FPI releases 2002 packaging study

In the US, the Foodservice & Packaging Institute, (FPI) has published and released to its members its bi-annual 'Market Research Study on Foodservice Packaging Products'.

FPI's research study, conducted for the association by The Qume Groupof Linden Hill, New York, seeks to determine the current and future purchases of foodservice packaging products by 1600 operators, data that is validated by interviews with 200 foodservice distributors.

Study researchers interviewed 1100 commercial foodservice operators, including fullmenu chain and independent operators; national and regional quick service restaurant operators; and, operators of chain/franchise and independent convenience stores.In addition, 500 non-commercial foodservice operators were interviewed, includingnursing homes; hospitals; school districts; colleges and universities; individual schools and employer feeders.

The 200 distributors interviewed included broadline distributors; equipment and supplies distributors; paper jobbers and specialty distributors.

The Qume Group researchers conducted interviewsin March, April and May of 2002. The 200 pages of datathey collected is recorded on a CD-ROM and includes operatorsurveys on Incidence of Use, Product Volume, Pastand Next Year Purchases reported by segment and by region,and distributor incidence of carrying and monthly volumefor nine product categories.

As in the two other waves of the FPI survey, conductedin 1998 and 2000, the 2002 Market Study tracksmaterial switching by both operators and distributors.Over one third of all operators surveyed said they expect their foodservice packagingpurchases to increase in the next year, on average by 12.3 per cent. Only 3.1 per cent of operatorssaid they expect their purchases to decrease, on average of 11.8 per cent. This meansa net increase - or growth - in expected foodservice packaging purchases in th US next year of four per cent.

This expectation is supported - and even exceeded - by interviews with 200 foodservicedistributors. Over one half of all distributors surveyed said they expect their shipments offoodservice packaging products to increase in the next year, on average by 14.1 per cent. A small 2 per cent of distributors said they expect their shipments to decrease, on average of 22.5 per cent. Again, this means a net increase - or growth - in expected foodservice packagingshipments next year of 7.7 per cent.

The study will be keenly observed by the European food processing and packaging industry, which often looks to the US to determine future trends. The US food processing and packaging industry has developed at a far greater pace than in Europe, and has led the way in innovation, the progress now being mirrored in the European industry as it rapidly consolidates.

For more information about the study, contact FPI Director of Market Development &Programs Lynn Rosseth at (001) 703 538-2800, or by e-mail at yebffrgu@scv.bet​.