Air Blast Freezer Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis by Type (Continuous Blast Freezer and Batch Blast Freezers), By Portability (Portable and Stationary), By Function (Custom Blast Freezer and Standard Blast Freezer), By End User (Food Service, Transportation, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Bakery & Confectionery, and Others), and Regional Forecast till 2032

The global air blast freezer market is expected to witness significant growth owing to the expansion of the food and beverage industry and cold chain infrastructure. The food service industry has been growing due to changing consumer lifestyles and a growing tourism sector. This has led to more food outlets, which need blast chillers to manage large volumes of food while maintaining quality and safety. Moreover, the market growth is also fostered by growth in cold chain infrastructure owing to the increasing demand for perishable goods.

• According to the U.S. National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry contributed USD 3.5 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2024, which is 15.6% of real GDP. Hence, the large GDP contribution in the U.S. signifies the high market demand for these freezers in the country.

• In February 2024, AP Moller-Maersk announced the launch of an integrated cold chain facility located in Ruakura Superhub, New Zealand. The development of such facilities across the globe is expected to contribute to market growth.

Air Blast Freezer Market Driver

Expansion of the Food and Beverage Industry to Boost the Market Growth

The expansion of the food and beverage industry is expected to boost the market growth owing to the increasing demand for frozen food products. Moreover, the rising global population also contributes to an escalating demand for food and beverage products, which has a positive impact on market growth. Moreover, market players are also engaged in continuous technological advancement to cater to demand from the food and beverage industry.

• In September 2024, Blue Cube launched a new blast freezer with low energy consumption, claiming to save 10% in energy costs annually. This freezer is equipped with a newly defined floor structure, dynamic lighting system, and other features.

Moreover, the increasing demand for frozen food across the globe is expected to foster market growth over the forecast period.

Air Blast Freezer Market Restraint

High Initial Cost May Restrain the Adoption of Air Blast Freezers

The market faces growth restraint due to the high initial cost associated with the purchase and operation of air blast freezers. These freezers feature high energy consumption, which increases the operational expenses for end users. End users with low spending capacity may struggle to justify the operational costs with the high cost of electricity in certain regions. The aforementioned factor is expected to negatively affect market growth.

Air Blast Freezer Market Opportunity

Increasing Prominence of Commercial Kitchens to Generate New Opportunities

The rising prominence of commercial kitchens is expected to create lucrative opportunities for market players. The growing number of catering and restaurant services will propel the demand for these freezers as these facilities are mandatorily equipped with large-capacity freezers for food storage and preservation.

• According to the U.S. National Restaurant Association in 2024, the food service industry in the country reached USD 1 trillion of sales in 2024. Moreover, the industry workforce witnessed a growth of 200,000 jobs. Such factors signify the growth of the food service industry in the U.S., which is also expected to create several opportunities for market players.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Recent Advancements in the Air Blast Freezer Market
• Key Industry Trends
• Regulatory Landscape for the Market
• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships)
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

Analysis by Type

Based on type, the market is segmented into continuous blast freezers and batch blast freezers.

A continuous blast freezer is a type of freezer that continuously freezes products as they move along a conveyor belt. They are often used in production lines and are usually placed before final packaging. Continuous blast freezers are best suited for processing large volumes of products. They have lower labor costs and generally provide more uniform freezing conditions.

• In February 2023, Magnavale Easton announced an expansion of its service portfolio with the addition of blast freezing for food manufacturers to store large quantities of food products. Hence, such developments in the market signify the demand for air blast freezers. 

A batch blast freezer is a type of freezer that can freeze food in batches, with capacities ranging from 250 kg to 3000 kg per batch. Blast freezers are also known as shock freezers or flash freezers. They are used to rapidly freeze food at extremely low temperatures to preserve its quality, flavor, and nutritional value.

Analysis by Portability

Based on portability, the market is segmented into portable and stationary.

A portable blast freezer is a freezer that can be moved around and is designed to reduce the temperature of food rapidly. Blast freezers are also known as shock freezers or flash freezers. They are used in many industries, including the frozen food industry, commercial kitchens, and pharmaceuticals.

• In November 2024, TEFCOLD launched the BLCB-X blast freezer product range for professional kitchens with 4 new different sizes with room for 3, 5, 10, or 15 GN1/1 pans.

