Frozen foods up in volume +1%, and in value +3 per cent

Frozen foods since last year up to June 2026 under the microscope of Iias: the institute has released the final version of its report. And this follows the late-February preview.

The data 2025, document that there are over 1 million tonnes of frozen food consumed by Italians in 2025 (1.040.596 to be precise), with real growth, that is, by volume, of 2024, of1% and a per-capita consumption, over the twelve months, which reaches a record 17,7 kg (in 2024 there were 17,5 kilograms).

Frozen foods also improved by 2026

The distribution, still in terms of quantity, across the various channels confirms that, in first place, sales in retail, which reached 642.140 tonnes (+1,1% trend), followed by demand out of home, estimated at 398.456 tonnes (+1%).

And if we look only at the retail, or domestic, channel, we discover that the interesting increase also improved significantly in the first half 2026, with quantities running at +3,4% compared with the corresponding period.

Let us return to 2025. The market value reached 6,1 billion euros (+3% vs. 2024), with retail accounting for 3 billion and 866 million euros, around twice the turnover generated by Horeca which came, so to speak, to 1 billion and 900 million euros.

In short, regardless of tensions, sentiment, the confidence climate and the cost of living, frozen foods continue their climb because they are a strong response to today's needs, but also yesterday's: eating well, reducing waste, saving valuable time and adding value to the shop.

“All this has driven the overall increase in frozen-food consumption, which has exceeded, for the third consecutive year, the one-million-tonne threshold,” adds the president of the Italian Institute of Frozen Foods,, Giorgio Donegani “And the surveys conducted in the first half of 2026, as we have seen, testify to further growth which, in terms of value, translates into +3,6 compared with the corresponding period. It is a positive trend affecting all categories, particularly fish and seafood, pizzas, prepared vegetables and ready meals.”

Vegetables and fish and seafood lead the rankings

And so we come to the various segments. In 2025, in terms of domestic consumption, the following remain stable on the podium: frozen vegetables (excluding prepared vegetables and potatoes), the most popular by volume. Retail channels more than 204.000 tonnes of this category, despite a very slight decline (-0,3%) compared with 2024, offset by growth in prepared vegetables (+0,7%).

In second place among Italians' preferences we find fish and seafood which, in its natural (64.000 tonnes) and breaded/prepared (42.000 tonnes) varieties, exceeds a total of 100.000 tonnes, recording, in 2025, one of the most dynamic performances in the frozen-food sector. Here the very positive assessment of fish as a healthy, light food has an impact.

The bronze medal goes to potatoes which, with approximately 93.000 tonnes consumed, are appreciated for three main reasons: taste, convenience of preparation and consumption, and the absence of waste (they are already cleaned and cut).

From pizza to gluten-free

Next come pizzas: in 2025 they came close to 70.000 tonnes, with +3,1% on 2024. Once again, this result rewards the practical, quality and convenience benefits of these products, together with the innovation efforts undertaken by companies to introduce new formats, new recipes and new ingredients.

Moving down the rankings, in fifth place we find ready meals, with almost 66.000 tonnes (+1,7% on 2024), that is, first courses, main courses, prepared side dishes and foods with plant proteins.

Not to be forgotten are the sweet and savoury specialities (pancakes and other similar foods for different occasions), estimated at 31.700 tonnes, also showing a positive trend (+1,9%). In this way companies highlight consumption occasions other than lunch and dinner.

Significant was the rebound achieved by consumption of frozen meat (+4,5% vs 2024), certainly appreciated for their safety and shelf life.

Finally, worth noting is the excellent performance of gluten-free frozen foods, which, with approximately 9.700 tonnes requested (+4,3% on 2024) continues its rise. Although this is a niche, the steady increase in these products indicates the sector's ability to meet the needs of a segment of the population that requires an increasingly varied diet.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.