The retail frozen food market has grown across almost every category in the last year, according to new statistics from Kantar Worldpanel.

Data gathered has revealed that in the 52 weeks to 18th June, there had been an increase in value of 5.4%, taking the overall value of the retail frozen food market to more than £6.1bn.

So far this year, sales show that the pizza category continues to be the biggest, followed by savoury food, which includes frozen bread and other products.

These two categories have seen a combined increase of more than £100million year-on-year, representing almost a fifth of sales across the frozen food retail market.

John Hyman, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, welcomed the results, adding: “This quarter’s results are particularly encouraging with almost across the board, value growth, as well as exceptional volume growth, the category is outstripping growth of several leading retailers.

“More and more people are heading to the frozen food aisles where they know they can get restaurant quality products to enjoy at home.”

He said: “Frozen makes it easier to access convenient and nutritious food such as frozen fish, which has also seen a 3.1% value increase in sales over the last year.”

Another category performing well is ice-cream which has seen a 7.7% value and 0.8% volume growth.

The recent hot weather sparked a peak in market growth for this category, with more than 16 million households choosing to pick up an ice cream as temperatures soared.

And with weather forecasts predicting more sunshine over the next few weeks, it is expected this category will see further growth.

Hyman continued: “What we’re seeing is testament to the fact that frozen food, particularly ice cream and savoury food such as meat products, is ideally placed to tap into the trends underpinning consumer eating habits.”