Packaging purchases driven by service attributes

Service attributes, not product characteristics, are driving purchases of packaging containers, materials, equipment and supplies, according to research conducted by Priority Metrics Group (PMG).
The company has conducted more than 40 proprietary research projects on behalf of packaging (materials, containers, equipment, supplies) suppliers over the past two decades. After interviewing more than 4,000 purchasers, PMG has been able to identify a consistent pattern.  The objective has been not only to identify how buyers of packaging rank performance, but also to determine which of the categories are of higher importance.
“Some companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars perfecting their product offering. But unless that innovation is dramatic and disruptive, what determines whether or not the sale will be made or the business retained, are service attributes,” said John Barrett, president, PMG. “A better mouse trap – if it does not bring added revenue or enhanced profit – will collect dust.”
Packaging buyers identify the most important of those such as responsiveness, communication, customer service and accessibility. Product attributes—including product quality, product performance, product line, equipment and systems, even innovation—are of lesser importance.
“It may come as a surprise to many in the packaging community that business is won, and enduring competitive advantage achieved, by building and maintaining strong personal relationships between the buyer and vendor,” said John Barrett, president, Priority Marketing Group.
These relationships occur at multiple levels – senior management (business relationship), mid-management (communication, accessibility) and operational (responsiveness, customer service).
“Product quality and performance are more easily duplicated – by using the same equipment to produce the packaging components or buying from the same raw material suppliers. Service performance is much more difficult to replicate and consequently can lead to sustainable advantage,” Barrett explains.
Product improvement and innovation should be centered on delivering lower cost to customers. Price is something most suppliers do not want to use as a lever. However, helping customers to lower their total cost also can be a powerful way to establish and grow a long-term, profitable relationship.
PMP’s proprietary unique research approach yields results which not only tells companies where their customers rank them in a broad spectrum of attributes, but also compares the data against competition and prioritizes it in order of importance.
“A company may receive a high score in innovation, for example, but if the customer doesn’t identify innovation as an important characteristic then the score becomes less relevant. It’s important to identify which attributes are most relevant to the customer and put processes in place to make sure they either remain or improve to levels that will sustain the business,” Barrett concludes.

New report examines trends in pet product packaging

A new report from Packaged Facts, “Pet Product Packaging Innovation: Consumer Perspectives” examines trends in pet product packaging, with a particular focus on convenience-oriented, “premiumized” product types, including current and projected trends in new pet product packaging developments. The report focuses on packaging for dog and cat food and treats, and on packaging trends and innovations with clear consumer benefits, such as:

• Convenience and portability 
• Package ergonomics 
• Product safety (e.g., intelligent labels/packaging sensors) 
• Maintaining product freshness 
• Transparency in product descriptions and clean labels 
• Sustainability and recycling 

While the report primarily focuses on dog and cat food packaging — this segment makes up almost two-thirds of the U.S. pet product market — trends in non-food product packaging and packaging for foods for pets other than cats and dogs are also studied and discussed.

Global pet food packaging market to grow 8% to 2020

The new market research report, “Global Pet Food Packaging Market 2016-2020,” from WiseGuy Reports, presents a comprehensive segmentation of the global pet food packaging market by product type (bags, metal cans, pouches, and folding cartons). It outlines the market shares for key regions such as APAC, Europe, North America, and ROW. The key vendors analyzed in this research report are Amcor, Bemis, Mondi, and Sonoco.

Market overview of pet food packaging

Technavio’s analyst predicts the global pet food packaging market to grow at a CAGR of around 8% between 2015 and 2020. The introduction of new pet food products is driving the growth of this market. During 2009 to 2013, the market witnessed phenomenal sales of organic pet food products, fueling the demand for packaging of these products. Product labeling has become an important aspect for pet food manufacturers, as consumers refer labels to select the safest and nutritious food products. For instance, Iams Savory Sauce, a dog food topping equivalent to ketchup, is packaged in a pet jar with a flip-top dispensing closure, attracting consumers.
The demand for single-serve and small-sized packs from pet food suppliers is also expected to contribute to the market growth during the forecast period. Single-serve packaging products are easy to open and store, allowing pet owners to serve a single portion of food, reduce food waste, and provide a variety of foods for their pets. The introduction of single-serve packaging provides enormous opportunities for pet food packaging manufacturers to gain larger market shares.
Bags accounted for around 41% of the market share during 2015. Bags are the most popular choice for packaging as they are lightweight, low cost, and are available in various designs. The increased demand for sustainable, eco-friendly packaging has led vendors to introduce recyclable options in this segment.
North America dominated the pet food packaging market during 2015 with a market share of around 38%. The rise in marketing and promotional activities by manufacturers has been driving the market growth of this region. This research report anticipates the region to retain its market leadership until the end of 2020.

