The food industry is heavily reliant on effective packaging solutions to protect food from contamination, damage, and spoilage. With a rising demand for convenience, safety, and sustainability, businesses must keep up with the latest market trends and consumer preferences to remain competitive.

Consequently, food packaging market research can provide key insights into the industry’s segments, trends, and drivers, enabling global enterprises to create successful packaging strategies that cater to changing consumer requirements.

The importance of food packaging market research

The primary aim of food packaging is to sustain food quality and safety, extend shelf life, and offer convenience to customers. Moreover, food packaging can also increase brand recognition, present nutritional information, and encourage sustainability.

By evaluating the latest trends such as the move to more sustainable packaging and the increasing significance of e-commerce, companies can tailor their packaging solutions to remain competitive and successful.

As a result, conducting market research into food packaging is a key component of success for businesses within the food industry. This research enables them to identify consumer needs and preferences, assess the success of their current packaging and create new strategies to meet changing demands.

Food packaging market research as a tool for businesses

Food packaging market research is essential to gain information on the most relevant market segments, trends, and drivers. Through the use of market research, businesses can discover the most efficient packaging materials and designs that match the target market and evaluate their competitors’ packaging strategies.

This type of research also provides invaluable insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and buying patterns, which can aid businesses in developing effective packaging strategies. By focusing on their target customers’ needs and wants, businesses can create packaging that not only meets their functional requirements but also appeals to them visually. This can help to foster brand recognition and customer loyalty, both of which are crucial for sustained success in the food industry.

Benefits of food packaging market research

Some of the key benefits of food packaging market research include:

  • Providing insight into the customer’s needs and preferences. This allows global companies to create packaging solutions that are both effective and visually attractive to potential customers.
  • Conducting market research into food packaging can be a critical step for businesses aiming to identify the most efficient materials and designs for their products. It may ensure a decrease in waste, an extension of shelf life, and an overall enhancement of quality and safety.
  • Assessing the packaging tactics of competitors to gain an in-depth insight into the market competitive landscape and develop packaging solutions that differentiate from the competitors.
  • Staying up-to-date with current market trends and regulations. This ensures that companies are compliant and remain competitive in a constantly evolving market.

Market drivers and trends

  • The food packaging industry is experiencing an increase in demand for sustainable packaging solutions. As a result, food packaging market research can identify the most appropriate and efficient sustainable packaging materials and designs.
  • There has been a rise in demand in the food packaging industry and consumers are looking for packaging solutions that are easy to use and carry.
  • As consumer demand for food safety and quality continues to rise, health and safety considerations are driving changes in the food packaging industry. Through comprehensive food packaging market research, businesses can identify and implement packaging solutions that ensure the freshness and safety of their products.
  • Packaging is an integral component of brand recognition and advertising strategies. Thus, food packaging market research provides valuable data concerning the most effective packaging designs and materials for various product categories.

Market trends and future outlook

  • As the food packaging industry continues to evolve, the focus on sustainability became increasingly important. Consumers are now aware of the environmental implications of packaging, and they are demanding eco-friendly and biodegradable solutions.
  • The food packaging industry is constantly including new technologies in its operations to enhance the quality, safety, and convenience of packaging. Nanotechnology and biodegradable materials may have a substantial impact on the industry in the near future.
  • Businesses are increasingly capitalizing on the trend of customization. By providing personalized packaging solutions, companies can create a unique consumer experience and reinforce their brand identity. This trend is projected to be sustained in the future, providing businesses with a competitive edge.

Food packaging market research: Case Study

Project Summary

Industry: Food Packaging
Timeline: 8 weeks
Methodologies:

  • Targeted extensive primary data collection by interviewing industry experts, providing a more in-depth understanding of the drivers in the paperboard industry.
  • Verification of findings achieving a higher level of confidence by triangulating findings from multiple sources.
  • Interviewed end-use product segments: Cookies/Crackers/Snacks, Confectionary, Frozen foods, Dry foods, Dairy/Ice-cream/Frozen Novelty, QSR Takeout and Household Goods.

Scope of the Research

SIS International Research (“SIS”) sought to understand the factors that influence packaging/paperboard material decisions for major FMCG food brands. SIS conducted in-depth interviews with companies operating throughout the pipeline of converters and distributors of this material, including the biggest suppliers of paperboard substrates in the industry. In addition, extensive desk research is conducted to develop a robust understanding of the trends, drivers, constraints and statistics within the US food packaging industry. Research is done utilizing online media, web, peer reviewed journals, industry news and company reports, where appropriate.

This research focused on marketing, operations, quality, packaging development and procurement decision factors in seven folding carton end-use product segments.

Key Intelligent Topics and Objectives

Competitive and Market intelligence:

Analyze competitors to gain insights in the decision making process for their paperboard substrate choice.

Understand most important factors and features when choosing a paperboard substrate. In addition, clarify if and why companies switched substrate in the past 5 years.

Identify sustainability goals regard to packaging within the industry.

Determine most common accidents for damaged goods and measurements for companies to account damaged packaging.

Key Findings

  1. Developed better understanding of the decision making process, the key players, the substrates used in the past and departments involved, for substrate choices in the paperboard industry.
  2. Identified most important substrate features when choosing a paperboard. For example brightness, durability, printability and color consistency are determined in order of importance when choosing a paperboard substrate for packaging.
  3. Explained the main drivers for companies to switch from one substrate to another.
  4. Described actual sustainability practices within the paperboard industry.
  5. Diagnosed most common damage incidents for packaged goods and most used methods to measure damaged goods. For example, the occurrence of crushed boxes, moisture damage and others are compared. For example, compared factors of measurement are repetition of damage claims or the frequency of damage incidents.
  6. SIS provided practical recommendations to improve package services.

About Food Packaging Market Research

SIS International offers Quantitative, Qualitative, and Strategy Research. We provide data, tools, strategies, reports and insights for decision-making. We conduct interviews, surveys, focus groups and many other Market Research methods and approaches. Contact us for your next Market Research project.