Abstract
Food and beverage packaging is currently driven by consumer convenience, with success determined by the the needs of the categorys key customers. Portability and durability and the most important qualities among young adult consumers and consumers with children, respectively. Seniors lean toward traditional packing, unless it is difficult to open. For example, 26% of seniors who buy tuna choose cans with pull off tabs, 11% percent above average.
As in most markets, technology is working to advance the possibilities of packaging. The future is likely to bring "smart" packaging that prepares contents for consumption inside the container, or warn the user of unsafe conditions, such as exposure to temperatures that breed bacteria.
The focus of this Mintel report is packaging as it relates to food and drinks sold in supermarkets, drug stores and mass merchandisers. This report addresses the factors businesses consider when making packaging decisions. Also covered are trends in packaging and the factors influencing those trends. Where possible, trends related to packaging in foodservice are mentioned. Beyond the scope of this report are labeling trends, except when relating to packaging format.
Table of Contents
- Introduction and Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Other relevant reports
- Definition
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
- Executive Summary
- Providing for food and drink industries is main focus for packaging players
- Plastic only packaging type to show growth in constant terms since 1999
- With improvements, glass might make a comeback
- Packaging decisions put low priority on retailer input...for now
- Consumers and retailers support pro-environmental packaging
- Consumers expect convenient packaging
- The lifestages of consumers dictate specific packaging needs
- New directions for packaging: Safer packaging
- Market Factors
- Packaging and cost of production
- Figure 1: Component costs of food of U.S. origin for consumption at home and away from home, 1998-2003
- Figure 2: Categories of food marketing costs as a percentage of total marketing costs, 1998-2003
- Convenience--the primary driver of packaging innovation
- eClip: Figure 3: Convenience and ketchup in squeeze bottles, 2005
- eClip: Figure 4: Convenience and Skippy Squeeze It, 2005
- eClip: Figure 4: Convenience and Skippy Squeeze It, 2005
- Retailer issues
- Packaging and the personality of the product
- Shelf-life/preservation
- Monitoring freshness and extending shelf-life
- Aseptic packaging
- Environmental factors
- eClip: Figure 5: Individually-wrapped products and the environment, 2005
- U.S. Food and Drink Packaging Trends
- Re-sealable packages
- Figure 6: Cold beverage full-line vending sales, by type of container, percentage of sales by volume, 2001-04
- Shifts in portion size
- eClip: Figure 7: Portion size: Too large or too small?
- Portability
- Smart packaging
- Packaging that provides product customization
- Nostalgia
- Non-U.S. Food and Drink Packaging Trends
- Introduction
- Safe and healthy packaging
- Eye-catching packaging
- Pro-environmental packaging
- Supply Structure
- Major types of packaging
- Overview
- Figure 8: Value of U.S. container shipments by type of packaging, 2004
- Figure 9: Share of value of U.S. shipments of major packaging materials, 1999-2004
- Board and paper packaging
- Figure 10: Value of U.S. shipments of corrugated board, paperboard and sanitary foodboard, at current and constant prices, 1999-2004
- Metal cans
- Figure 11: Value of U.S. shipments of metal cans, at current and constant prices, 1999-2004
- Plastic bottles
- Figure 12: Value of U.S. shipments of plastic bottles, at current and constant prices, 1999-2004
- Glass containers
- Figure 13: U.S. shipments of glass containers, by end use, number of units, 1999-2004
- Figure 14: Value of U.S. shipments of glass containers, at current and constant prices, 1999-2004
- Packaging decisions and the value chain
- Company profiles
- Paperboard
- International Paper Company (IP)
- MeadWestvaco Corporation
- Weyerhaeuser Company
- Glass containers
- Owens-Illinois, Inc.
- Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc.
- Anchor Glass Container Corporation
- Metal containers
- Silgan Holdings Inc.
- Crown Holdings, Inc.
- Ball Corporation
- Plastics
- Amcor PET Packaging
- Consolidated Container Company LLC
- Constar International Inc.
- The Consumer
- Introduction
- Summary of findings
- Sugar
- Preferred packaging
- Figure 15: Sugar: type of packaging usually bought, February 2006
- How stored at home
- Figure 16: Method of storing sugar when it is purchased in a paper bag, February 2006
- Preference for paper over plastic
- Figure 17: Preference for paper or plastic sugar packaging when price is not a factor, February 2006
- Figure 18: Preference for paper or plastic sugar packaging when plastic container has one pound less, February 2006
- Mayonnaise
- Preferred packaging
- Figure 19: Mayonnaise: type of packaging usually bought, February 2006
- Figure 20: Mayonnaise: type of packaging usually bought, by gender, February 2006
- Figure 21: Mayonnaise: type of packaging usually bought, by age, February 2006
- Traditional glass vs plastic wide mouth preference
- Figure 22: Mayonnaise: preference for traditional glass vs wide mouth plastic, when price is not a factor, February 2006
- Figure 23: Mayonnaise: preference for traditional glass vs wide mouth plastic, when price is a factor, February 2006
- A different squeeze - preferences
- Figure 24: Preference for different "squeeze containers" of mayonnaise when price is not a factor, February 2006
- Coffee: self-heating cups
- Figure 25: Willingness to purchase coffee in "self-heating" packaging for $2.25, February 2006
- Figure 26: Willingness to purchase coffee in "self-heating" packaging for $2.25, by age, February 2006
- Figure 27: Willingness to purchase coffee in "self-heating" packaging for $2.25, by Hispanic origin, February 2006
- Figure 28: Willingness to purchase coffee in "self-heating" packaging for $3.00, February 2006
- Tuna: the re-sealable pouch option
- Preferred packaging
- Figure 29: Tuna: type of packaging usually bought, February 2006
- Figure 30: Tuna: type of packaging usually bought, by age, February 2006
- Perceived benefits of tuna in a pouch
- Figure 31: Reasons for buying tuna in a pouch, February 2006
- Tuna pouch buyers other preferences
- Figure 32: Other products purchased in a pouch, February 2006
- Future Trends
- Aging population creates greater need for "easy open" packaging
- Figure 33: U.S. population, by age, 2000-10
- Figure 34: Projected U.S. population aged 65+ with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms, 2005-30
- Retailer-specific packaging
- Product customization in packaging and "smart" packaging
- The future of plastics
- Safer packaging
- Appendix: Trade Associations
- Appendix: New Product Briefs from U.S. Launches
- Wolfgang Puck: Gourmet Latte in Self Heating Can
- Biota Brands: Biota Colorado Pure Spring Water in Biodegradable Bottle
- Haagen-Dazs: Haagen-Dazs To Go!
- Appendix: New Product Briefs from Non-U.S. Launches
- Peres Chartreux: Chartreuse Diffusion Liquor in Wood Bottle
- Cervezas Alhambra: Alhambra Beer with Top Cover
- Gentix Spirituosen: Gentix Energy Drink with Vodka in "Syringe" Packaging
- Otsuka: Bean Stalk Snow Baby Food in Anti-bacterial Can
- CVO International: Ovidas Belgian Chocolate in a Ring-Pull Can
- Blackwood: Diva Vodka in Crystal Filled Glass Tube
- Appendix: Images of Packaging Tested in Survey