Competitive landscape and key vendors

The global pet food packaging market is highly fragmented due to the presence of numerous multinational, regional and local vendors. Vendors in this market have a high scope for innovation due to the growing demand for high-quality packaged food products. The report predicts international vendors to grow inorganically during the forecast period by acquiring regional or local players. The key players in the market are expected to diversify their geographical presence with a focus on APAC and ROW during the forecast period.

Key questions answered in the report

• What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2020?
• What are the key factors driving the global pet food packaging market?
• What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the pet food packaging market?
• What are the challenges to market growth?
• Who are the key vendors in this market space?
• What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global pet food packaging market?
• Trending factors influencing the market shares of APAC, Europe, North America, and ROW?
• What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the pet food packaging market?

Pet's, Vet's Packaging Forums to be held in February 2015

Together with the representatives of pet industry brands, pharmaceutical companies and packaging suppliers, the Paris Packaging Innovation Hub is organizing a set of conferences—Pet's Packaging Forum on Feb. 4, 2015 and Vet's Packaging Forum on Feb. 5—focusing on technology that will boost innovation in the sector.
"Developed in close collaboration with brands a packaging experts, Pet's and Vet's Packaging Forums are unique opportunities to take stock of innovations, technical advances and packaging trends," said show organizers.
The Pet's Packaging Forum will include discussions on petfood packaging challenges and enhancing consumer experience. The Vet's Packaging Forum will highlight point of packaging and drug delivery, and the current status of packaging and dispensing innovations.

Pack Expo International 2014 attendance tops 2012 numbers

Packaging and processing professionals gathered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, for Pack Expo International and Pharma Expo 2014. With preliminary figures topping 48,600 attendees, show owner and producer PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies) anticipates recording a 6.5% attendance jump over 2012.
The four-day event, held Nov. 2–5, covered more than 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space in McCormick Place with 2,352 exhibiting companies—an increase of more than 19% for exhibiting companies from Pack Expo International 2012. “Pack Expo International 2014 was definitely a success,” said Jim Pittas, senior vice president, PMMI. “Exhibitors sold machines right off the show floor and collected high quality leads from the steady flow of attendees.”
Pre-show registration was well ahead of 2012 figures, and that momentum continued on site, according to show organizers. Pharma Expo, which PMMI produced in partnership with the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, contributed to the surge in attendance, with twice as many attendees identifying their primary or secondary markets as “pharmaceutical.”
“Exhibitors begin planning their strategy for the next Pack Expo almost immediately after the close of the previous year’s show, and they need to know they’ll get a strong return on their investment,” said Pittas. “The success of the inaugural Pharma Expo proves the strength of the Pack Expo brand across all vertical markets and reinforces the industry’s view of Pack Expo as the preeminent North American packaging and processing show.”
Pack Expo East will be held Feb. 16–18, 2015, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Registration is US$30 through Jan. 21, when it increases to US$60.

Presto Products teams with Jack Link's Beef Jerky to enhance supply chain

To enhance supply chain efficiency and sustainability for Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Presto Products Company enrolled the company in Presto’s Fresh-Lock Zipper Spool Recycle and Reuse program. Annually, Jack Link’s will support the reuse of 30,000 pounds of high impact polystyrene, reducing the environmental impact of its supply chain. This initiative is just one of several measures in which Presto has assisted Jack Link’s in advancing packaging operations, according to the company.

Presto offers its Fresh-Lock Zipper Spool Recycle and Reuse program to help manufacturers enhance the sustainability of their supply chains. Since 2009, Presto has championed the reuse of 3 million pounds of high impact polystyrene across various product categories, diverting this material from landfills and reusing the spools in new shipments of Fresh-Lock Zippers.
Jack Link’s participation in Presto’s Fresh-Lock Zipper Spool Recycle and Reuse program—coupled with the company’s state-of-the-art central warehouse distribution program to streamline efficiency, fuel and energy usage across its supply chain—have helped the meat snack manufacturer achieve a zero-landfill plant in Alpena, South Dakota.
Made from Presto’s soft-seal resin, the most recent press-to-close (PTC) innovation rolled out by Jack Link’s since August 2014 features a blend of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The material provides a high-melt index, giving operators more time to ensure the zipper adheres properly to film pouches and reducing the number of imperfect pouches that come down the line. By minimizing the number of imperfect pouches, the solution helps to decrease costly product waste and increase the efficiency and quality output of the facility.
In addition to providing Jack Link’s with PTC closures that advance sustainability and efficiency, Presto also provides the company with technical service and support to speed delivery times, streamline processes and respond rapidly to urgent order requests, as well as proactive consultation for ‘big picture’ improvements to packaging operations.

