Fresh Food Market Size 2024-2028
The fresh food market size is forecast to increase by USD 783.24 million, at a CAGR of 4.23% between 2023 and 2028.
- The market is experiencing significant growth driven by the increasing adoption of healthy eating habits and the rising demand for online retail of fresh food. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious, leading to a surge in demand for fresh, nutritious food. Simultaneously, the convenience of online shopping has made it an attractive option for customers, particularly in the context of fresh food. Logistics and supply chain management play a crucial role in ensuring the freshness and safety of these perishable items. Food safety regulations are stringently enforced to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and quality. However, this market is not without challenges. Harmful practices of over-fertilization pose a significant threat to the industry, with potential negative impacts on both consumer health and the environment.
- Producers must navigate this issue carefully to maintain consumer trust and ensure long-term sustainability. Companies seeking to capitalize on market opportunities must focus on providing fresh, healthy food options through innovative online retail solutions while adhering to sustainable farming practices. Effective management of these trends and challenges will be crucial for success in the market.
What will be the Size of the Fresh Food Market during the forecast period?
Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2018-2022 and forecasts 2024-2028 - in the full report.
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In the dynamic and ever-evolving the market, various sectors continue to innovate and adapt to meet the demands of consumers and businesses alike. Post-harvest handling and cold chain logistics play crucial roles in preserving the freshness and nutritional quality of perishable goods. Food spoilage prediction models, packaging technology, and automated sorting systems are integral components of efficient inventory management systems. Supply chain traceability is essential for ensuring food safety and authenticity, while food processing optimization techniques, such as irradiation, high-pressure processing, and ultrasonic technology, extend shelf life and reduce food waste. Energy-efficient refrigeration and sustainable agriculture practices are key to minimizing environmental impact.
Demand forecasting models and produce ripening control help streamline distribution network efficiency, while nutritional quality assessment and organic food certification cater to consumer preferences. Rapid detection methods for microbial contamination and sensory evaluation methods ensure the highest standards of food safety. Freshness indicators, harvest optimization techniques, and modified atmosphere packaging further enhance the market's continuous evolution. The integration of data-driven decision making, food traceability systems, and waste management solutions enables businesses to adapt to market trends and maintain a competitive edge.
How is this Fresh Food Industry segmented?
The fresh food industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in "USD million" for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018-2022 for the following segments.
- Product
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat and poultry
- Seafood
- Others
- Distribution Channel
- Offline
- Online
- Source
- Conventional Supply Chains
- Organic
- Geography
- North America
- US
- Canada
- Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- UK
- Middle East and Africa
- Egypt
- KSA
- Oman
- UAE
- APAC
- China
- India
- Japan
- South America
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Rest of World (ROW)
- North America
By Product Insights
The fruits and vegetables segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
The market is experiencing significant advancements in various sectors to ensure the delivery of high-quality, nutritious produce to consumers. Post-harvest handling techniques and cold chain logistics play a crucial role in maintaining food freshness and reducing spoilage. Innovations in packaging technology, such as modified atmosphere packaging and ultrasonic food processing, extend the shelf life of perishable items. Automated sorting systems and demand forecasting models optimize inventory management and distribution network efficiency. Food traceability systems, organic food certification, and food safety protocols are essential for consumer trust and confidence. Irradiation food processing and high-pressure processing offer effective solutions for food preservation and microbial contamination control.
Data-driven decision making and inventory management systems streamline operations and minimize food waste. Sustainable agriculture practices and waste management solutions are integral to the industry's long-term growth and sustainability. Produce ripening control, sensory evaluation methods, and freshness indicators are essential for maintaining optimal product quality. Food authenticity testing and shelf life extension techniques ensure product integrity and customer satisfaction. Rapid detection methods for food spoilage and foodborne illnesses are vital for ensuring food safety and consumer protection. The integration of these technologies and practices is transforming the market, providing consumers with a more reliable, nutritious, and convenient food supply.
The Fruits and vegetables segment was valued at USD 1793.43 million in 2018 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.
Regional Analysis
APAC is estimated to contribute 56% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.
