Demand for Dinner Packaging to Grow 4.3% Annually Through 2027

Cleveland OH, November 15, 2023 – According to a new study by The Freedonia Group, US Prepared Food Packaging, dinners are the largest single application for prepared food packaging and will account for 29% of the total in 2027. Other key prepared foods are soups, pizza, pasta and rice dishes, and potato dishes. A broad range of other prepared foods are also available, including prepared meats entre es, sandwiches, salads, sushi, egg rolls, other side dishes (like baked beans), and appetizers.

Demand for dinner packaging is expected to increase 4.3% annually through 2027 to $1.9 billion. Gains will be driven by a shift toward higher value packaging formats such as stand-up pouches, two-piece containers, and bowls:

Trays and bowls as well as folding cartons will continue to be the leading packaging types for prepared dinners, accounting for a combined 62% of demand in 2027:

• Trays are favored for their structural stability, ovenability and microwavability, and recyclability (in the case of plastic trays, and paper trays in some locations).

• Folding cartons are widely used with dinners packaged in trays, tubs, cups, and bowls, where they provide protection functions and billboard space for demonstrating the appearance of dinner items when heated.

• Demand for bowls will be supported by the rising popularity of convenient, healthy bowl meals. Gains will also be boosted by the popularity of dinners that are steam cooked in their packaging in the microwave, some of which include multiple bowls.

Dinners are meals composed of an entree and a side. Prepared dinners are considered distinct from entrées in that they are typically not meant to be eaten with additional sides. For the purposes of this report, dinners include single- and multi-serve meals.

About The Freedonia Group
The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is a premier international business research company, providing clients with product analyses, market forecasts, industry trends, and market share information. From one-person consulting firms to global conglomerates, our analysts provide companies with unbiased, reliable industry market research and analysis to help them make important business decisions. The Freedonia Group’s brands also include Packaged Facts, a trusted provider of consumer market research on food & beverage, pet products and services, demographics, and financial services, and Simba Information, the leading authority for market intelligence and forecasts on the education and professional publishing industries.