Frozen Industry and Retailer Executives Collaborate on Growth Opportunities at AFFI’s Frozen IQ

Austin, Texas – The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) brought together senior leadership from frozen food processers, retailers and supply chain partners at the inaugural Frozen IQ conference. Held in collaboration with FMI – The Food Industry Association, Frozen IQ featured the release of actionable merchandising and retail insights, expert analysis on key topics that will impact the future of the frozen marketplace, and solutions-oriented dialogue and discussion among attendees. AFFI also awarded its Industry Awards in recognition of the members who have contributed to the category through advocacy and leadership.

“Frozen IQ is a one-of-a-kind forum where manufacturers and retailers can convene and solely focus on the future of frozen food and how to build toward a more profitable and successful marketplace,” said AFFI President and CEO Alison Bodor. “With new data, resources and opportunities for meaningful connections, Frozen IQ provides the industry with tools to spark new ideas and overcome growth barriers.”

The Frozen IQ programming included the release of two new reports that frozen food companies and retailers can utilize to spur further growth.

AFFI and FMI released the third edition of the Power of Frozen in Retail, a comprehensive market report overviewing the shopper demographics, product trends and responsiveness to merchandising scenarios. Utilizing data from Circana, the report provides data and insights to help grow the frozen category.

Conference attendees also received exclusive access to How to Win in Frozen, a playbook developed by AlixPartners specifically for CPGs and retailers. Leveraging the results of the Power of Frozen in Retail, the How to Win in Frozen playbook includes expert assessment of product merchandising and marketing, best practices and growth forecasts across five of the major frozen subcategories.

“Whether through studying on-trend category innovations, the path to advance the industry’s sustainability profile, or what’s ahead for the perception of food processing, attendees of Frozen IQ heard new ideas and came away with new opportunities,” added Bodor.

AFFI also presented its Industry Awards at the Frozen IQ event, honoring individuals for their contributions to frozen throughout their careers. This year’s awards were:

• Advocate of the Year: The Advocate of the Year award recognizes an individual for their commitment to going above and beyond in support of the frozen food industry’s advocacy efforts. This year’s award was presented to Adnan Durrani, founder and CEO of Saffron Road.

• Woman of the Year: Held in partnership with Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer, this award recognizes an outstanding woman in the frozen food industry. This year’s award was presented to Kelley Martin, vice president of sales with Nortera.

“Throughout the frozen food industry, individuals and companies are driving the future of our category through their advocacy, collaboration and leadership,” said Bodor. “AFFI is honored to bring these visionaries together and celebrate their accomplishments.”

The full program and list of speakers from Frozen IQ can be found online at www.affi.org/FrozenIQ.