US petfood packaging demand to reach US$2.5 billion by 2018

US demand for petfood packaging is expected to rise 4.8% annually to US$2.5 billion in 2018, according to "Pet Food Packaging," a study conducted by The Freedonia Group Inc. 

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Growth will be based on the use of higher-value, more sophisticated packaging and continued strength in petfood shipments fueled by an expected rebound in the pet population. The proliferation of premium petfood brands providing healthier, more nutritious alternatives (corresponding to the continuing humanization of pets by their owners) will also spur packaging demand growth, says the report.
“Plastic pouches will be the primary beneficiary of the trend toward more advanced petfood packaging," says analyst Joe Pryweller. "Pouch demand in petfood packaging will rise 8.3% per year to US$540 million in 2018, the fastest pace of growth among petfood packaging types.” Pouch demand will be bolstered by features that are inherently convenient for consumers, including zippered closure mechanisms and light weight, as well as by reduced transportation costs due to their light weight. 
Demand for tubs and cups will benefit from the need for convenience features and light weight in petfood packaging. As a result, tubs and cups will continue to supplant metal containers in wet food, growing in popularity due to peelable lids that are easier to open and allow the consumer to avoid cuts from metal edges, according to the report.
Dry food will continue to represent the largest food segment in petfood packaging, with a share of 49% in 2018. Bags are by far the largest packaging type in this segment due to the dominance of bulk items—those weighing 16 pounds or more—in dry petfood. Multiwall paper bags are the preferred packaging type in the dry food packaging category, but woven polypropylene bags are gaining favor, with demand expected to expand 8.6% annually through 2018.
Chilled and frozen petfood products offer another area of opportunity for petfood packaging growth. This category has developed from a small base and is expected to more than double in size through 2018, boosting demand for pouches, bags, tubs and cups, and chubs. Consumer interest in raw petfood products with prolonged shelf life will fuel growth in this category as retail stores increase freezer and refrigerator shelf space, says the report.    

Cardinal Pet Care revamps packaging for Full Life for Pets pet treats

Cardinal Pet Care has revamped the packaging of its Full Life For Pets healthy pet treats. The company has given Full Life bags a new, updated logo and color scheme, designed to maximize impact on grocery shelves and create stronger branding among consumers.

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The new look pairs bright colors with a photo of a pet parent about to reward their excited dog. The updated, arch-shaped logo features an energetic dog making a leap. Just below the product name, the main text highlights the nutritious benefits of the treats inside. They also tell consumers what’s not inside to assure nutritionally aware shoppers that none of the ingredients will harm their pets. With images and color schemes closely tied together, the packages convey clearer branding, making them an easy find for customers, said Cardinal Pet Care.

'Pet Care Packaging Market in Poland to 2017' report available to purchase online

A new report, Pet Care Packaging Market in Poland to 2017, is available online from MarketResearchReports.biz.
The report provides a detailed understanding of packaging consumption by individual product categories. It also looks at growth opportunities in packaging materials and types, as well as changing consumer demands. 

Hill’s Pet Nutrition integrates new petfood packaging closure technology

Petfood manufacturer Hill’s Pet Nutrition has partnered with Velcro Industries to integrate its Press-Lok closure technology into its Science Diet petfood packaging.
The Press-Lok closure, designed to be more consumer friendly, has an alignment that allows the hooks to engage without precise lineup. It also has an audible “click” sound so pet owners know when the package is closed.
"There are many tangible consumer benefits that the Press-Lok closure system provides to our Hill's Science Diet packaging," says Christopher Rector, director of marketing of Hill's US. "The Press-Lok application provides a fast, effective and stress-free bag closure solution. [It] opens and closes easily and quickly, keeping the kibble in and the paws out."

