American Frozen Food Institute

What American Frozen Food Institute does

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) is a national trade association founded in 1942 that represents the frozen food and beverage supply chain in the United States, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. AFFI's membership comprises two categories — Processor Members (producers of raw ingredients and finished frozen foods including Conagra, Lamb Weston, McCain Foods, Schwan's, J.R. Simplot, Nortera, Bellisio, and Cavendish Farms) and Associate Members (auxiliary service providers such as Lineage Logistics and Americold) — and the industry it represents supports over 670,000 American jobs.

AFFI delivers value to members through a portfolio of services rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include industry advocacy (the annual Government Action Summit in Washington D.C., FROZEN FOODPAC political action committee, and engagement with FDA, USDA, and HHS), proprietary food safety programs (the trademarked Listeria Control Program© with 100+ recommendations, the Enteric Viruses Control Program, and certificate programs co-developed with IFPTI available in English and Spanish), market intelligence (the annual Power of Frozen in Retail report with FMI, the Power of Frozen in Foodservice study with Technomic, and complimentary Circana market data access via the Unify+ platform), signature events (AFFI-CON drew record attendance of over 1,800 industry professionals in 2026), and professional development (the COOL Leaders program and Cornell Executive Leadership Certificate). The Frozen Food Foundation, an affiliated nonprofit, advances scientific research and consumer education through the Frozen Advantage platform and the 'Fresh Thinking About Frozen' campaign launched in 2026.

AFFI's revenue model is diversified across four streams: recurring membership dues (primary), event registration fees, sponsorship arrangements (Executive, Platinum, Gold, Silver tiers), and research publication sales (with non-member pricing of $200 for the Power of Frozen in Retail report). The association operates with approximately 15 staff members led by President and CEO Alison Bodor and recently expanded its leadership with the appointments of Lisa Van Doren as Chief of Government Affairs (March 2026) and Carol Blake as SVP of Communications (June 2026).

Name

American Frozen Food Institute

Legal name

American Frozen Food Institute

Website

https://affi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The American Frozen Food Institute is a national trade association representing the frozen food and beverage supply chain, providing advocacy, food safety programs, market research, and networking events to processor and associate members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFFI generates primary revenue through membership dues from two categories: Processor Members (producers of raw ingredients and processors of finished frozen foods) and Associate Members (suppliers of auxiliary services such as supply chain logistics, cold storage, food testing). Member benefits include access to exclusive resources, discounted event registration, business insights research, and participation in committees and working groups.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from AFFI-CON annual convention, Government Action Summit, Food Safety Forum, webinars, and other educational events. Members receive discounted registration rates while non-members pay higher fees. AFFI-CON 2026 drew record attendance of over 1,800 frozen food industry professionals.
3. Research Reports and Publications: The 2026 Power of Frozen in Retail report is available to AFFI members for free as an exclusive member benefit and to non-members for $200. Additional market research reports including 'How to Win in Frozen' and foodservice research are sold through the member commerce platform.
4. Sponsorships: Year-round sponsorship opportunities available exclusively to members provide visibility and engagement with industry leaders at AFFI-CON, Government Action Summit, and strategic initiatives. Sponsorship tiers include Executive, Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels with varying benefits including food safety programming support, Friends of Frozen Strategic Partner Program, and digital visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFFI is a national trade association that delivers value to its member companies through industry advocacy, food safety resources, proprietary market research, and networking events. Its core deliverables include the AFFI-CON annual convention, the Government Action Summit on Capitol Hill, comprehensive food safety programs such as the Listeria Control Program and Enteric Viruses Control Program, certificate training programs in partnership with IFPTI, and the annual Power of Frozen research reports published with FMI and Circana.

