FOOD DISPLAY CABINET MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

Market Size and Trends

Global food display cabinet market is estimated to be valued at USD 23.63 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 41.83 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2024 to 2031.

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Advancements in technology coupled with rising focus on food safety and hygiene can boost demand for food display cabinets. The market is witnessing positive trends such as increasing adoption of energy-efficient and smart food display cabinets. Growing preference for aesthetically attractive, durable, and easy to maintain food display cabinets from food service providers can also drive the market growth. Rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles are expected to boost demand for advanced food display cabinets over the forecast period.

Growing Demand for Ready to Eat Food

The modern consumers prefer convenience and ease overelaborate meal preparation. People have increasingly hectic lifestyles and seek options that allow them to reduce time spent in the kitchen. Ready to eat foods have emerged as a popular choice as these eliminate the need for extensive cooking and preparation work. Food display cabinets have become instrumental in meeting the demand for freshly made and appetizing ready meals that can be accessed on the go. Restaurants and cafes rely heavily on food display cabinets to maintain and showcase their extensive ready to eat food variety. Even smaller establishments are utilizing these to provide more options beyond traditional snacks like sandwiches and salads. As nuclear families decline and single person householdsincreases, there has been rise in demand for convenient single servings. Display cabinets with temperature-controlled zones allow showcasing of ready to eat food for all meal periods in an attractive manner that appeals to customers. Their ability to maintain optimal temperatures ensure that food quality and freshness is retained during display. This has encouraged their usage across various food outlets.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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The experience economy is fundamentally changing the way consumers approach markets around the world. Customers are increasingly seeking memorable and engaging experiences when purchasing goods and services. In the food retail space, this shift towards experiences is driving significant growth in the global food display cabinet market.  As consumers expect more than just products on shelves when shopping for groceries, restaurants and cafes, retailers are investing heavily in innovative food display solutions that offer interactive and appealing experiences. Modern digital food display cabinets with touchscreens and virtual product information are helping brands stage memorable presentations of their food offerings. These high-tech displays provide a browsing experience more akin to a multimedia mobile app than a traditional retail setup. Dynamic lighting, motion sensors and multimedia content integrated within cabinets keep customers engrossed far longer than static displays ever could.  Also seeing demand rise for specialty cabinet designs tailored for particular cuisines and cooking styles. As a result, manufacturers are diversifying their portfolio to include specialized sushi, bakeware and prepared meal cabinets with optimal temperature, humidity and presentation controls. The growing popularity of food-to-go options is boosting ‘grab-and-go’ cabinet sales as well. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, 78% of developing countries experienced annual expenditure growth on Ultra-processed food and fast food between 2000-2013, with highest growth rates seen in Asia and Africa. This on-the-go eating trend will continue driving higher use of interactive takeaway cabinets globally in the coming years.

Key Takeaways from Analyst:

Global food display cabinet market is expected to witness steady growth in the near future due to rising demand for energy efficient and innovative food display solutions from the food service industry. Strict food safety regulations that require regulated holding temperatures for prepared food items have boosted the need for automated food display cabinets.

The ability of modern cabinets to efficiently control and monitor internal temperatures helps establishments to comply with regulations easily. Meanwhile, growing fast casual dining segment is creating opportunities for versatile cabinet designs that facilitate quick ordering and optimized kitchen workflow.

High initial investment costs can hamper adoption rates among small businesses and new restaurants. The premium pricing of cabinets with advanced connectivity and IoT features limits their popularity. The market is also quite fragmented with numerous local and regional players.

Market Challenge: High maintenance and operating costs

High maintenance and operating costs can hamper the global food display cabinet market growth. Food display cabinets require frequent cleaning and sanitization to maintain proper hygiene standards as these are used to store and display ready-to-eat food items. The cleaning and sanitization processes involve manual labor and consume a sizable amount of water, chemicals, and disinfectants. For example, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), food businesses across both developed and developing nations spend an average of 15-20% of their total annual operating expenses only on cleaning and sanitization activities to meet food safety compliance.

Market Opportunity: Emerging markets in developing countries

Emerging markets in developing countries has great potential for growth of food display cabinet market. As economies in regions like Asia Pacific and Latin America continue to develop and their populations become more urbanized and affluent, food consumption patterns evolve rapidly. People now demand greater variety, convenience and quality in food products across various modern retail formats like supermarkets and organized grocery stores. This rising exposure to international cuisine as well as busy lifestyles boosts the need for modern food storage and display solutions in both household and commercial kitchens. Food display cabinets allow retailers and food service providers to creatively market their products, protect nutritional value through temperature-controlled storage, and ensure optimum freshness and hygiene. Various types of cabinets accommodate different use cases - from closed front cases ideal for bakery items to open front models best for delicatessen. Their ability to carefully regulate moisture, humidity and lighting conditions helps extend the shelf life of a wide range of fresh and prepared foods. As more consumers aspire for Western-style shopping experiences with diverse gourmet and ready-to-eat options, the demand for professional-grade, energy efficient display cabinets increase across grocery chains, caterers and restaurants.

