Blast chillers, also known as shock freezers, are appliances used to rapidly cool or freeze hot foods quickly in order to extend their shelf life. Blast chillers allow restaurants, cafeterias, and other commercial kitchens to rapidly cool cooked foods in a hygienic manner without the risk of contamination or foodborne illness. They help in maintaining quality and freshness of foods during storage by preventing moisture loss and development of undesirable flavors or textures. Blast chillers are ideal for rapidly cooling large batches of soups, sauces, rice, meats, and other cooked foods. With the rapid expansion of the foodservice industry worldwide due to rising incomes, urbanization, and busy lifestyle of consumers, the demand for commercial kitchen appliances such as blast chillers has increased substantially in recent years. The global blast chillers market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2.24 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 15% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics
Increased Demand from Food Service Industry: As mentioned in the heading, the food service industry has witnessed robust growth over the past few years due to various factors such as rising number of restaurants, fast food chains, cafeterias, and hotels. According to studies, the global commercial and food service equipment market is expected to reach a value of US$ 89.76 Bn by 2027. The demand for blast chillers from this end-use industry has significantly increased in order to rapidly cool large volumes of cooked foods. This growing demand from expanding food service sector is expected to remain a key driver for the blast chillers market during the forecast period.
Growing Need for Hygienic and Rapid Food Preservation: Blast chillers help preserve the quality, texture, taste and nutritional value of cooked foods by rapidly cooling them down in a hygienic manner. This prevents multiplication of pathogens and allows safe storage of meals at precise temperatures. The growing need for efficient and hygienic food preservation solutions has propelled the adoption of blast chillers among manufacturers, distributors and retailers dealing with perishable food products.
Segment Analysis
The blast chillers market is segmented into mobile blast chillers and stationary blast chillers. The stationary blast chillers segment accounts for the largest market share as they are widely used in large restaurants, hotels, and catering services to quickly chill large volumes of cooked food. They help reduce food wastage and energy costs.
PEST Analysis
Political: Food safety regulations promote the use of blast chillers to chill cooked food quickly and prevent the growth of bacteria. This drives market growth.
Economic: Rising foodservice industry and number of hotels and restaurants boost demand for blast chillers to process large volumes of food. Developing economies are major markets.
Social: Changing lifestyles and increasing number of working women have increased demand for ready-to-eat meals. Blast chillers allow restaurants and caterers to quickly prepare large batches of chilled foods.
Technological: Advancements enable precise temperature control, remote monitoring, and integration with IT networks for traceability. Smart blast chillers with IoT and data analytics deliver better food quality and safety.
Key Takeaways
The Global Blast Chillers Market Share is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period of 2024 to 2031 due to rising demand from restaurants, hotels, and large catering services.
Regional analysis: North America dominates the market currently due to strong foodservice industry. Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth led by countries like China and India. Increasing number of food chains and quick service restaurants are driving demand.
Key players operating in the blast chillers market are Locus Robotics, ABB Limited, Honeywell International Inc., Fanuc Corporation, Geek+ Inc., TGW Logistics Group GMBH, Omron Adept Technologies, Swisslog Holding AG (KUKA AG), Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (Aethon Incorporation), Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Yaskawa Motoman), InVia Robotics Inc., Fetch Robotics Inc., Syrius Robotics, Grey Orange Pte Ltd, Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology Co. Ltd and Toshiba Corporation. Key players are focusing on developing smart blast chillers with integrated IT solutions for remote monitoring and traceability.