What’s New in Food Manufacturing?
We might have finally moved beyond basic efficiency in food manufacturing and packaging. Manufacturers are toying with new ideas. They’re getting creative and looking for innovative ways to attract customers. While everyone seems to have a different approach, some food manufacturing trends are emerging.
What can you expect to see in 2017? Here are a few interesting ideas that are becoming mainstream.
1. Packaging that is more “authentic”
Sleek, shiny designs will probably never go away. There’s something alluring about a smart, well-packaged food product.
But that doesn’t mean consumers outright reject imperfections. In fact, millennials tend to gravitate toward packaged goods with quirks. They want it to be safe and secure, to be sure, but they don’t mind if their food doesn’t look like it was packaged in a lab by a perfect machine. This is a generation that values locally grown, farm-to-table, etc. For them, packaging — and even product — imperfections are more authentic.
What does that mean for the food manufacturing industry? For food products themselves, it could mean more grit and pulp. And for packaging, we could be seeing fewer glossy finishes and more standard brown paper.
2. Green and Sustainable Packaging
Consumers are more and more reluctant to buy packaging that can’t easily be tossed into the recycle bin, and they’re becoming savvier in terms of what can and can’t be recycled or reused.
That trend is putting more of a burden on food manufacturers and packagers to offer more environmentally friendly options, such as cardboard and paper. It also means fewer plastic bags and more biodegradable packaging materials. If properly marketed, the green packaging trend could present a huge opportunity for food manufacturers hoping to reach a key demographic.
3. Custom Shipping and E-Commerce
Someone you know — maybe it’s you — uses a food delivery service such as Blue Apron. That’s just the start. Consumers are increasingly buying in to customizable food options packaged as individual meals or ingredients. It doesn’t stop there — think coffee, wine, beer, fresh vegetables, even dog food.
What does that mean for the food manufacturing and packaging industry? In short, it means the days of one-size-fits-all are slipping away. It means food manufacturers should prepare themselves to prepare and package on a much smaller scale. It will be a challenge, but also an exciting opportunity to be distinctive.
4. Customized Design
All of the trends above boil down to customization. You’re seeing it everywhere, in every product and service in virtually every industry. Food manufacturing is no different. Consumers are no longer limited to the selection at the nearest grocery store; they know how to find what they want, and food manufacturers have to work harder to get out in front of them.
It’s important for a food manufacturer to have the capacity to diversify offerings down to the individual consumer. Whether it’s specific ingredients and food items or specially tailored packaging, we’ve got our work cut out for us.
Fortunately, that’s where companies like PacMoore shine. We know the trends. We know how to keep ahead of them. And our customers always benefit in the end.