PMMI Releases Food Packaging Study

Published: March 21, 2016

RESTON, VA | PMMI, The Assn. for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has released a new report entitled 2016 Food Packaging Trends and Advances forecasting the US food industry is forecast to grow at a steady rate of 2.9% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) through 2022. 

Based on interviews from 70 professionals across the food processing and packaging industry in the US and overseas, the study forecasts that meat and related products and snack foods will outperform the market with more than 3% growth. The growth in these two segments is attributed to consumer demand for portion control and convenience options.

See Infographic here

The US food industry trails the global market and, while North America is the largest global market across all food segments, the overall growth of the food industry, which includes food packaging, is being driven by emerging markets like Argentina, Brazil, China, and India, says the report.

Global growth rates for most segments are double US growth rates, except for meat and related products (8.5%), and candy and confections (8%), which have higher rates of global growth compared to those of the US.

The report says US food packaging innovations are often concepts that are already in use in other segments and innovations from other countries are beginning to enter the US food packaging market. One trend that meat manufacturers reportedly find exciting is a product with a film that opens during cooking which allows the meat to brown after a pre-determined period of time.

The study says the most innovative food industry segments are the following:

• Snack Foods: Recycled and biodegradable materials for salty snacks; stylish, vivid graphics and shapes for single-serve packs
• Meat and Related Products: New films to keep meat fresher longer; active labels to sense when meat is past its expiration
• Fruits and Vegetables: Clear, tactile films to make consumers pause and consider the product; more single-serve packaging
• Pet Food: More recycled materials in packaging; single-serve containers to differentiate niche or premium product

Consumer demand continues to drive the industry, as noted in the current major packaging trends: convenience, flexibility, safety, sustainability, and technology.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.