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Frozen Food Europe March - April 2010
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French
frozen
coated fish
&seafood market
by sector, 2009 (% value)
Croquettes 5% Nuggets 2% Others 7%
Slices/fillets 54%
Fingers/sticks 32%
Source: Leatherhead Food Research
worth approximately EUR73mn. Fish sticks and fingers account for an additional 32% of value sales within the frozen sector, ahead of croquettes (5%), nuggets (2%) and other products such as scampi (7%).
Germany
Although consumption has increased in recent years, Germany still has one of Western Europe's lowest per capita rates for fish and seafood, at around 16 kg. In 2009, retail sales increased by over 3% to EUR2.2bn, with a market volume of almost 330,000 tonnes. Frozen products account for a leading 35% of total consumption of fish and seafood in Germany, ahead of canned and marinaded varieties (31%) and shellfish (13%). Supermarkets and hypermarkets account for almost 40% of sales of fish and seafood, compared with 50% for discounters such as Aldi. The most popular variety of fish amongst German consumers is Alaska salmon, which accounts for around a quarter of overall consumption, followed by herring and tuna. The German market for frozen fish and seafood was worth EUR770mn at the retail level in 2009. The category is dominated by fish fillets, a sector which accounts for almost 40% of total sales. Other important sectors of the frozen market include fish-based ready meals and fish fingers, which account for shares of 20% and 19% respectively. Per capita consumption of fish fingers amongst the German population is currently estimated at 23 units, which equates to nearly 1.9 billion fish fingers eaten every year. This compares with around 1.1 bn units at the turn of the millennium, which indicates that consumption of fish fingers in Germany has risen by more than 70% over the course of the last decade.
mounts to more than 1.25 bn tonnes per annum, with value sales worth in excess of EUR10bn. Retail sales of frozen fish and seafood amounted to 90,500 tonnes in volume terms during 2009, with market value worth EUR625mn. However, both of these figures experienced a fall during the course of 2009, mainly as a result of the economic downturn and the maturity of the market. Frozen products account for between 20% and 25% of the fish and seafood market in both value and volume terms, trailing the fresh/chilled sector by dome distance. Some of the leading sub-sectors within the frozen market include unprepared fish and seafood and frozen surimi, which account for value shares of 33% and 14% of sales respectively. Compared with elsewhere in Europe, sales of fish-based ready meals in Spain are on the low side, valued at EUR52mn in 2009. The largest sector within the Spanish frozen coated fish and seafood market is fish fingers and fillets, sales of which amounted to EUR92mn in 2009, while sales of frozen calamari reached EUR70mn in 2009, having started to increase again after a decline in the early 1990s.
ted by fillets and cutlets, with the market for coated fish products such as fish fingers hampered by low demand in general for convenience foods. However, there are signs that this situation may now be changing, since more consumers are leading increasingly time-pressed lifestyles and are therefore less inclined to cook meals from scratch. The Italian market for frozen fish fingers was valued at EUR84mn in 2009, with sales having grown by more than 9% since 2005. Market volume currently amounts to 11,000 tonnes, with consumption of fish fingers having experienced almost doubledigit growth within the last few years. Meanwhile, the marginally smaller market for frozen coated fish fillets and portions grew by almost 5% between 2005 and 2009, and is now worth EUR64mn.
Ireland
In per capita terms, Ireland does not represent one of Europe's major consumers of fish and seafood at present. However, the country has a relatively large fish and seafood industry, worth in excess of EUR800mn, of which exports account for around EUR360mn. At more than 80%, household penetration of fresh fish and seafood in Ireland is fairly high, with retail sales worth in the region of EUR170mn. However, the frozen sector is considerably smaller in value terms. Ireland's cultural similarities with the UK mean that fish and chips represents one of the most popular takeaway meals in Ireland, as a result of which consumer familiarity with battered fish remains at high levels. In 2009, retail sales of frozen coated fish and seafood were worth an estimated EUR30mn in 2009, equivalent to up to 30% of the total Irish market for frozen fish. This compares with EUR12mn for the smaller chilled sector.
Italy
Fish and seafood accounts for up to a fifth of the Italian frozen foods market, with sales rising by approximately 3% per annum. Although annual sales are now worth in excess of EUR600m, the market is hindered by the overwhelming consumer preference to purchase fish and seafood fresh. Frozen products account for only a quarter of the total fish and seafood market, well behind fresh (55%) and also canned, dried and salted varieties. Although Italy has one of Europe's higher per capita consumption rates for fish and seafood, volume sales have been static for several years now. The Italian frozen fish sector is domina-
Spain
Spain represents one of Europe's major consumers and suppliers of fish and seafood, maintaining a sizeable fishing industry. Total consumption in Spain (including industrial and foodservice channels) a-
March/April 2010
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alimentaria-show-2010-40.html
