Market Trends of Food Service Packaging Industry
Quick-service Restaurants (QSR) to Hold the Largest Share
- Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) offer low-cost food options, focusing on the speed of service. The minimal table service and emphasis on self-service make this group different from traditional restaurants. Most of the single-use plastic food service products used in QSRs include rigid polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polylactic acid (PLA).
- The industry could be more environmentally friendly among the Styrofoam cups and packages, plastic lids, cardboard holders, genetically modified vegetables, and inorganic meat. However, as eco-friendly services become more appealing to customers, many companies are moving to greener options that are less environmentally harmful.
- The growing demand for on-the-go eating trends and increased spending on food have also supported the demand for QSR, eventually boosting the need for food service packaging.
- Some quick-service restaurants, known for their 'organic' options, are adapting to more environmentally friendly alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint. For instance, in June 2022, KFC India unveiled 'KFConscious,' marketed as the most sustainable restaurant in Chennai, as the outlet aims to use environment-friendly materials. KFC India has also announced plans to open 20 more outlets nationwide by the end of 2022 and the total revenue of the company is expected to reach USD 175.21 million by 2023. Such instances are driving the demand for sustainable food service packaging in QSRs.
- In April 2022, Burger King UK became the first quick-service restaurant corporation in the UK to trial a new range of reusable and returnable packaging for its burgers and sides. The pilot launch was created in partnership with the global reuse platform Loop and witnessed the fast-food chain try out the first-ever reusable burger clamshells. Such instances are driving the demand for sustainable methods in food service packaging.
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Asia-Pacific Accounts for the Largest Market Share
- The Asia-Pacific region comprises densely populated countries and emerging economies like China and India. The demand for food services is rapidly growing, and the adoption of sustainable packaging is gaining momentum and is expected to be the highest during the forecasted period.
- Plastic has been an essential part of the packaging industry that forms the foundation of the consumer convenience culture. Owing to their cost-to-performance ratio, traditional packaging materials, such as corrugated paper boards, glass, metals, etc., have been substituted by plastics in food service and numerous applications in the food industry. However, the qualities that make plastic convenient to use also make it non-degradable and have an everlasting presence in the environment, contributing to 43% of pollution in India alone.
- In February 2022, CHUK, a compostable food service ware brand, joined quick commerce firm Blinkit as its sustainability partner. Blinkitdelivers CHUK's products to end-consumers within 10 minutes, bridging the gap between end consumers and CHUK. The partnership helped CHUK aim to serve one crore pieces to the end-consumers on the platform in FY 2022-23
- Japan has a high per capita consumption of packaging materials, and there is a close relationship between the food and packaging industries in the country. Japanese food manufacturers are known for using high-tech packaging techniques and their tendency toward ingenuity in packaging designs. This focus on packaging innovation has led to the development of attractive and efficient packaging solutions in Japan.
- The packaging industry in India is also experiencing growth in recent years. The introduction of many manufacturing units, eco-friendly materials, and increased emphasis on research and development has resulted in attractive and innovative packaging products. India has also promoted initiatives like "Make In India," aiming to boost local manufacturing and production.
- With these initiatives and factors in place, the packaging industry in India is expected to benefit from increased investment and technological advancements. The availability of locally manufactured products at a lower cost can make the Indian packaging industry competitive in domestic and international markets. The focus on eco-friendly materials also aligns with global sustainability trends.
- Further, according to industry insiders, food service packaging manufacturers are gravitating towards flexible packaging as it is visually appealing, cost-effective, and long-lasting. According to IBEF, the Indian food and grocery market is the sixth-largest globally, with retail accounting for 70% of sales. The Indian food processing industry accounted for 32% of the country's overall food market, ranking sixth in production, consumption, export, and expected growth.
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