Product overview

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) is a national trade association representing the frozen food and beverage industry. Rather than offering a unified software product, AFFI provides a portfolio of membership-based services including industry conferences (AFFI-CON, Government Action Summit), research publications (Power of Frozen in Retail, Power of Frozen in Foodservice), and food safety programs (Food Safety Zone, Listeria Control Program, Enteric Viruses Control Program). These services support frozen food manufacturers through advocacy, market intelligence, professional development (COOL Leaders Program), and certification training (Listeria Control Specialist Certificate, Enteric Virus Control Specialist Certificate). AFFI also operates affiliated organizations including the Frozen Food Foundation and consumer education platforms like Frozen Advantage, with additional offerings including a Supplier & Services Directory, industry awards, and Circana-powered market data access for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COOL Leaders Program: Creating Opportunities for Outstanding Leaders (COOL) - a leadership development initiative for emerging professionals across the frozen food industry.
• Frozen Advantage
• Fresh Thinking About Frozen
• Friends of Frozen

Products and services

• AFFI-CON Annual Convention Annual premier frozen food industry event where companies conduct business deals, meet supply chain partners across industrial, retail, and foodservice distribution channels, and access educational sessions and networking receptions.
• Government Action Summit Annual advocacy event bringing the frozen food industry to Capitol Hill to engage directly with policymakers on issues impacting business operations, featuring congressional meetings, policy briefings, and the Taste of Frozen showcase.
• Power of Frozen in Retail Report Annual research report conducted in partnership with FMI examining frozen food consumption patterns, purchase drivers, and usage trends, providing comprehensive market insights for manufacturers and retailers. Free to AFFI members; $200 for non-members.
• Power of Frozen in Foodservice Report Research report commissioned by AFFI and conducted by Technomic Inc. examining operator attitudes and practices regarding frozen food selection and usage in the foodservice industry, surveying 350+ operators across 10 segments.
• Food Safety Zone Comprehensive online hub providing frozen food safety resources including best practices, guidelines, checklists, videos, and standardized procedures for Listeria control, enteric viruses control, and general food safety implementation.
• Listeria Control Program (LCP) Comprehensive trademarked program with over 100 recommendations for food manufacturers aimed at Listeria monocytogenes prevention and control, covering environmental monitoring, sanitation controls, freezer management, hygienic design, process validation, hygienic zoning, and good manufacturing practices.
• Enteric Viruses Control Program Control program providing resources to assist frozen food manufacturers in preventing and controlling enteric viruses in their facilities, including standardized procedures, checklists, and videos, with guidance for berry growing, harvesting, packing, and freezing operations.
• Enteric Virus Control Specialist Certificate Program Professional certificate program developed in partnership with IFPTI, available in English and Spanish, training operations personnel and food safety managers on enteric virus risks and best practices for preventing contamination in food production facilities.
• Listeria Control Specialist Certificate Program Professional certificate program based on the Listeria Control Program (LCP), covering all aspects of Listeria control inside a food facility. Developed in partnership with IFPTI and available in English and Spanish.
• COOL Leaders Program Creating Opportunities for Outstanding Leaders (COOL) is a leadership development initiative providing structured leadership development, industry education, peer collaboration, and Cornell University executive leadership certificate opportunities for emerging professionals across the frozen food industry.
• Circana Frozen Market Data Access Partnership with Circana providing AFFI members with complimentary access to frozen food market data including department, aisle, and category performance across time periods, measures, and product selection through the Unify+ platform.
• Supplier & Services Directory Online directory enabling frozen food companies to find and connect with suppliers and service providers across co-packing, food safety, distribution, and logistics categories.
• Frozen Food Foundation Affiliated nonprofit foundation dedicated to fostering scientific research, public awareness, and industry education regarding the nutritional, safety, and societal attributes of frozen foods.
• Frozen Advantage Consumer Education Platform Consumer-facing website providing information about frozen food benefits including nutrition facts, industry economic impact, research, toolkits, cooking tips, and food waste reduction information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Frozen food sales reached $87 billion in 2024-2025, up 45% from 2019 levels
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Circle LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircle Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider specializing in temperature-controlled transportation, announced a strategic partnership with AFFI to support safer, more efficient, and resilient cold chains across North America. The partnership aims to help frozen food brands navigate tightening regulatory expectations and growing frozen food demand by combining Circle Logistics' temperature-controlled logistics expertise with AFFI's industry advocacy and food safety resources. Circle Logistics services over $700 million in freight spend across the continental United States and Mexico.
