options

Consider a wide variety of dietary preferences with low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan frozen meal options. This enlarges your eligible customer base as well as providing a meal for anyone to suit their diet.

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