U.S. food processing and packaging industry forecast to grow through 2022

The U.S. food industry is forecast to grow at a steady rate of 2.9% CAGR through 2022, according to the recently released 2016 Food Packaging Trends and Advances report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

Based on interviews from 70 professionals across the global food processing and packaging industry, the study forecasts that meat and related products and snack foods will outperform the market with more than 3% growth. The growth in these two segments is attributed to consumer demand for portion control and convenience options.

According to the report, the U.S. food industry trails the global market and, although North America is the largest global market across all food segments, the overall growth of the food industry, which includes food packaging, is being driven by emerging markets like Argentina, Brazil, China and India.

Global growth rates for most segments are double U.S. growth rates, except for meat and related products (8.5%), and candy and confections (8%), which have higher rates of global growth compared to those of the United States.

The report indicates U.S. food packaging innovations are often concepts that are already in use in other segments and innovations from other countries are beginning to enter the U.S. food packaging market. One trend that meat manufacturers find exciting is a product with a film that opens during cooking which allows the meat to brown after a pre-determined period of time.

The most innovative food industry segments are:
• Snack foods: Recycled and biodegradable materials for salty snacks; stylish, vivid graphics and shapes for single-serve packs
• Meat and related products: New films to keep meat fresher longer; active labels to sense when meat is past its expiration
• Fruits and vegetables: Clear, tactile films to make consumers pause and consider the product; more single-serve packaging
• Pet food: More recycled materials in packaging; single-serve containers to differentiate niche or premium products

Consumer demand continues to drive the industry, as noted in the current major packaging trends: convenience, flexibility, safety, sustainability and technology.

To learn more, an infographic illustrating key findings is now available on packexpointernational.com or visit PMMI.org/research to download the executive summary or full Food Packaging Trends and Advances report ($500 for non-members).

PMMI owns and produces the Pack Expo portfolio of trade shows, including Pack Expo International 2016 and Pharma Expo (McCormick Place, Chicago; Nov. 6–9). With more than 2,300 exhibitors in more than 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space, the co-located shows are welcoming 50,000 attendees to McCormick Place in the fall.

Register for Pack Expo International and Pharma Expo 2016 online at www.packexpointernational.com. Registration for Pack Expo and Pharma Expo is $30 through Oct. 14, when it increases to the on-site fee of $100.