A new study on Meat, Poultry & Seafood Packaging shows
that this ~$11bn market is driven by prepared foods, items in smaller and more
convenient sizes and packaging formats that make food preparation easier and
faster.
When it comes to the packaging market for meat, poultry and
seafood that’s growing at 3.8% annually, growth in flexibles (expanding at 4+%)
including barrier films is outpacing rigid packaging. Flex-pack advantages
center on lighter weight, reduced material use and the marketing benefit of
larger billboard space.
“The prevalence of
case-ready meats, which use modified atmosphere packaging and vacuum packaging,
will drive gains for barrier films,” says Freedonia Group analyst Esther
Palevsky. She expects vacuum pouches to see expanded usage with fresh, frozen,
and processed items, while stand-up pouches will make further inroads into
folding carton applications.
The study, Meat, Poultry & Seafood Packaging, projects
that demand will increase 3.8% annually to reach nearly $11 billion in
2019. Underlying trends driving the
market include increases in population, growth in foodservice and additional
export opportunities. In addition, demand will be supported by continued solid
prospects for prepared foods, items in smaller and more convenient sizes, and
packaging formats that make food preparation easier and faster.
Maturity in rigid formats including folding cartons and
metal cans will continue, along with competitive pressure versus flexible
packaging alternatives. Plastic containers will see the fastest growth among
rigid packaging, though they, too, will face increased competition from
lower-cost flexibles such as windowed bags and handled pouches for prepared
foods.
One rigid format—in fact the largest rigid segment—is seeing
growth: Corrugated boxes, which will benefit from continuing requirements for
shippers, the adaption of higher-value
moisture-resistant boxes and/or modular boxes for case-ready meats.