Analysis
NAICS 311412 is the 2022 national industry for frozen specialty food manufacturing, part of 31141 (Frozen Food Manufacturing). Census lists 23 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 18% and employment rose 8%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 575 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 65,543 people at an average annual payroll of $52,557 per employee (21st percentile of national industries). 22% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which points to larger operations.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 2 codes at this level within Frozen Food Manufacturing, with 72.5% of them.
Census lists 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 311520, 311813, 311411 and 31161. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include chop suey, frozen, manufacturing, chow mein, frozen, manufacturing, dinners, frozen (except seafood-based), manufacturing and french toast, frozen, manufacturing, among 23 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing frozen specialty foods (except seafood), such as frozen dinners, entrees, and side dishes; frozen pizza; frozen whipped topping; and frozen waffles, pancakes, and French toast.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing frozen dairy specialties | 311520 Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing frozen bakery products | 311813 Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing frozen fruits, frozen fruit juices, and frozen vegetables | 311411 Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing frozen meat products | 31161 Animal Slaughtering and Processing |
| Manufacturing frozen seafood products | 311710 Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging |
Index entries (23)
- Chop suey, frozen, manufacturing
- Chow mein, frozen, manufacturing
- Dinners, frozen (except seafood-based), manufacturing
- French toast, frozen, manufacturing
- Frozen dinners (except seafood-based) manufacturing
- Frozen food entrees (except seafood-based), packaged, manufacturing
- Frozen pizza manufacturing
- Frozen pot pies manufacturing
- Frozen rice dishes manufacturing
- Frozen side dishes manufacturing
- Frozen soups (except seafood) manufacturing
- Frozen waffles manufacturing
- Macaroni, frozen, manufacturing
- Meatless patties, frozen, manufacturing
- Mexican foods, frozen, manufacturing
- Nationality specialty foods, frozen, manufacturing
- Pancakes, frozen, manufacturing
- Pizzas, frozen, manufacturing
- Pot pies, frozen, manufacturing
- Soups, frozen (except seafood), manufacturing
- Vegetable patties, frozen, manufacturing
- Waffles, frozen, manufacturing
- Whipped topping, frozen, manufacturing