US Coffee & Snack Shops Disposable Packaging & Serviceware

Demand for single-use products in the coffee and snack shop market is forecast to grow 4.3% annually to $3.0 billion in 2027, with growth coming from both increasing demand in units as well as higher prices:

• Individual product prices will grow at a slower rate compared to the inflation-driven increases in 2021 and 2022; however, pricing will still increase going forward due to a shift in product mix toward more expensive products that are more sustainable or higher performing.
• Real growth will be supported by healthy underlying gains in the coffee and snack shop industry and expanding menu offerings. However, this will be offset by sustainability-driven efforts to reduce or eliminate excess packaging and serviceware use.

Coffee & Snack Shops Moving Toward More Sustainable Options

With more pressure from consumers and investors on leading companies to engage in sustainable practices, coffee and snack shops are making significant changes in the types and quantity of disposables that are used. End users are looking for ways to reduce or eliminate their use of plastic products such as straws, stirrers, and cups. For example, Dunkin’ has transitioned from foam cups to paper cups globally, and Starbucks recently met its target to have at least 20% recycled content in its hot cups by 2022. Starbucks has also been a leader in the move away from straws with the development of strawless lids.

Reducing Demand for Conventional Plastics Fuels Demand for Alternatives

Due to concerns over their environmental impact, plastic products have been a key focus of changes in coffee and snack shop disposables use. Although paper is benefiting from the shift toward more sustainable packaging and taking share from plastic, other materials such as molded fiber and bioplastics are benefiting as well due to their high biodegradability levels. While this will support overall revenue increases due to sustainable packaging being more expensive, the focus is also on reducing the number of disposables in use, which will limit growth in unit terms.

Starbucks Planning a Shift Toward Reusable Cups but Obstacles Could Slow Transition

Starbucks has long encouraged customers to use their own reusable cups by including small discounts on purchases. To further address growing sustainability concerns, the industry giant has announced plans to completely phase out single-use cups, aiming to serve all customers in the future with a mix of customers bringing their own cups/mugs combined with a deposit-based to-go option. While these efforts will limit growth in disposable cup demand to some degree over the next decade, it is unlikely that the company will be successful in eliminating the use of disposables due to customer backlash and logistical issues.

Demand by Establishment Type

Restaurants in this market include limited menu establishments focused on specific items such as coffee, donuts, bagels, cookies, smoothies, and ice cream, as well as bakery cafés and general refreshment stands and kiosks offering a selection of beverages and snacks. These products often require specific packaging to facilitate on-the-go consumption.

Demand for foodservice disposables in the coffee and snack shop market is expected to grow 4.3% per year to $3.0 billion in 2027, totaling 63.7 billion units. Demand will be driven by:

• solid growth in revenues and orders at these businesses
• expanding menus that increasingly incorporate a wider array of food options
• rising consumer interest in drive-thru and delivery orders from these outlets
• a shift toward higher value cups and lids to highlight specialty beverage products
• increasing demand for disposables made with more sustainable materials in outlets that have a reputation for environmental responsibility or cater to a large share of young customers

Trends in Materials Used

Materials used in coffee and snack shop disposables reflect their suitability for beverage cup applications and aesthetic food packaging, as well as growing environmental concerns. While paper cups have garnered a high share of the foodservice coffee market, cups made of bioplastics and plastic cups and lids that incorporate greater recycled content are gaining traction, as:

• PLA is able to offer the same clarity as conventional rigid plastic.
• Coffee and snack shops look to attract younger customers and others interested in sustainability and therefore develop a reputation for environmental responsibility.

However, value-based shops will continue to use conventional paper and plastic versions for the foreseeable future due to their cost advantages. Some of these outlets will continue to use foam cups, which have good insulative properties for a low cost.

Food packaging is much more important for snack shops, where donut and bagel boxes and food cups for items such as ice cream are used more heavily.

Increasing concerns over sustainability have allowed materials such as paper and molded fiber to increase their share in unit terms at the expense of plastic. Aluminum is also being introduced as a sustainable option due to its ease of recycling and long-established methods for doing so.

Pricing Trends

The foodservice disposables industry is competitive, and product pricing is a significant factor in customer purchasing decisions. Factors influencing prices for single-use foodservice products include:

• raw material and labor costs
• shipping and transportation costs
• supply and demand balances
• customization, design, and printing costs
• changes in the material mix for various products
• increasing participation in and corresponding competition from products made of newer and more innovative materials
• import competition

Raw material price fluctuations tend to have the greatest effect on pricing, although product mix can also be important:

• The price of plastic goods such as foam and rigid plastic cups, dinnerware, and containers is largely determined by the price of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins, which, in turn, are affected by crude oil and natural gas prices.
• Paper bag, paper cup, and paperboard clamshell prices are linked to the price of bleached and unbleached kraft paper and paperboard, while napkin prices are tied to tissue paper prices.

Despite the significance of raw material costs as a base influence on disposables prices, pricing for single-use foodservice products does not always track raw material costs, as manufacturers tend to absorb raw material price increases as much as possible to maintain competitiveness. In addition, foodservice establishments can switch from one type of disposable to another if cost becomes an issue, limiting the ability of disposables producers to pass on increasing materials costs as well.

Coffee & Snack Shop Industry Trends

Coffee and snack shops will face increased competition from other eating and drinking places, notably fast food and fast casual restaurants, which are incorporating more coffee and snack offerings to better meet changing consumer preferences.

Coffee and snack shops impose competitive pressure on fast food businesses due to trends toward healthier eating and generational shifts in eating preferences. Fast food businesses are attempting to compete by remodeling their dining rooms to match the demand for a modern look, as well as offering limited-time special menu items and plant-based options.

These trends impact the types of foodservice disposables used:

• New menu items may require new packaging and possibly serviceware.
• Customers interested in ethically sourced food are more likely to value sustainable packaging.
• Hot and cold specialty beverages require cups and lids that display the item and secure the contents effectively and efficiently.
• Food items designed for eating on the go require wraps or scoop cups.
• Orders destined for delivery must be packaged to reduce spillage – boosting use of higher value lids – and, increasingly, are sealed to show customers that they have not been tampered with.