Middle East & North Africa Frozen Food Market to Reach USD 1.8 Billion by 2035, Driven by Urban Demand and Retail Expansion

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) frozen food market is projected to expand from USD 1.4 billion in 2025 to USD 1.8 billion by 2035, registering a CAGR of 2.5%. The market is poised to add USD 0.4 billion in absolute dollar opportunity, reflecting 1.28x growth over the forecast period.

This trajectory underscores rising demand for convenient, long-shelf-life foods, supported by urbanization, expanding retail networks, and a growing expatriate population. As consumers increasingly seek quick-preparation, high-quality frozen products, the region’s frozen food sector is evolving into a strategic growth driver for food manufacturers and distributors.

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Market Dynamics: Convenience and Modern Retail Define Consumption

By 2030, the market is expected to surpass USD 1.6 billion, with consistent expansion across frozen fruits, vegetables, snacks, and ready meals. The first half of the decade will see incremental gains of USD 0.2 billion, followed by an equal rise in the latter half.

Key factors shaping market evolution include:

  • Rising dual-income households fueling demand for ready-to-eat meals
  • Premiumization trends emphasizing quality and health-focused frozen products
  • Cold chain expansion improving product safety and shelf life
  • E-commerce integration enhancing accessibility to frozen categories

Brands like General Mills Inc. and Al Kabeer Group are strengthening regional footprints through local manufacturing, cold chain investment, and marketing tailored to health-conscious consumers.

Market Structure and Segment Highlights

The frozen food market accounts for nearly 36% of the regional convenience food sector, driven by strong demand for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook formats. Frozen fruits and vegetables contribute approximately 18% of the healthy snacking category, while plant-based frozen meals represent about 20% of the plant-based convenience segment.

By Type:

  • Fruits & Vegetables (20% share, 2025): Nutrient-rich, IQF-based offerings like berries and vegetable blends dominate due to year-round availability and cost stability.
  • Ready-to-Eat (40% share, 2025): Strongest performer, driven by rising working-class populations and HoReCa adoption for single-portion frozen solutions.

By Distribution Channel:

  • Supermarkets & Hypermarkets remain dominant, complemented by online grocery platforms offering fast delivery and category-specific promotions.
  • HoReCa partnerships are driving bulk purchases for hospitality and tourism sectors.

Key Growth Drivers and Restraints

Market Drivers:

  • Rapid modern retail expansion across cities and tourist hubs
  • Increasing HoReCa sector consumption of frozen seafood, meats, and bakery items
  • Advancements in freezing technologies ensuring quality retention
  • Rising female workforce participation supporting ready-meal purchases

Market Restraints:

  • Import dependency and currency fluctuations affecting pricing
  • Cold chain infrastructure gaps in North Africa raising spoilage rates
  • Energy-intensive storage costs impacting operational efficiency

Despite these challenges, ongoing public-private investment in logistics and retail digitalization is expected to mitigate constraints and expand access across both Gulf and North African markets.

Competitive Landscape

The market is moderately consolidated, led by General Mills Inc. (18% share), followed by Nestlé S.A., Al Kabeer Group, Sunbulah Group, and Kraft Heinz Company. These players are capitalizing on localized SKUs, Halal certification, and value-added processing to strengthen market penetration.

Regional producers are emphasizing country-specific taste profiles and affordable premiumization, while multinational brands dominate through scale efficiency and retail shelf presence. Strategic partnerships between food manufacturers and cold chain logistics firms are also transforming supply reliability and consumer confidence.

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Long-Term Outlook

The Middle East and North Africa frozen food market is on a steady upward trajectory, driven by urban consumption patterns, retail modernization, and health-oriented innovation. As regional economies diversify and tourism strengthens, demand for frozen food in both household and hospitality sectors will continue to surge.

The decade ahead presents a stable growth landscape where premium quality, digital retail, and product innovation will define leadership in the MENA frozen food sector.

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Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries.

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About the Author

Nikhil Kaitwade

Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc. has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries.
His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making.
Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times.

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