Demand for meat, poultry and seafood packaging is forecast to increase 3.1 percent per year according to a food packaging study by the Freedonia Group.
Continued expansion of the case-ready meat, poultry and seafood segment will drive demand for traditional packaging items such as film, trays, absorbent pads and bags.
The importance of a longer product shelf life will support demand for high-barrier film products. Consumer preference for convenience-oriented products such as easy to open, resealable, portable, microwavable and single-portion packs will support gains for products such as pouches, cook-in bags and vacuum skin packaging.
The fastest growing products in the meat, poultry, and seafood packaging market include plastic types such as:
- Brick packs – due to their leak resistance, transparency and transportation cost savings stemming from their efficient cube format
- Chub packaging – due to its low cost, good freezer protection, ability to extend shelf life and retain flavour, and significant shipping and material cost savings
- Pouches – due to their convenience, re-sealability, ability to hold smaller portions and good graphics capabilities
- Vacuum skin packaging – based on its ability to maximise shelf life, resist leaks, reduce material consumption and improve presentation.
This study examines the US market for food packaging, defined as primary and secondary packaging materials sold to food manufacturers, primarily for products targeted at retail or foodservice markets.