Steel packaging sustainability campaign to be launched

Packaging sustainability is viewed as a high priority for 65 percent of decision makers at Fortune 500 consumer product companies, according to an independent research study commissioned by the Steel Market Development Institute. As a result, the Institute is launching a national education campaign about steel packaging. 
The survey, conducted by MindClick in January and February, found that a challenge for consumer products firms is the lack of meaningful information available to evaluate and compare sustainability performance of competitive packaging materials. Packaging executives’ key considerations for determining sustainability include recycling and the energy required to transport, store, use and dispose of the packaging. Secondary considerations include the greater societal, environmental and community impacts related to the materials themselves. 
"Through the outreach effort, SMDI's Steel Packaging Council will highlight steel's role in meeting the sustainability needs of the packaging industry, while communicating the broader benefits of steel packaging," said Lawrence Kavanagh, president, SMDI. "With its recycling, reusability and package integrity, steel is clearly the preferred material for the packaging industry, and this campaign will further increase the industry's awareness of these great benefits."
The steel packaging recycling campaign will continue through 2013 with online education sessions for professionals, industry-wide surveys about steel packaging, and viral videos that share the positive economic, environmental and social benefits from the use of steel in consumer packaging.

Subplot petfood packaging designs awarded at Pentawards Competition

Subplot received a Gold award for GO! packaging and a Bronze award for NOW Fresh packaging the company designed for Petcurean.

Subplot Design Inc. received two awards at the 2012 Pentawards Worldwide Packaging Design Awards Competition, recently held in Paris, France.
Subplot's GO! packaging received a Gold award, while NOW Fresh packaging received a Bronze award. Both packaging designs were created for pet food manufacturer Petcurean Pet Nutrition.
"We are so honored with these two prestigious wins," said Matthew Clark, Subplot creative director and lead designer on the award-winning packaging. "To be in the company of design firms like Turner Duckworth, Landor, Lewis Moberly and Pearlfisher makes the honor even that much more special."
Case studies for the GO! and NOW Fresh packaging designs can be viewed online. 

Raw dog food manufacturer switches to 'green' flexible packaging

Raw dog food manufacturer Steve’s Real Food has switched to using an environmentally friendly flexible packaging for its pet food products, which is constructed of renewable and compostable materials, printed and laminated with low-VOC, water-based inks and adhesives.

The Utah, USA-based dog food manufacturer chose Eagle Flexible Packaging's NVIRO because the company says it is committed to following strict environmental standards.

"I really wanted a solution that was green, not just one that sounded green,” said Nicole Lindsley, project manager at Steve’s.
NVIRO packaging is derived from corn and plant starches, allowing it to compost in a municipal composting environment. The packaging is produced using water-based inks, which Eagle says contain less than 5% volatile organic compounds. This makes NVIRO packaging "green from the zipper to the sealant,” according to Eagle.
Not only did Steve's consider environmental impact in selecting the packaging, but the company also took into consideration consumer convenience. The new package incorporates ZIP-PAK's Press-to-Close solution, made from the same compostable material as the pouch film, which makes it easier for the consumer to open and reclose the petfood packages.

IML packaging is becoming a popular trend for petfood manufacturers

Belgian printing company Verstraete says that the humanization of pets has led to success in IML packaging for pet food manufacturers.
IML, or "in mold labeling," is a technique in which a preprinted polypropylene label is placed in a mold that is shaped like the end product. The molten polypropylene is added to the mold, where it is fused to the label, and the packaging and label become one.
The US National Pet Owner Survey revealed that female animal owners, in particular, see themselves as the "mother" of their pets. With IML, Verstraete says packaging can have an impact on this kind of emotional purchasing. The quality of the photograph as well as the various look and feel possibilities offered by IML ensure that all product information is communicated to the consumer in an attractive way. The company says that petfood manufacturers may find IML packaging to be an effective way to distinguish themselves from competitors.

Honest Kitchen re-launching trial-size packaging

The Honest Kitchen has re-designed the packaging for its trial size boxes of petfood to replicate the full-size, eco-friendly boxes for which the company is known.

“The size and dimensions of our new trial sizes have been designed with the canned-food customer in mind,” said company founder Lucy Postins. “We really want to help stores promote the versatility of our products and we’re expecting that many stores will situate our new trial size boxes in the canned food aisle to introduce The Honest Kitchen as a whole food alternative to canned food. The trial size boxes also work well next to freezers to complement a raw food diet.”
The company’s new trial size packaging holds four ounces of dehydrated, whole food ingredients for pets and will hydrate to make one pound of fresh food. The company is also anticipating that the new trial size boxes will be used as a meal-on-the-go for traveling pets. The mini boxes will be available on stores shelves in March.

