Abstract
US demand to increase 3.5% yearly through 2013
Demand for meat, poultry and seafood packaging is expected to increase 3.5
percent annually to $9.2 billion in 2013. Gains will be driven by an expansion
in meat, poultry and seafood production, as well as the continuing shift to
case-ready packaging by many retailers as a means to reduce in-store labor
costs. Case-ready packaging typically employs higher cost trays and high
barrier films, thus boosting value gains. Packaging demand will also be
supported by changes in packaging practices, such as the increasing prevalence
of meat and poultry items in smaller, more convenient sizes and the expanding
range of products that are further processed. These products, which typically
use more packaging relative to their volume than larger unprocessed items,
will continue to be favored by consumers looking for foods that are easy and
quick to prepare, and easy to store.
Flexible packaging demand to outpace rigid packaging
Flexible packaging demand will outpace rigid packaging, advancing at a 4.4
percent annual pace to $4 billion in 2013. Growth will be driven by favorable
prospects for high barrier film and pouches. High barrier film demand will be
aided by the rising percentage of meat in case-ready packaging, which requires
value-added materials to extend shelf life and otherwise protect the contents
during shipping and handling. Healthy gains for pouches will result from
further penetration of retort pouches into traditional can applications, as
well as continued inroads by stand-up pouches in frozen meat, poultry and
seafood applications due to pouches' high visual appeal and ability to be
displayed vertically in upright freezer cases.
Plastic containers, trays to lead gains in rigid packaging
Below-average gains for rigid packaging will reflect maturity in the large
corrugated box segment and declines in the metal can segment. However, gains
will be supported by healthy growth for plastic containers and trays. Plastic
container advances will benefit from the increasing presence of prepared meat
and poultry items in grocery stores, warehouse clubs and other retail
establishments as a result of heightened consumer demand for convenience foods
that require little or no preparation. Tray demand will be boosted by
increasing use of case-ready packaging, much of which relies upon foam and
higher value rigid barrier trays. Demand for packaging accessories such as
labels will be bolstered by regulations requiring country-of-origin labels on
a wide range of meat and seafood items.
Poultry applications to offer best opportunities
Poultry applications will log slightly above-average advances, benefitting
from poultry' s lower cost than beef, favorable nutritional profile and
versatility. In addition, the continued popularity of ready-to-eat poultry
items such as rotisserie chickens will support gains. Although meat
applications will be limited to some extent by concerns over fat and
cholesterol intake, demand will be aided by the continued importance of red
meat as a main dish in the foodservice sector and the increasing share of
caseready meats in retail establishments. Seafood applications, while
substantially smaller than meat and poultry, will be bolstered by seafood' s
perceived health benefits and revised government nutritional recommendations
promoting seafood consumption.
Study coverage
This new Freedonia industry study, Meat, Poultry & Seafood Packaging, presents
historical demand data (1998, 2003 and 2008) plus forecasts for 2013 and 2018
by technology and raw material, product, application and market. The study
also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share and
profiles industry competitors.
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