2026
9
US Frozen Snacks Market Report 2026
2026-04-27T12:03:18+00:00
REP9365B101_959E_44E3_A5B1_01959EA4E308
3695
192944
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Report
en_GB
Dinner is the biggest growth opportunity for frozen snacks. While 75% of consumers eat dinner daily, fewer than half of frozen snack buyers (40%) use the category for easy dinners,…
US
Snacks
simple

US Frozen Snacks Market Report 2026

"Frozen snacks play a big role for meals. More nutrient-rich products, international cuisines and premium options will support growth."

Richard Caines, Senior Analyst, Insights - Food & Drink

Richard Caines, Senior Analyst, Insights - Food & Drink

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for frozen snacks
    • Opportunities
    • Expand international cuisines in frozen snacks to align with younger tastes
    • Position frozen snacks as meal solutions to leverage more sales
    • Room for more protein- and fiber-rich frozen snacks
    • Discover the top five trend territories for success in US snacking using Black Swan’s social prediction technology
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Consumers and the economic outlook
    • Price is a barrier for some, but room for more premium lines
    • Mealtimes the biggest occasions to target
    • Graph 1: frequency of eating meals/snacks, 2025
    • Interest in healthy eating holding back frozen snack buying
    • Slowdown in value sales growth for frozen snacks
    • Market size and forecast of frozen snacks
    • Graph 2: total retail sales and forecast of frozen snacks, 2019-30
    • Recent growth for handheld entrees outpaces that for appetizers
    • Graph 3: total retail sales of frozen snacks, by segment, at current prices, 2019-25
    • JM Smucker extends market leadership
    • Graph 4: MULO sales of frozen snacks, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • Brands boosted by authenticity and premiumization
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Usage of frozen snacks
    • Vast majority of Americans purchase frozen snacks
    • Graph 5: types of frozen snacks purchased in the past three months, 2026
    • Majority of purchasers buy three or more types
    • Graph 6: number of different types of frozen snacks purchased in the past three months, by generation, 2026
    • Occasions for using frozen snacks
    • Lunch the top meal occasion for frozen snacks
    • Frozen snacks usage is bigger for meals than for snacking
    • Graph 7: occasions for using frozen snacks, 2026
    • Position frozen snacks as meal solutions to leverage increased sales
    • Graph 8: attitudes towards using frozen snacks for meals, 2026
    • Potential to boost sales through pairing and recipe suggestions
    • Graph 9: usage of frozen snacks for pairing with other foods and in recipes, 2026
    • Health and nutrition in frozen snacks
    • Price, lack of nutrition and UPF concerns holding back buying
    • Taste matters most, but being unhealthy or too processed is holding back sales
    • Graph 10: interest in healthier concepts in frozen snacks, 2026
    • Room for more protein- and fiber-rich frozen snacks
    • Natural claims will help boost frozen snack usage frequency
    • Importance of convenience in frozen snacks
    • Convenience influences frozen snack purchases
    • Convenience of frozen snacks appeals for busy days
    • Graph 11: new launches of frozen hors d’oeuvres/canapes, by top convenience claims, 2020-25
    • Air fryer suitability is important for frozen snacks
    • Strong on-the-go demand in frozen snacks
    • Flavor exploration in frozen snacks
    • Strong interest in exploring more international cuisines
    • Younger generations are more likely to prefer international cuisines
    • Expand international cuisines to align with younger tastes
    • Graph 12: international cuisines purchased for personal consumption in the past three months, either at home or away from home, 2025
    • Unlock higher value sales through premium frozen snacks
    • Premium interest signals increased price tolerance when earned
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Frozen dominates launches of hors d’oeuvres/canapes
    • Graph 13: share of hors d’oeuvres/canapes launches, by storage type, 2020-25
    • More premium lines launched in branded frozen snacks
    • Positive nutrition claims rare, but more launches highlighting protein content
    • Frozen snacks expanding to include a wider range of international cuisines
    • New twists to foods and flavors being seen in frozen snacks
    • Brands highlight simple ingredients amid UPF concerns
    • Mix of value, convenience and taste messages in advertising
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Market size sources and methodology
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast of frozen snacks at current prices
    • Market size and forecast of frozen snacks at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Market size and forecast of frozen snacks by segment
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals for frozen snacks
    • Sales and forecast of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels at current prices
    • Sales and forecast of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Sales and forecast of frozen handheld entrees at current prices
    • Sales and forecast of frozen handheld entrees at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Average annual household spending on frozen snacks
    • Total retail sales of frozen snacks, by segment, at current prices
    • Sales of frozen snacks by channel
    • Sales of frozen snacks, by company
    • Sales of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels, by company
    • Sales of frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels, by company (continued)
    • Sales of frozen handheld entrees, by company
    • Sales of frozen handheld entrees, by company (continued)
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Repertoire analysis methodology
    • Price sensitivity analysis methodology
    • Price sensitivity analysis methodology (continued)
    • Mid-range pricing anchors consumers’ category-level expectations
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations

Dinner is the biggest growth opportunity for frozen snacks. While 75% of consumers eat dinner daily, fewer than half of frozen snack buyers (40%) use the category for easy dinners, despite broad usage for meals overall (87%).

Price is a barrier for 39% of frozen snack purchasers, climbing to 52% for those in tight financial situations. For parents, 39% are interested in more family-size value packs, presenting an opportunity for brands to offer larger, money-saving options. With 64% of consumers viewing store brands as equal to name brands, there’s a risk to brands of shoppers trading down if prices rise further.

While taste is more important than healthiness for 66% of consumers, and being an occasional treat reduces UPF concerns for 60%, nutrition- and UPF-related factors are a bigger barrier to buying frozen snacks more frequently than price. This highlights the room for more nutrient-rich and all-natural frozen snacks.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Performance of the market, amid inflation and shifting consumer sentiment
  • Key trends in recent launch activity and future product development opportunities
  • Purchasing of different types of frozen snacks, and occasions for using them
  • Factors influencing choice of frozen snack products
  • Barriers to buying frozen snacks
  • Attitudes towards frozen snacks, including role for meals, nutrition and flavor exploration

Market Definitions

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:

  • Frozen appetizers/snack rolls/pretzels (eg Totino’s Pizza Rolls, Bagel Bites, T.G.I. Friday’s Potato Skins, Superpretzels)
  • Frozen handheld entrees (eg Hot Pockets, burritos, Uncrustables/sandwiches).

Not included in this Report are:

  • Frozen breaded vegetables, such as breaded mushrooms
  • Frozen chicken products, such as chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, and chicken fingers
  • Frozen dinners or entrées
  • Refrigerated or shelf-stable snacks of any kind

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