Meat & Poultry -- January 2014 - 62

PACKAGING:
Looking back & forward
News in 2013 provides a glimpse of trends in 2014
BY LYNN PETRAK
meatpoultry@sosland.com

C

onsidering the impact of the

meal-solution pairings that include

Roasted Turkey, Smoked Turkey and

packaging-focused news of this

various food and protein combina-

Oven Roasted Chicken Breast in a re-

past year, processors will likely con-

tions. In September, for example, Ty-

closeable flexible package.

tinue dedicating resources in the in-

son Foods Inc. and Birds Eye debuted

Pairings are also popular with

troduction of more products with

new Mix & Match Creations at select

snack foods. Mirroring other duo-

functional packaging that accentu-

Walmart stores around the country.

packs like carrots and dip, apples and

ates convenience and minimizes waste

The product addresses the trends of

caramel and crackers and peanut but-

without adding costs. As an example,

variety and convenience, in addition

ter, meat snacks aren't just going their

offering varying packaging formats to

to customization: shoppers can cre-

own way. Jack Link's, for instance,

appeal to evolving and more diverse

ate their own meals by combining

now offers a Big Dippers product, with

consumer demographics will likely be

Tyson proteins, Birds Eye vegetables

meat snacks co-packed with dipping

an ongoing theme.

and starches along with Tyson Bis-

sauces. Such new packaging formats

This past summer, Sarah Day

tro flavors sauces. A total of 76 meal

require some updates in materials and

Levesque, food analyst with Mintel,

combinations are possible. Packaging

packaging systems.

said the Chicago-based market re-

plays a big role in this meal solution

search firm's most recent food-packag-

because the Mix & Match Creations

Smaller bites

ing trends report shows that consumer

products are sold in color-coded pack-

In early 2013, Phil Lempert - known

demand is anything but stagnant when

ages - proteins are red, vegetables and

as the Supermarket Guru - predict-

it comes to packaging.

starches are blue and sauces are green.

ed that consumer demand for smaller
bites would show up in more products

"Consumers are looking to get
more and more out of their food pack-

Perfect pairs

and affect package sizes and types.

aging. Food companies will need to

There has also been growth in multi-

"We'll see a smaller bites/more fre-

fi nd innovative ways to cater to de-

packs and duo-packs featuring prod-

quent eating pattern that reduces over-

mand for convenient, transparent and

uct combinations within one package.

all portion sizes and increases variety,"

environmentally responsible packag-

The Oscar Mayer brand from Kraft

Lempert noted, adding that the trend

ing while providing consumers with

includes Deli Fresh Combos that al-

will likely be sustained by the growing

the utmost value," she said.

number of mature consumers who eat

in one package, while the Butterball

smaller portions and younger consum-

sors and food companies. There has

brand from Garner, NC-based But-

ers, who tend to "graze" more often.

been a correlating emergence of com-

terball LLC, offers 9-oz. and 12-oz.

That trend toward smaller portions

bo-packs, multi-packs and suggested

62
62

low for two sliced deli-meat varieties

This is hardly news to meat proces-

variety packs with co-packed Honey

was noted in "The Power of Meat

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