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In terms of type, refrigerated food display cabinets segment is estimated to contribute the 76.6% share of the market in 2024, owing to the convenience and food safety these offer. Refrigerated cabinets allow foods like meats, dairy products and prepared meals to be stored and displayed at the recommended temperatures without repeated opening and closing of refrigerator doors. This helps to maintain the ideal temperature necessary to keep foods fresh for longer time. It also reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses by preventing temperature abuse. The closed refrigerated environment is easier to monitor and control as compared to conventional refrigerators. Food retailers greatly value the benefits offered by refrigerated cabinets like enhanced shelf life of food and reduced food waste. Their usage has increased as more convenience stores stock fresh ready-to-eat items.

Insights, By Materials: Durability and aesthetics boost popularity of stainless-steel food display cabinets

In terms of materials, stainless steel segment is estimated to contribute the 35.6% share of the market in 2024, due to its durable and aesthetically appealing nature. Stainless steel cabinets have a polished look that enhances the appearance of retail store interiors. Their shiny mirrored finish and resistance to rust and corrosion allows them to retain their good looks for years even with regular cleaning.. Stainless steel is also easy to sanitize, which is important from a food safety perspective. Its non-porous nature prevents bacteria from growing on surfaces. Leading brands opt for stainless steel as it conveys an image of reliability and quality that appeals to discerning customers.

Insights, By End User: Expanding food options drive restaurants' demand for specialized food display cabinets

In terms of end user, restaurants segment is estimated to contribute the 36.4% share of the market in 2024, owing to their specialized requirements. Unlike retail outlets, restaurants need cabinets configured to optimize limited counter space and display a variety of hot and cold food items attractively. This has led specialized food display cabinet manufacturers to roll out new designs tailored for restaurants. Refrigerated bain-maries allow expanded storage while maintaining temperatures. Hot boxes and steam tables keep foods piping hot. Vertical and stacked models maximize visibility and access. Customizable interiors accommodate diverse menus. Such product innovations have enabled restaurants to creatively showcase their cuisine, thus, boosting trades.

Regional Insights

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North America has established itself as the dominant region in the global food display cabinet market with estimated 38.8% share in 2024. With a mature foodservice industry and strong presence of major food retail chains, there has been huge demand for modern food display cabinets. Foodservice operators and retailers in the U.S. and Canada are continuously focusing on enhancing customer experience in their stores through innovative merchandising solutions. This has propelled the sales of advanced food display cabinets that maintain optimal food temperatures while also attracting customers' attention through interactive lighting and digital displays. Moreover, presence of leading manufacturers such as True Manufacturing, Hussmann, and Alto-Shaam further consolidates North America's supremacy in this market.

Asia Pacific region has emerged as the fasting growing market for food display cabinet globally. Rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and growing influence of Western food culture have significantly boosted the foodservice industry across developing economies like India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines in recent times. Increasing consumer preference for fresh, attractive and hygienic food presentations is encouraging restaurants and modern grocers to invest heavily in state-of-the-art food display solutions. Local manufacturers are also striving to introduce innovative and customized products at competitive prices to tap the enormous potential of the APAC market.

Market Report Scope

Key Developments

• In March 2024, GEA, a leading technology company for food processing and other industries, launched a cutting-edge real-time monitoring solution for food processing technology at Anuga FoodTec, a premier trade fair for the food and beverage industry. This innovative solution is designed to enhance efficiency, productivity, and quality control in food processing operations.
• In 2023, BAK Food Equipment, a prominent provider of food processing solutions, launched Nowicki's range of injectors, expanding its offerings to include cutting-edge injection technology for the food industry. Nowicki injectors are known for their precision, efficiency, and versatility in enhancing the flavor, tenderness, and juiciness of various food products.
• In 2021, Fri-Jado, a leading provider of food merchandising and foodservice equipment, launched a state-of-the-art self-serve hot food display cabinet, catering to the evolving needs of the food retail industry. This innovative display cabinet is designed to enhance the presentation, freshness, and accessibility of hot food items for customers in various foodservice settings.
• In 2020, Kanchan Metals, a renowned manufacturer of food processing equipment, launched a range of specialized machinery designed for the production of Western snacks. This innovative equipment is tailored to meet the specific requirements of producing a variety of popular Western snack items efficiently and with high quality standards.

*Definition: Food Display Cabinet Market consists of refrigerated display cabinets specifically designed to keep prepared food products fresh and appetizing for customers. These cabinets provide temperature-controlled storage and exhibit space for grocery stores, delis, bakeries and restaurants to proudly showcase food items like meats, cheeses, breads and desserts. Food display cabinets allow establishments to creatively arrange and merchandise their products while maintaining proper food safety temperatures to preserve quality and reduce waste.

Market Segmentation

• Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Refrigerated Food Display Cabinets
  • Heated Food Display Cabinets
•  Materials Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Glass
  • Stainless Steel
  • Wood
  • Others
•  End User Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Supermarket and Hypermarket
  • Restaurants
  • Bakery
  • Others
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • Carrier Global Corporation
  • Hatco Corp
  • The Vollrath Co. LLC.
  • True Manufacturing Co Inc
  • Hoshizaki Corp
  • Alto-Shaam Inc.
  • FRIGOGLASS S.A.I.C
  • The Middleby Corp
  • Kitchenrama
  • Kareliya equipments
  • Thermodyne
  • TFSE Products
  • Luminati
  • Tefcold
  • Al Razana kitchen