by Peter Kusnic
August 24, 2021
The Freedonia Group finds that, while apples and berries will remain the largest applications for fresh fruit packaging through 2024, strong increases in ready-to-eat fruit demand will yield strong growth opportunities for packaging suppliers in other applications, as well, particularly melons, grapes, pineapple, mangoes, peaches, and pears.
A new Freedonia Group analysis forecasts demand for fresh fruit packaging to increase 4.0% per year to $2.4 billion in 2024. Sales gains will be supported by:
Continued elevated retail grocery spending in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will bolster gains, at least in the near term. Nonetheless, increases will be limited by relatively slow growth in overall domestic fresh fruit output, with declines projected for a few key fruit types, including citrus.
Apples and berries will remain the largest markets for fresh fruit packaging in value terms, together accounting for 51% of demand:
Traditionally, apples sold in grocery stores have been displayed in bulk, or in bags holding approximately three pounds. While a large portion of apples will continue to be displayed in these formats, a growing share of apples – including sliced apples – is being sold in pouches and rigid plastic containers.
While clamshells and corrugated boxes will remain the dominant packaging types in the berry market – where these products are widely used together – other packaging products, including reusable plastic containers and plastic containers other than clamshells, are expected to register gains, as well. For example, RPCs are increasingly used with bags in cranberry applications, and use of two-piece plastic containers is expanding for fresh-cut strawberries and berry blends.
Growth in ready-to-eat fresh fruit sales is expected to remain strong, boosting demand for a range of packaging types, especially pouches and plastic cups, which are expected to see the fastest gains in the fresh fruit packaging market through 2024:
Despite quick growth in plastic retail packaging, corrugated boxes are expected to remain the leading fresh fruit packaging type through 2024 due to their extensive use in fruit shipping – especially for apples, citrus, berries, and grapes:
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About the Author:
Peter Kusnic is a Content Writer with The Freedonia Group, where he researches and writes studies focused on an array of industries.
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