A stationary blast freezer is a freezer that quickly freezes food items by exposing them to extremely cold temperatures. The freezers are commonly used in commercial kitchens, food processing facilities, and other businesses that deal with perishable goods. They are used to freeze fresh produce, ice cream, pre-prepared meals, and vegetables or fish.

Analysis by Function

Based on function, the market is segmented into custom blast freezers and standard blast freezers.

A custom blast freezer is a freezer that rapidly reduces the temperature of food or other items to preserve their quality and extend their shelf life. Features of these freezers include waterproof exteriors, man trap alarms, interior lighting, and stainless steel interiors as per the customized equipment of end-users.

• Trufrost offers customized blast chillers that are designed to cater large-scale food preparation in facilities such as industrial canteens, commercial kitchens, air catering units, and semi-industrial bread and pastry manufacturers.

Moreover, standard blast freezers are being developed for standardized application purposes in various industries. Generally, these are used in the food and beverage industry to store food and specialized perishable goods.

Analysis by End-User

Based on end-user, the market is segmented into food service, transportation, pharmaceutical, healthcare, bakery and confectionery, and others.

The food service is expected to dominate the market due to the increasing demand for processed food and catering in prominent countries across the globe. Moreover, a rise in the development of commercial kitchen services will also contribute to air blast freezer market growth opportunities.

• In November 2024, Swiggy announced the launch of a kitchen equipment procurement service for restaurants in India. The motive of this service is to assist restaurant partners with competitive prices for the procurement of high-quality kitchen equipment.

Hence, such developments in major countries will also contribute to the market growth.

Regional Analysis

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Based on region, the market has been studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America is expected to emerge as the crucial market for the air blast freezer market owing to the growing food processing industry, technological advancements in refrigeration methods, and rising focus on food safety measures. North America's robust development of food industry infrastructure supports the wide implementation of these freezers in the region. Moreover, stringent regulations for food safety also play a vital role in the growth of the market.

Europe is a lucrative market owing to the growth of the region's food processing industry. Moreover, the growth of the country's pharmaceutical industry is also expected to propel the market over the coming years.

• According to the Europe Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association, Europe accounts for 22.7% of the global pharmaceutical sales, which indicates lucrative growth opportunities for market players in the region.

Moreover, the government's inclination toward food safety in the region is expected to contribute to market growth over the coming years.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth as the region is a significant exporter of seafood and agricultural products. These freezers are crucial for maintaining product quality during storage and transportation. Furthermore, the expansion of seafood exporters in the region will boost the growth of the industry in the near future.

• According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry of India, seafood exports from India were valued at USD 7.38 billion in 2023. Hence, the high volume trade of such perishable goods, which requires freezing, will propel the market growth in the region.

Latin America is expected to grow at a considerable rate owing to the expansion of the food and beverage industry in the region. The growing food and beverage industry, which includes seafood, dairy, bakery, processed meat, and others, is contributing to the increasing demand for air blast freezers in the region.

The Middle East & Africa market is expected to emerge as a prominent market for these freezers as the Middle East is witnessing a significant spike in the tourism sector, which is positively impacting the food and beverage industry of the region. Hence, there is an increasing need for reliable food preservation systems in hotels, resorts, and restaurants.

Key Players Covered

The global air blast freezer market is moderately consolidated with the presence of a large number of group and standalone providers.

The report includes the profiles of the following key players:

• Synergy Agro Tech Pvt. Ltd. (India)
• Cryo Systems (China)
• Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (U.S.)
• U-Line Corporation (U.S.)
• Mercury Systems, Inc. (U.S.)
• Alto-Shaam, Inc. (U.S.)
• ThermoKool (U.S.)
• Sereva, SA (Spain)
• IRINOX S.p.A (Italy)

Key Industry Developments

• In March 2024, Blue Star launched a new range of energy-efficient deep freezers with a capacity of 60 to 600 liters. This range includes coolers/freezers, undercounters, blast freezers, and ice cube makers.
• In September 2023, Williams Refrigeration launched a product range for blast freezers. These systems are equipped with 75mm high-density polyurethane insulation, which helps to maintain operating temperature in ambient conditions up to 43°C.