The market is experiencing significant growth, with APAC being the largest segment due to several factors. The increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, heart diseases, and digestive diseases, is driving demand for healthy eating options in the region. Urbanization is also on the rise, leading to the expansion of the organized retail sector and the availability of a wider range of fresh food choices. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for organic fresh foods, and major companies are present in the region. Advanced technologies are revolutionizing the market, with data-driven decision making, inventory management systems, and distribution network efficiency becoming crucial.
Food traceability systems ensure the authenticity and safety of produce, while food processing optimization techniques extend shelf life and reduce waste. Sustainable agriculture practices and waste management solutions are also gaining importance. Packaging technology, including modified atmosphere packaging and ultrasonic food processing, preserves freshness and nutritional quality. Automated sorting systems and produce ripening control further enhance the quality of fresh food offerings. Food safety protocols and microbial contamination control are essential to maintaining consumer trust and confidence. Overall, the market is evolving, with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.
Market Dynamics
The global fresh food market is experiencing significant expansion, driven by evolving fresh food market trends centered on health and sustainability. There's a notable surge in demand for organic fresh food, alongside conventional fresh fruits and vegetables, and premium fresh meat and poultry and fresh seafood market offerings. Innovations in cold chain logistics fresh food are crucial for maintaining quality and extending shelf life, supporting the growth of convenience fresh food options like ready-to-eat fresh meals. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing healthy fresh food options and seeking sustainable fresh food products, influencing fresh food consumer preferences. This has spurred advancements in fresh food packaging innovations and bolstered online fresh food delivery services.
Our researchers analyzed the data with 2023 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.
What are the key market drivers leading to the rise in the adoption of Fresh Food Industry?
- The increasing preference for healthy eating trends significantly drives the market growth.
- The global health landscape is witnessing a significant increase in the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and gastrointestinal diseases. According to The World Bank Group, diabetes affected 9.8% of the global population aged 20-79 years in 2021. Diabetes can lead to severe complications, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, and kidney failure. Similarly, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an obesity prevalence increase from 30.5% to 41.9% between 2017 and March 2020.
- To address these health concerns, the market is focusing on advanced technologies to ensure optimal post-harvest handling, cold chain logistics, food spoilage prediction, packaging technology, automated sorting systems, demand forecasting models, food traceability systems, irradiation food processing, and high-pressure processing. These technologies aim to maintain the freshness, quality, and safety of food products while minimizing food waste and ensuring consumer health.
What are the market trends shaping the Fresh Food Industry?
- The increasing popularity of online retail for fresh food represents a significant market trend. Consumers are increasingly turning to e-commerce platforms for the convenience and accessibility of purchasing fresh produce and other perishable items online.
- In today's data-driven business environment, fresh food companies are leveraging advanced inventory management systems and supply chain traceability to ensure the delivery of high-quality, fresh produce to consumers. The increasing use of technology in the food industry is enabling distributors to optimize food processing and refrigerated transportation, resulting in energy-efficient refrigeration and improved nutritional quality assessment. With the rise of e-commerce and the growing preference for organic food certification, online retail channels are becoming an increasingly popular option for consumers seeking fresh foods at competitive prices. The convenience of online shopping, coupled with the availability of a vast selection of fresh produce and discounts, is driving demand for these channels.
- Major e-commerce platforms, such as Alibaba, Amazon, and others, are capitalizing on this trend by expanding their offerings of fresh foods, often at prices that are significantly lower than traditional local companies. The ability to offer a wide variety of fresh produce, including exotic vegetables and fruits, and the ease of online purchasing and delivery, are key factors attracting consumers to buy in bulk through these channels.
What challenges does the Fresh Food Industry face during its growth?
- Over-fertilization, which involves the use of excessive fertilizers, poses a significant challenge to the industry's growth due to its harmful effects.
- Ultrasonic food processing is a cutting-edge technology increasingly adopted by fresh food manufacturers to maintain product freshness without relying on excessive use of chemicals. This technology reduces food waste by extending shelf life through controlled produce ripening and modified atmosphere packaging. Sensory evaluation methods are employed to ensure the authenticity and desirable sensory attributes of fresh food products. Rapid detection methods and food safety protocols are integral to maintaining consumer trust and preventing potential health hazards. Agrochemicals, while useful for food preservation, can pose health risks when misused or over-applied.
- Farmers must adhere to proper usage guidelines and regulations to minimize the negative impacts on both plant health and the environment. By prioritizing food safety and sustainability, fresh food manufacturers can differentiate themselves in the competitive market.
