September 3rd, 2015

Who can deny the importance of convenience? Consumers in the Western world (and increasingly on a global scale) flock towards foods that are easy to prepare, which can be cooked with simplicity, and that are readily available in shops or supermarkets in close proximity to their home or work. The growth of the frozen food processing industry in the last twenty years is directly connected with the popularity of convenience.

In many ways, Canada’s frozen food industry is heating up rather than cooling down. Since 1990, employment in the sector almost doubled, and now boasts over 10,000 employees across the country. Ontario and Quebec are the two largest producers of frozen goods, but Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Manitoba also feature prominently due to their production of potatoes

Types of Food

There is a large variety of frozen food produced by Canadian companies. Industry Canada classifies and profiles frozen food manufacturerson their website. Common types of food include frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen entrees or side dishes, and various types of seafood, amongst others.

Improvements in the food processing and packaging elements of the frozen food sector have aided in the introduction proliferation of innovative food products of a high quality. Many innovations include food products with a focus on fruits and vegetables, including dinners, juices, soups, pizzas, and various breakfast products.

Valuing Convenience

Convenience requires consideration at every stage of the food provisioning process, from acquisition and preparation to physical consumption and cleaning up. Consumers desire convenient products in accessible serving sides for a range of ready-to-cook or eat products that are quickly prepared in a microwave or oven.

Picking the Potato

Within the frozen fruits and vegetables industry, potatoes consist of over 40% of overall frozen fruit and vegetable processing in Canada. This number continues to grow in recent years, and has a direct correlation to exports. Since 2000, exports account for between 39% and 54% of total sales. 78% of these exports go to the United States, and a large proportion of this figure is linked with frozen potato products.

Canada’s potato production takes place primarily in Eastern Canada as previously mentioned, specifically in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. This popularity is even recorded in pop culture: perhaps you have heard the song “Bud the Spud” by Stompin’ Tom Connors!

Four major contributors, including McCain Foods Ltd, dominate Canada’s potato industry. Since opening in 1957, McCain is now Canada’s largest food manufacturer in generated revenue. Due to concerns about the nutritional quality of frozen food, they launched their “It’s All Good” campaign to raise awareness about the ingredients they use, the nutritional qualities of their products, and the flavours of their potatoes. Doing so has helped alleviate some of the consumer concerns associated with food quality, raising their sales in the process.

Success of the Industry

The sector continues to grow incrementally every year. While this number has slowed down since the 1990s, it remains constant nonetheless. The Frozen Food Manufacturing Industry produced a record revenue income of over $3 billion in 2010. While Canadian sales only represent a fraction of their counterparts in the United States, employment has decline in the United States while it increased in Canada.

With the advent of new processes and technologies, the industry will only continue to grow in the years to come. As long as potatoes remain a delicious snack (which is almost a guarantee), you can count on Canada’s frozen food processing industry to remain a valued and successful contributor to the Canadian economy.