• Lineage LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLineage Logistics is featured as an Alliance Partner Spotlight on AFFI's website, setting new standards for end-to-end global food chains and committed to doing business responsibly, sustainably, and clean to realize shared purpose of feeding the world. Lineage is an Executive sponsor of AFFI-CON 2026.
• AmericoldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmericold is a year-round AFFI partner and Executive sponsor of AFFI-CON 2026. As a temperature-controlled warehouse and logistics provider, Americold provides cold storage services critical to the frozen food supply chain.
• IFPTI (International Food Protection Training Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFFI developed the Enteric Virus Control Specialist Certificate Program and Listeria Control Specialist Certificate Program in partnership with IFPTI. These professional certificate programs are available in English and Spanish, training operations personnel and food safety managers on enteric virus and Listeria risks in food production facilities.
• FMI – The Food Industry AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFFI partners with FMI – The Food Industry Association on the annual Power of Frozen in Retail report. The 2026 fourth edition of this report examines consumption, purchase drivers, and use of frozen foods, providing comprehensive market intelligence to frozen food manufacturers and retail partners.
• CircanacoreTechnology or IntegrationAFFI partners with Circana to provide members with complimentary access to frozen food market data including department, aisle, and category performance across time periods, measures, and product selection. The data is refreshed regularly for latest market information. Members access Circana's Unify+ platform through AFFI's members-only area.
• Technomic Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFFI commissioned Technomic Inc. to conduct the second annual Power of Frozen in Foodservice research examining operator attitudes and practices regarding selection and usage of frozen foods and beverages in the foodservice industry. Over 350 operators from 10 segments were surveyed.
• Cornell UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFFI partners with Cornell University on the Executive Leadership Certificate Program, offering professional development for frozen food industry leaders. The program is available to AFFI-CON attendees and provides academic credentials for industry professionals.
• Empower Coaching and TrainingminorOthersTiffany Grimes, Founder & CEO of Empower Coaching and Training, serves as a leadership coach for the COOL Leaders program, bringing over 26 years of expertise in workforce development, professional coaching, organizational development, and leadership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• North American Meat Institute (NAMI): Trade association for the meat and poultry industry including frozen protein processors; competes for frozen food member companies and runs a comparable federal regulatory advocacy and food safety programming model.
• FMI – The Food Industry Association: National trade association for the food retail industry; already partners with AFFI on the Power of Frozen in Retail report and serves overlapping grocery/wholesale audiences with a similar advocacy + research + events model.
• United Fresh Produce Association: Trade association serving the fresh produce supply chain, with overlapping frozen produce members (e.g., berry processors covered by AFFI's Enteric Viruses Control Program); runs a parallel convention, policy, and food safety model.
• International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA): Trade association representing the U.S. dairy industry, including frozen dairy and dessert processors; runs a similar advocacy, food safety, and events model with overlapping regulatory concerns (FDA, dietary guidelines, labeling).
• National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA): Trade association focused specifically on frozen and refrigerated foods at retail; directly competes for frozen food processor members, sponsorships, and event mindshare, with an overlapping convention/event strategy.
• American Bakers Association (ABA): Trade association for wholesale baking companies, many of which produce frozen baked goods that overlap with AFFI's processor base; shares a similar advocacy + food safety + events operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Consumer Brands Association: Umbrella trade association for consumer packaged goods manufacturers; serves many of the same enterprise members (Conagra, Schwan's-style CPG companies) and competes for advocacy dollars on broader regulatory and supply-chain issues.
• National Restaurant Association: Largest foodservice trade association in the U.S., serving operators who are a key end-customer segment for AFFI's processor members; overlaps with AFFI's foodservice research and supply chain engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/affi
• YouTubevimeo.com/user136420380
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanFrozenFoodInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-frozen-food-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/americanfrozenfoodinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Frozen Food Institute