Exclusive Customer Landscape
The fresh food market forecasting report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator's stage to the laggard's stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the fresh food market report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their market growth analysis strategies.
Customer Landscape
Key Companies & Market Insights
Companies are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, fresh food market forecast, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the industry.
BRF SA - The Brazilian food corporation, recognized for its innovation and quality, markets a diverse range of fresh foods globally under the brands Sadia, Qualy, and Perdigao. These brands cater to various consumer preferences, ensuring a broad market presence while maintaining a commitment to delivering high-quality products.
The industry research and growth report includes detailed analyses of the competitive landscape of the market and information about key companies, including:
- BRF SA
- Cal Maine Foods Inc.
- Cargill Inc.
- D Arrigo New York
- Danish Crown AS
- Del Monte Pacific Ltd.
- Dole plc
- Driscolls Inc.
- Greenyard NV
- Grimmway Enterprises Inc.
- JBS SA
- Madhav Fresh Foods.
- NH Foods Ltd.
- NS Brands Ltd.
- Perdue Farms Inc.
- Reynolds Catering Supplies Ltd.
- Rose Acre Farms
- Sunkist Growers Inc.
- Sysco Corp.
- Tyson Foods Inc.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of companies has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key industry players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize companies as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize companies as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.
Recent Development and News in Fresh Food Market
- In January 2024, Whole Foods Market, a leading player in the market, announced the launch of its new line of plant-based meat alternatives, "The Butcher's Block," in collaboration with leading food tech company, Just Eat. This strategic partnership aimed to cater to the growing demand for sustainable and ethical food options (Whole Foods Market Press Release).
- In March 2024, Dutch supermarket chain Lidl entered the US the market with its initial 25 stores in Virginia, marking its first foray into the North American market (Lidl US Press Release).
- In April 2025, Amazon Fresh, Amazon's grocery delivery and pick-up service, secured a strategic partnership with Instacart, allowing Amazon Fresh to expand its reach and offer in-store pick-up services at select Kroger stores (Amazon Press Release).
- In May 2025, Walmart, the world's largest company by revenue, received approval from the USDA for its USD3.3 billion acquisition of Indian e-grocery firm, Flipkart's subsidiary, Flipkart Wholesale. This acquisition aimed to strengthen Walmart's position in The market and expand its reach to new geographies (USDA Press Release).
Research Analyst Overview
- In the market, waste reduction strategies are increasingly prioritized through humidity control, carbon footprint reduction, and optimal packaging material selection. Predictive maintenance and product handling training enhance operational efficiency, while logistics optimization and energy consumption monitoring reduce costs. Process automation, water conservation measures, and temperature monitoring ensure product quality. Controlled atmosphere storage, pest control strategies, and food safety audits maintain product integrity.
- Label compliance, hydrocooling techniques, and remote monitoring systems streamline supply chain management. Sales forecasting and consumer behavior analysis inform pricing strategies, while ethylene management and recycling programs promote sustainability. Sanitation procedures and retail display optimization maintain customer trust. Data analytics tools provide valuable insights into market trends and consumer preferences.
Dive into Technavio's robust research methodology, blending expert interviews, extensive data synthesis, and validated models for unparalleled Fresh Food Market insights. See full methodology.
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Market Scope |
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Report Coverage |
Details |
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Page number |
168 |
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Base year |
2023 |
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Historic period |
2018-2022 |
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Forecast period |
2024-2028 |
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Growth momentum & CAGR |
Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.23% |
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Market growth 2024-2028 |
USD 783.24 million |
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Market structure |
Fragmented |
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YoY growth 2023-2024(%) |
3.99 |
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Key countries |
US, Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, France, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, UAE, Oman, Argentina, KSA, UAE, Brazil, and Rest of World (ROW) |
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Competitive landscape |
Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks |
What are the Key Data Covered in this Fresh Food Market Research and Growth Report?
- CAGR of the Fresh Food industry during the forecast period
- Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth and forecasting between 2024 and 2028
- Precise estimation of the size of the market and its contribution of the industry in focus to the parent market
- Accurate predictions about upcoming growth and trends and changes in consumer behaviour
- Growth of the market across APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America
- Thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about companies
- Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the fresh food market growth of industry companies
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