Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
High-Tech
Frozen
Brands are tapping tech to elevate user experience in the frozen food sector.
5.4
Trend score
Trend
What is the High-Tech Frozen trend?
High-Tech Frozen: Food brands are launching frozen goods in packaging with enhanced functionality. Either geared toward measuring possible food spoilage or elevating the cooking process, these innovations work toward producing more convenience-focused solutions for the modern consumer.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the High-Tech Frozen trend
Convenience is incredibly important to contemporary consumers with busy lifestyles as they often find themselves in hectic environments where prioritization of tasks is required. Drawn to products that are flexible and accommodating to momentous needs, individuals seek out solutions that streamline daily experiences—particularly with respect to cooking and storing. This allows consumers to gain peace of mind by alleviating the need to always be vigilant.
Trend themes
Themes within the High-Tech Frozen trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Enhanced Packaging Functionality
Food brands are launching frozen goods in packaging with enhanced functionality to produce more convenience-focused solutions for the modern consumer, creating opportunities for low-cost solutions for product tracking and reducing waste.
02
Microwave-Friendly Packaging
Food companies are taking advantage of microwave technology to introduce more flexible packaging that promises more convenience for consumers and a remarkable 20-65% in weight savings over traditional food packaging, leading to innovative and eco-friendly solutions for both manufacturers and consumers.
03
Sustainable Packaging
Fiber-based and cartonboard packaging is rising in popularity due to its sustainability, producing an opportunity for companies to align with customers who are more aware of eco-friendly products, achieving a more sustainable supply chain for the food industry.
Industry implications
What the High-Tech Frozen trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food Packaging
The food packaging industry can leverage enhanced packaging functionality, microwave-friendly packaging, and fiber-based sustainable packaging to provide innovative solutions for customers who are looking for convenient and sustainable food packaging options.
For
Frozen Food Production
The frozen food industry can use the technology for temperature tracking, steaming seafood meals, and flexible packaging to improve their supply chain and create new frozen food concepts by taking advantage of microwave-friendly packaging, innovative ICE labeling, and cartonboard solutions.
For
Consumer Goods and Marketing
Companies can partner with experiential marketing, branding with jingles, and customization techniques to connect with customers and give them a way to experience the unique feeling of eating a delicious meal while enjoying different products to attract customers and retain loyalty.
Workshop question
How might your brand enhance the convenience aspect of your product/service to accommodate the needs of consumers with busy lifestyles?
Trend signals
Trend signals for High-Tech Frozen
Trend score 5.4 out of 10, from popularity 80%, activity 66%, freshness 16%.
Popularity80%
Activity66%
Freshness16%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the High-Tech Frozen trend
9 featured examples from Apr 8, 2020 to Jun 5, 2023CategoryTech
Temperature-Tracking Packaging Stickers
This Packaging Sticker Monitors for Temperature Changes
The food packaging industry could benefit greatly from the implementation of temperature-monitoring stickers to improve product safety and reduce spoilage.
CategoryLifestyle
Color-Changing Beer Labels
Coors' Bottles Help to Prevent Freezer Tragedies
Color-changing and smart packaging solutions can improve safety and freshness indicators, providing value for consumers and brand competitiveness.
CategoryArt & Design
Customizable Frozen Dishes
Kraft Heinz Company Debuts Its Latest Brand, HOMEBAKE 425°/:30
The customizable frozen food trend presents an opportunity for disruption in the traditional pre-packaged frozen meal industry, creating a space for forward-thinking foods compani…
CategoryLifestyle
Steaming Seafood Meals
Aqua Star's Microsteam Seafood Meals Cook from Frozen in Six Minutes
There is an opportunity for companies within the frozen food industry to explore the development of healthy and complete seafood meals that can be prepared in a matter of minutes.
CategoryMarketing
Flexible Frozen Food Packaging
Green Giant Opts-In for a Microwaveable and Resealable Packaging
New packaging technologies and designs can increase efficiency, convenience, and sustainability of food products.
CategoryLifestyle
Color-Changing Freshness Indicators
Bizongo's Improving the User Experience in the Food Industry
Bizongo's color-changing freshness indicators offer opportunities for food companies to innovate and improve the user experience while reducing food waste.
CategoryMarketing
Singing Frozen Food Packaging
Stouffer’s Debuted a Singing Packaging for the Holidays
Food and beverage brands can take advantage of interactive packaging and experiential marketing to enhance the overall consumer experience and build stronger brand loyalty.
CategoryEco
Fiber-Based Ice Cream Tubs
AR Packaging and Picard Team Up to Introduce Fiber-Based Ice Cream Tubs
Food and beverage industries can benefit from eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions to meet the rising demand from a socially conscious consumer demographic.
CategoryMarketing
Freshness-Enhancing Packaging Films
This Lidding Film is Being Introduced with the Crocchi Product
The food packaging industry can explore new materials and technology to extend the shelf life of food products and address other challenges faced by food brands.
