In an executive survey of 132 consumer packaging goods’ manufacturers and retailers, 88.6% expect their company’s sales in the warehouse club channel to increase in the next three years, according to a January 2013 report from market research company Deloitte LLP. The confidence likely stems from the observations of recent history, as 84.6% of those same executives say they’ve seen an increase in the importance of the channel over the past three years.
The growth of the warehouse channel has, not surprisingly, spurred an increased interest in club ready packaging strategy. Robert Parvis, director of packaging for leading membership warehouse club Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., notes a “shift where club store packaging is a focus area, rather than an afterthought.” He adds, “Club packaging has often been just a multi-pack of what’s available in other retail outlets, but more and more suppliers are designing packaging with the club store in mind.”