Demand for pouches in the US will grow 4.4% per year through 2020 to $10.1 billion, driven primarily by the introduction of pouch packaging into new markets and the integration of high value features, such as resealable closures and spouts, in more mature markets. Food and beverage markets comprise the vast majority of pouch demand, accounting for nearly 80% of the total in 2015. Pet food; meat, poultry, and seafood; and beverage applications will grow the fastest. However, the nonfood market will post faster growth, with increased pouch use in medical, consumer, and industrial markets boosting gains. These and other trends are presented in Pouches, a new study from Freedonia Group (freedoniagroup.com), a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Stand-up pouch formats will continue to grow in popularity, since the greatest growth opportunities for pouches lie in previously popular rigid packaging applications. The greatest penetration has occurred in markets that were early adopters of stand-up pouch packaging, such as beverages and pet foods. However, the fastest gains will be observed in the cheese and produce markets, which have only recently begun to transition from bags or flat pouches to this more shelf-ready package option.