US demand for frozen-food packaging

Demand for frozen-food packaging in the US is projected to increase 4.1% per year to US$6.4 billion in 2011. This, along with other trends, was presented in Frozen Food Packaging — a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Demographic trends such as smaller household sizes, the aging of the population and rising numbers of households where all adults work will have a positive impact on consumption of convenience-type foods, which tend to use more packaging relative to their volume. In addition, healthy revenue growth in the foodservice industry, which relies heavily on frozen foods, will boost opportunities for packaging.

Meat, poultry, seafood and frozen specialties applications, which together accounted for nearly 60% of demand in 2006, will post above-average growth through 2011. Gains in meat, poultry and seafood uses will be the result of production volume expansion and rising demand for convenience-type items, especially microwaveable products and those packaged for single-portion use.

Fruit and vegetable, ice cream and baked goods applications will expand more slowly. Nonetheless, growth opportunities will exist for various packaging types. For instance, the mature frozen vegetable market has been reinvigorated by a spate of new products that use self-venting films to enable steam cooking directly in pouches. Solid gains for pouches in frozen baked goods applications will be based on expanded offerings of products targeted at smaller households, with resealable pouches making it more convenient for such households to store unused amounts.

Rigid packaging will continue to account for the majority of frozen food packaging, though flexible packaging will grow faster due to the greater cost effectiveness, space savings capability, lighter weight and overall source reduction capabilities of pouches, bags and wraps. Pouches will continue to represent the fastest growing frozen-food packaging product type, with gains coming at the expense of both bags and boxes. More moderate prospects for rigid packaging will be the result of the greater maturity of products such as folding cartons, gabletop cartons and composite cans. Still, good opportunities are anticipated for plastic rigid containers such as trays, tubs and cups and clamshells.

For further information, visit Freedonia Group.