Processors are expanding their offerings of meat and poultry in smaller, more convenient sizes as well as increasing the variety of items that are further processed. Processed goods, which tend to use more packaging relative to their volume than larger unprocessed cuts, will continue to experience strong demand resulting from growth in the number of smaller households and consumer demand for more convenient foods. The increased prevalence of case-ready meats and greater requirements for modified atmosphere packaging will also boost packaging demand. These and other trends are presented in "Meat, Poultry & Seafood Packaging," a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Flexible packaging demand will outpace rigid packaging. Growth will be driven by robust gains for pouches and continued healthy prospects for high barrier film. Pouch opportunities will result from the further penetration of retort pouches in place of cans, greater usage in initial launches of new products, and inroads by stand-up pouches in traditional bag applications for frozen meat, poultry and seafood. High barrier film demand will benefit from heightened requirements for value-added packaging materials for extended shelf life and protection from puncturing during shipping and handling. While rigid packaging demand will benefit from meat production trends and favorable demographics, below-average gains will reflect maturity in the large corrugated box segment and further inroads into can and folding carton applications by pouches.