US Meat, Poultry & Seafood Packaging

US Meat, Poultry & Seafood Packaging

Demand for meat, poultry, and seafood packaging is forecast to increase nearly 1.0% per year to 62.1 billion units in 2028, with market value rising 2.5% per year to $10.8 billion. The packaging market for meat, poultry, and seafood is especially challenging due to the importance of meeting the specific performance and safety criteria required for these foods, while at the same time remaining cost effective and adhering to changing sustainability goals and consumer preferences:

• Premium, high-performance products – such as vacuum skin packaging, sealed trays, and brick packs – will see the strongest unit advances despite their higher costs due to their ability to extend shelf life.
• Packaging for fresh and frozen formats continues to see better growth than conventional shelf-stable formats, which are somewhat lagging owing to consumer preferences.
• Plastic packaging will continue to account for the largest absolute gains due to its strong performance properties that competitive products have mostly not been able to challenge. Paper packaging will lag due to weakness in mature box and carton applications. Molded fiber will experience growth well above the industry average but fail to gain significant market share.

Case-Ready Products That Extend Shelf Life Expected to See Notable Sales Growth

Historically, the packaging of meat, poultry, and seafood has been dominated by commodity formats such as foam trays and wrap – often packaged directly in-store – owing to their low-cost and adequate performance properties. However, case-ready and high-performance packaging products are expected to continue to take share from these traditional formats:

• Despite their higher cost, products such as vacuum skin packaging, stand-up pouches, brick packs, and sealed trays will continue to see the strongest gains due to the variety of advantages they offer – extended shelf-life, reduced leakage, lighter weight, and a more premium appearance.
• Additionally, these products offer retailers labor savings as meat, poultry, and seafood products do not need to be packaged by store workers and can be immediately shelved upon receipt.

Fresh Format Drives Increasing Use of Better-Performing & More Advanced Packaging

Fresh refrigerated products will account for the largest absolute gains for meat, poultry, and seafood packaging as consumers continue to prefer fresh foods due to their perceived superior nutritional properties and taste. Packaging that assists in maintaining freshness and keeping fresh meat, poultry, and seafood safe will benefit the most:

• The continued penetration of point-of-processing packaging, wherein the protein is packaged immediately after being slaughtered and processed before being shipped, is boosting demand for high-value, high-performance formats that extend shelf-life.
• Demand is rising for packaging that improves the tracking and labeling of fresh meat, poultry, and seafood products – such as through the use smart labels and RFID chips – ensuring their safe shipment and raising consumer confidence in the safety, sustainability, and quality of these proteins.

Study Description

This study examines the US market for meat, poultry, and seafood packaging, defined as primary and secondary packaging materials sold to food manufacturers, primarily for products targeted at retail, foodservice, and food manufacturing markets. Historical data are provided for 2013, 2018, and 2023, with forecasts through 2033. Annual data is provided for 2020-2027. Data are provided in current dollar value and units. Also provided is an analysis of key industry players.