The COVID-19 epidemic has caused considerable disruption in the food processing industry. Mass infections have forced employers to close down factories. Consequently, this lead to a huge decline in output. A decrease in demand hasn’t happened in years.
The sporadic meat shortages during the pandemic have also harmed the entire industry. However, the case packaging industry is slowly picking up steam. Demand for meat, poultry, and seafood packaging is still expected to increase this year.
To know why this is happening, you need to be familiar with the industry trends. But before we can start talking about packaging trends, we need to look at the industry as a whole.
As we mentioned in the opening paragraph, the industry is anticipated to bounce back entirely in 2021.
In less than three years, the demand for case packaging machinery is expected to take the industry to new heights. With a forecasted increase in demand of 2.9% annually, the industry is expected to reach $12 billion in 2024.
Sales of meat, poultry, and seafood packaging are expected to rise because of:
Now that you’re familiar with all of that, let’s look at the most significant trends in each area...
For decades, meat has been sold in plastic packaging. That has had a devastating impact on the world around us. The UN Environment Program estimates that plastic debris causes more than 100,000 marine mammal casualties every year.
People simply have had enough of it. They don’t want to feel guilt over buying a product. Instead, they want to do something that will help the planet and make a significant change. Luckily the packaging industry has taken notice of it.
Sustainable packaging is slowly becoming the norm. Not only does it help the environment, but sustainability also eliminates the adverse health effects associated with traditional packaging. In 2021, the transition to sustainability is the most critical challenge for industry players.
Here are a couple of more factors that will help the meat packaging industry grow over the next couple of years:
Every year, Americans consume more than 200 pounds of chicken per capita. Poultry is the most common meat sold in the United States by a wide margin. Simply put, the need for poultry packaging isn’t going anywhere. However, how will it look in the 2020s?
Compared to other packaging methods, flexible poultry packaging is growing significantly quicker in the last couple of years. Rigid containers, usually found in supermarkets across the country, are now being replaced by compact packs.
Flexible packaging gives the meat a protective layer, which keeps the look, flavor, and freshness of the meat for a long time. Thanks to the innovations in plastics and films that preserve meat’s integrity for days, we can expect this trend to dominate the market in the following decade.
Another trend you should keep an eye on is the “cook-in packaging” containing pre-seasoned pieces of chicken. The cook-in package makes the cooking process a lot easier by allowing the consumers to prepare their meals in minutes.
The seafood packaging market is more extensive than most people think. In 2019, it was worth about $19 billion. Before the end of the decade, some experts predict that the market will reach $95 billion. What’s driving this growth?
The seafood market is expensive, and the competition is fierce. That’s why companies are using high-end graphics to make their brands instantly recognizable and to capture the attention of possible customers in mere seconds.
That need to attract consumers instantly is what makes brands invest so much time and money into branding. Using clever design to deliver a brand message makes the communication between the consumer and business clearer.
Convenience is also a big trend in the seafood market. Consumers like to have their seafood pre-cut, portioned, and marinated. To meet demands, businesses are putting multiple components, ingredients, and sides into a single case packaging.
Whether we’re talking about meat, poultry, or seafood, automatic case packing for bags, pouches, trays and and other is going to stay popular for years to come. The use of cardboard boxes as a secondary container will also remain strong due to bulk shipments.
However, things aren’t going to stay the same forever. Small trends can quickly become the dominant ones in just a few years. That’s why staying on top of them is a good idea. Replacing your hand packing stations with end of line automation will help your business stay in the forefront and remain a leader in a competitive industry. BluePrint Automation is here to help you with the process. Think about the Gravity 100r; perfect for case packing your bags of IQF chicken nuggets and other frozen proteins. Our main mission is to walk you down the path of complete automation and keep your operation peak. Get in touch with us today and get your product retail-ready.
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