Analysis
NAICS 424420 is the 2022 national industry for packaged frozen food merchant wholesalers, part of 42442 (Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 21 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 2,994 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 78,266 people at an average annual payroll of $70,960 per employee (54th percentile of national industries). 47% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include bakery products, frozen, merchant wholesalers, dinners, frozen, merchant wholesalers, doughs, frozen, merchant wholesalers and fish, packaged frozen, merchant wholesalers, among 21 in all.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 7% and employment fell 12%. 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.
For example, the merchant wholesale distribution of frozen dairy products are classified in 424430 (Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Census lists 1 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 424430. 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.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of packaged frozen foods (except dairy products).
Illustrative Examples:
Frozen bakery products merchant wholesalers Packaged frozen fish merchant wholesalers Frozen juices merchant wholesalers Packaged frozen meats merchant wholesalers Frozen vegetables merchant wholesalers Packaged frozen poultry merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| The merchant wholesale distribution of frozen dairy products | 424430 Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (21)
- Bakery products, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Dinners, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Doughs, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Fish, packaged frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Foods, prepared, packaged frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Frozen foods, packaged (except dairy products), merchant wholesalers
- Fruits, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Juices, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Meat product substitutes, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Meat substitutes, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Meatless patties, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Meats, packaged frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Pies (e.g., fruit, meat, poultry), frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Pizzas, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Poultry, packaged frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Prepared foods, frozen (except dairy products), merchant wholesalers
- Pretzels, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Seafoods, packaged frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Soups, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Vegetable patties, frozen, merchant wholesalers
- Vegetables, frozen, merchant wholesalers