In today’s grocery aisles, convenience meals - from artisan sandwiches and wraps to snack trays - are a growth story that’s impossible to ignore. Evolving lifestyles, busy families, and rising demand for nutritious on-the-go options are fueling a market which is expected to grow at a CAGR rate of more than 5.3% through 2034, according to a Future Market Insights report last year.

To meet this demand, it takes more than just having a good slicing machine or case packer. It requires a system which works from end to end. That’s why Weber and SOMIC Packaging formed a partnership that is built on one simple goal: to make it easy for processors to produce high quality, retailer-ready meal solutions using less labor and real estate with fewer headaches.

Both companies will showcase these solutions next month at PACK EXPO Las Vegas. Weber’s slicing and sample configurations will be in booth N7656, while SOMIC’s next generation machine, the 434 SuperFlex, will be demonstrated in booth SU-26023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from September 29 to October 1.

“The days of long runs of the same product are gone,” says Jarrod McCarroll, CEO of Kansas City-based Weber Inc. “Today’s consumers want variety, portion control, and the confidence that every pack stays fresh and looks great on the shelf.”

Consumers also want it across every daypart, from breakfast sandwiches and wraps for lunch, to snack trays in the afternoon and ready-meal kits at dinnertime. Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and reduced sugar are no longer niche items. They are table stakes, and food processors and their supplier networks have no choice but to hustle and keep up with the demand.

“Customers told us they wanted a single-source solution for snack trays, wraps, sandwiches, you name it,” adds McCarroll. “When we asked them who they trusted on the packaging side, SOMIC’s name kept coming up. They’ve got an incredible track record for retail-ready case packing, especially with their heritage in Europe. Their compact, modular approach was exactly what we needed to close the loop.”

Peter Fox, SOMIC Packaging’s Minneapolis-based CEO, agrees with his assessment.

“Retail-ready is in our DNA. We know how to handle intricate formats, from tear-off trays to club packs for big box stores. By teaming up with Weber’s upstream slicing and automated meal assembly, we help producers deliver exactly what retailers expect.”

A Partnership built on shared Values

The Weber-SOMIC Packaging partnership wasn’t born overnight. McCarroll credits the early conversations they had with Fox dating back to 2021 for laying the groundwork.

“We learned a lot from past experiences where lines fell short because too many vendors were pieced together,” he acknowledged. “Now, we can sit at the table with Peter’s team, align on what success looks like, and deliver it as one.”

“We start with the end in mind, that perfect retail-ready pack, and then build backwards,” explained Fox. “It’s not about selling a slicer or a case packer. It’s more about giving the customer what they sell: a premium product in a format that moves fast off the shelf.”

At the heart of the system is Weber’s next-generation “we” platform. It includes the weSLICE7500, weSHUTTLE, wePICK, and wePACK, all orchestrated to transport products efficiently through each processing stage. The final step is weSORT, which hands off to SOMIC’s 424 or next-generation 434 case packer. From this point, SOMIC organizes finished packs into pristine shelf-ready displays. The result is a line that operates like a smart train system.

“The weSHUTTLE is built in modular sections which can turn 45, 90, or 180 degrees. It’s like having flexible, intelligent train cars that know where to go and at what speed since each one has its own IP address,” says McCarroll. “We can fit it around columns, work in tight spaces, and create a flow that reduces our footprint and the labor needed.”

Fox says that space efficiency is a big deal for prepared meal producers.

“Some customers come in thinking they need an aircraft hangar to automate this, and they are shocked when they see our machine’s footprint. They are even more surprised when they realize how fast they can switch formats to handle new SKUs.”

Proof in the Plant and ready for what’s next

In real-world terms, this means more sandwiches, wraps, and snack trays per square foot, with fewer plant employees needed to touch the product. Traditional lines rely on long, linear conveyors and big teams of manual labor. The Weber–SOMIC system consolidates that with smart automation and a single, seamless line.

“When you show a customer their product flowing from slicing to portioning to assembly, then straight through to a retail-ready carton and all fully automated, it really clicks,” adds McCarroll. “They see they can scale up, launch new SKUs, and still meet tight retailer requirements without adding square footage or people.”

One recently installed system includes SOMIC’s 424 T2W case packer with four case formats, and a case-flipping function to ensure sandwiches are oriented exactly right. “This type of detail matters,” says Fox. “Retailers want consistent shelf presentation, and Weber-SOMIC delivers that.”

With the first full systems up and running, Weber has already invested in SOMIC’s newer 434 case packing platform with even greater format flexibility. “This category is growing fast,” McCarroll says. “Retailers are going to keep pushing for new formats. Our system makes it possible to say ‘Yes’ to those changes without starting from scratch.”

For food producers in the convenience meal space, the message is clear: automation doesn’t have to be a patchwork of siloed machines. It can be one connected platform that turns sliced ingredients into premium, shelf-ready meals quickly, efficiently, and profitably. Fox says they can expect more.

“When you start with the shelf in mind, you make the smartest decisions all the way back to the first slice.”