Dispatches: Pack Expo 2014

Corrugated packaging not going away in snacks

By Kacey Culliney

- Last updated on GMT

'Particularly in snack foods, that regular slotted carton box is not necessarily going away,' says DDR Communications president
'Particularly in snack foods, that regular slotted carton box is not necessarily going away,' says DDR Communications president

Related tags Secondary packaging Corrugated fiberboard

Snack makers need to protect fragile product and meet increasing e-commerce and promotional demands – good reasons to increase the use of corrugate in secondary packaging, says a business strategy expert.

Since 2008, 49% of manufacturers in the food and personal care sector have reduced used of corrugated packaging, according to PMMI’s November Secondary Packaging​ report. However, 21% have increased use - 9% in the food sector.

Donna Ritson, president of DDR Communications – the firm behind the research – said there were a number of drivers behind this.

“E-commerce is huge and it’s driving a greater use of secondary packaging,”​ she told press at a conference at Pack Expo 2014 in Chicago today.

Virtual shopping, she said, would rise 20% this year, according to data from eMarketers.

“Secondary promotions and displays also lead to an increase use of corrugate,”​ she added.

Protecting snacks

Speaking to BakeryandSnacks.com after the conference, Ritson said increased use of corrugate in the snacks sector was mainly a practical matter.

“What’s really important in snacks is the protection of secondary packaging because most snacks are in flexible packaging and snacks being snacks are breakable. That’s where you’re seeing increased usage of corrugate material,”​ she said.

End of aisle corrugated stands are popular in snacks. Photo Credit: Formula Mom
End of aisle corrugated stands are popular in snacks. Photo Credit: Formula Mom

“There’s this interesting phenomena of where everyone is downsizing and reducing corrugate, there are times where manufacturers need more corrugate – they need that box. And particularly in snack foods, that RSC [regular slotted carton] box is not necessarily going away.” 

In addition, snack makers were using more corrugated material for in-store, end aisle display boxes, she said. “Those stands are reusable, so they need to be sturdy and attractive to the consumers.”

Innovation in corrugated

Ritson said there had been a lot of work done to improve the sustainability of corrugated material in packaging. Recycled additives and fibers were being used, for example, and light weighting continued to be a priority.

However, manufacturers faced continued challenges over cost, she said.

According to the PMMI report, the cost of corrugated boxes would rise at an annualized rate of 3% through 2017.

“The big decisions are around the rising cost of oils and the rising cost of paper – everything is rising, so that’s the big conundrum at the moment,” ​Ritson said. 

Related news

Show more

Related products

New Study: 2023 Productivity Benchmark Report

New Study: 2023 Productivity Benchmark Report

Content provided by QAD Redzone | 13-Oct-2023 | White Paper

On average, manufacturers in this QAD Redzone exclusive study achieved productivity increases that allowed them to make 5 days of product in just 4 days....

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars