Demand for food packaging trays and bowls is forecast to increase 3.3% per year to $3.1 billion in 2025, driven by:
- healthy sales growth following a pandemic-related acceleration in popularity for frozen dinners and fresh prepared foods in trays and especially bowls due to their convenience
- continuing popularity of packaging-intensive single serving sizes in key food applications, such as prepared foods (e.g., frozen meal bowls, personal pizzas, fresh prepared meals); frozen desserts; and fresh-cut produce
- increased focus on sustainability causing major food brands to shift from plastic to higher value materials such as molded fiber, paperboard, and bioplastics
However, competition from rigid and flexible packaging alternatives are expected to continue to hinder further growth in some applications.
Above Average Growth for Bowls Driven by Novelty & Convenience
While trays continue to see much wider use, bowls are expected to see faster growth from a lower market base. Sales will be boosted by the shift to bowls from traditional trays in some frozen dinner applications due to their shelf appeal, which evokes a more contemporary and fresh image for many consumers. Sales will also be supported by the rising use of value added materials that are compostable, recyclable, and/or sourced from recycled or renewable materials.
Molded Sugarcane Poised for Growth as a Sustainable Alternative Material
Molded sugarcane is experiencing rapid sales growth in the foodservice sector, and this trend is expected to spread to retail food packaging trays and bowls over the next decade. A renewable and degradable alternative to plastic and paper, sugarcane - and other similar new molded fiber materials - is seen as holding promise due to its strong performance (e.g., leak protection) compared to molded pulp. In the short term the material’s high cost will likely limit adoption to premium brands/segments that focus on sustainability. However, significant growth opportunities are expected in a broad array of fresh produce; prepared foods; and meat, poultry, and seafood applications.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. About This Report
3. Overview
4. Applications
5. Material Trends
6. Food Trays
7. Food Packaging Bowls
8. Key Suppliers & Industry Trends
9. Appendix
List of Tables
List of Figures
Samples
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Methodology
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