We’ve heard it all before: Consumers lead busy lives. They want convenient packaging. Grab and go options are the way to go. Convenience. Convenience. Convenience. According to the report “Branded Refrigerated Meats and Meals: U.S. Market Trends” from Packaged Facts (packagedfacts.com), convenience, alongside health and creativity, is one of the top trends for branded refrigerated meals and meats. And these trends are showing up in all areas of the food industry.
So just what does that look like for food packagers? In what ways are consumers seeking convenience? One major convenience trend is single-serve packaging. These busy, on-the-go consumers want portioned, portable, packaged food for one. And they want that food to follow all the other major trends such as sustainable packaging, upscale look and ingredients, and creative solutions and flavors. In a poll on PackagingStrategies.com, readers voted “Single-serve snacking is growing in popularity” as the top food packaging trend here to stay, and it seems they are quite right.