Skip navigation
Reports & Analysis Strategic Insights Research Subscriptions
Sign In / Create Account Cart
Sign In / Create Account Cart
  • Reports & Analysis
  • Strategic Insights
  • Research Subscriptions

Resources

  • Analyst Buzz
  • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • Resources & Downloads

The Freedonia Group

  • Contact
  • About
  • Our Staff
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
Freedonia Market Research Blog Snack City: 3 Ways Pouches Will Benefit from Growth in the Snack Market

Snack City: 3 Ways Pouches Will Benefit from Growth in the Snack Market

by Sarah Schmidt

May 17, 2017

America has long been a nation of snackers, with over 60% of the population filling out their three meals a day with a snack or two. However, a slightly new twist is the trend of snacks or small, single-component meals replacing traditional meals. Driven by urbanization, longer work days, and the smaller number of people per household - we’ve seen a steady growth of people relying on snacks and packaged meals to get through the day.

This has not only meant big business for packaged food producers, but also for suppliers of the convenient, low cost, and highly marketable packaging product that is taking over retail shelves - the pouch. There are three main ways that this trend has had positive impacts on demand for both flat and stand-up pouches:

  • healthier snack trends have driven demand for packages with shelf appeal and good barrier performance
  • the “snackification” of conventional foods has increased the need for package portability
  • increased demand for smaller, easy-to-prepare meals has led to higher concentration of packaged meal components

Product Proliferation Needs Package Differentiation

It’s no secret that we’ve gone far beyond potato chips and Oreos in terms of snack options. There has been significant response to healthy and more nutritious options that can help consumers adhere to strict diets or meet recommendations for daily vitamin intake. This can be seen in the wide range of new products like Lay’s Poppables, Nabisco’s Ritz Crisp & Thins, and Snack Factory’s Veggie and Fruit Sticks  that have all been released in 2017 and report to be more healthy than chips or crackers.

However, with all of these new products, not to mention the surge in introductions from smaller, regional food manufacturers, it would be easy for a brand to get lost in the shuffle. These on-trend offerings need packaging that can stand out from the crowd as well as provide the protection from oxygen and moisture that these more sensitive formulations require.

Stand-up pouches with specialized coatings or complex material structures are in high demand, as are those that can incorporate high-quality graphics and zippers or other resealing options to help consumers keep these products tasting fresh.

“Snackification” Shrinks Sizes in Packaged Meat, Cheese, and Produce Categories

Not only has the snack category broadened its offerings over the past decade, the definition of what is considered a snack has also been significantly widened. Going along with the preference for more nutritious snacks, there has been widespread adoption of conventional foods -- like meat, cheese, yogurt, and fruits and vegetables -- as alternatives to traditional processed snacks. This trend has been bolstered by the preference for natural, clean-label products without artificial flavors or enhancers.

All of these foods have gone from being packaged in standard, multi-serve sizes to a wider distribution in single-serving packs, usually a pouch that is lightweight, highly portable. and inexpensive to produce. These products are increasingly also using a larger stand-up pouch for the sale of multipacks.

Dried and flavored fruits, vegetables, and protein products are a significant growth area, especially as these items seek to extend shelf life and convey a premium quality through the incorporation of high-quality materials and graphics.

Portability, Ease-of-Use Driving Demand for Packaged Meals

In addition to a higher rate of snacking, consumers have also shown the tendency to eat smaller meals throughout the day, often away from home. With the substitution of complex, multi-component meals, especially for breakfast and lunch, has come greater use of packaged foods that can make meal preparation easier.

Packaged sauces, meal mixes, and pre-portioned entrées are continuing to gain speed despite trends favoring fresh foods, as these items can be used in addition to fresh components to create a more balanced menu. Demand for prepared meal components is strengthened by the increasingly adventurous flavor preferences of young consumers, which means that packaged sauces and spice mixes can help novice cooks (or people without access to a full kitchen) bring ethnic flavors into their own meals.

Prepared meal components are generally packaged in both stand-up and flat pouches to emphasize their ease-of-use and their departure from conventional offerings. Additionally, these items incorporate spouts, resealable closures, or easy-opening features to make them mess-free and reduce the need for additional tools.

For More Information…

To find out more about these and other trends will impact demand for flexible packaging, check out the market research report on Converted Flexible Packaging in the US by the Freedonia Group. 

About the Author:

Katie Wieser is an industry analyst at The Freedonia Group, where she writes industry studies focused on the packaging market.

Have unique research needs?

Freedonia Strategic Insights listens intently to your needs and objectives. Then we work diligently to define and deliver a service to meet them.
Learn About Our Custom Research Services

Subscribe to Our Blog

Stay up to date with the latest information about new market research and news in areas relevant to your business from our analysts and team members.

Freedonia Group Blog Subscription

Provide the following details to subscribe.

The Freedonia Group needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.
  • Contact
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
  • Press Contact
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

Additional Resources

  • Market Size Resources
  • Lawn & Garden Market Research
  • Roofing Market Research
  • Pet Products Market Research
  • Countertops Market Research
  • Power Tools Market Research
  • Publishing for the PreK-12 Market Research
  • Insulation Market Resaerch
  • Cabinets Market Research
  • Flooring Market Research
  • Pet Supplements Market Research
  • Agricultural Equipment Market Research
  • Open Access Publishing Market Research
  • Silicones Market Research
  • For Legal Inquiries, contact Cohen & Cohen
Copyright © 2025 The Freedonia Group, Inc. All rights reserved.