Mocon Inc. announces 2011 free petfood, food safety webinar schedule

Mocon Inc. announced the 2011 schedule for its free webinar series, which will cover topics such as petfood safety, product shelf-life and packaging.
Each webinar will be taught by an expert with significant experience in the specific webinar subject. Presenters typically speak for 30 to 40 minutes, after which attendees will have the option to ask questions.
The following webinars will begin at 10 a.m. CDT (US): Food Safety: Same Day Analysis/Results for Food Product Bacteria Screening on March 9;
Using Sensory and Instrument Approaches for Off-Odor/Aroma Detection on April 13;
Case Study: Food Product Shelf Life on May 11;
Introduction to Modified Atmosphere Packaging I on June 8;
Introduction to Modified Atmosphere Packaging II on July 13;
Testing Solutions for Beverage Applications on Aug. 10;
New Demands on Medical Device/Pharmaceutical Testing on Sept. 14;
Oxygen Transmission Rate Testing for High Barrier Materials on Oct. 12;
Shelf-life Studies: Basics on Nov. 9; and 
Shelf-life Studies: Advanced on Dec. 10.
To view class details and registration information, visit Mocon's website. After registration is confirmed, participants will be given a link to access the online visual presentation. Audio is accessible as VoIP or by call-in telephone number.

Winning products from Pack Expo Selects have use in petfood industry

The Pack Expo Selects 2010 competition highlighted several packing innovations that can be used by manufacturers in the petfood industry.
Pack Expo Selects includes packaging innovations released commercially within the last 12 months by Pack Expo exhibitors. Pack Expo attendees were able to view and vote on the products until November 3, when 10 finalists and the winner were announced.
Coldkeepers LLC's Kold-To-Go thermal bags were selected as the winner of the contest and can be used to prevent freezer burn in raw or frozen petfood products. Chosen as the second place winner, the IML “Handled Bucket” Line submitted by Airlite Plastics Co. features reusable, recyclable packaging for easy storage and pouring of petfood. The third place winner was Ampac's Vapur bottled water packaging. 

DuPont accepting entries for packaging innovation awards

DuPont Packaging announced it will begin accepting entries in the 23rd DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.
Packaging designers, retailers and manufacturers may all enter their new product packaging developments in the competition at no cost. Entries will be evaluated by a jury panel for excellence in packaging innovation, sustainability and cost/waste reduction. Entry forms and guidelines are available online. The deadline for entries is Feb. 28, 2011 and winners will be announced in the spring of 2011.
“The industry is facing many challenges to address cost and waste reduction as well as sustainability demands while responding to consumers’ needs for greater convenience. Innovation is key to these new packaging approaches and we aim to recognize innovative solutions from around the world that address local needs,” said Shanna Moore, global director of sustainability at DuPont Packaging.

Joe Inglis launches Vet’s Kitchen petfood

Vet’s Kitchen, a new range of petfood created by Joe Inglis BVSc MRCVS, was inspired by natural, high-quality foods, and the packaging, designed by Embrace Brands, was designed to evoke professionalism, veterinary expertise, nature and health.
Inglis is the veterinarian on the BBC’s ‘One Show.'
“Just like a top chef creating a delicious meal, our work for Vet’s Kitchen expresses the idea of the product’s premium recipe. The premium packaging tells the story of each of the products; it was important to communicate the brand’s passion and expertise, delivering the message of ‘naturally healthy pets,’” said Greg Vallance, co-founder of Embrace Brands.

Safety speaker announced for Virtual Petfood Forum: Innovation

All the media coverage over the past few weeks about the huge recall of eggs contaminated with Salmonella -- not to mention the continuing spate of much smaller, less serious, mainly precautionary petfood recalls -- ensures safety stays top of mind.
But how can you be sure your safety practices are as robust as possible? Are there other protocols or technologies you should consider?
You can find out by signing up for Virtual Petfood Forum: Innovation on October 21. It's free and completely online, so you don't need to leave your office or home to participate.
One of the five expert presentations will be by Jim Marsden, PhD, Regent's Distinguished Professor of Food Safety and Security and associate director of the Biosecurity Research Institute, both at Kansas State University. His research has focused on the safety of food products, particularly controlling dangerous bacteria and other contaminants in meat, and he's now applying that research to petfood.
The other presentations during Virtual Petfood Forum will be:
*Innovation in nutrition and ingredients by Serge Boutet, agronomist and manager of petfoods and nutriton for Mondou Ltd.;
*Innovation in petfood packaging by Scott Whiteside, PhD, associate professor of the Department of Packaging Science and associate director of the Center for Flexible Packaging, both at Clemson University;
*Innovation in marketing: exploring social and online media by Julie Lenzer Kirk, CEO and chief Muse of Path Forward International; and
*Innovation in petfood processing by Mian Riaz, PhD, director of the Food Protein R&D Center at Texas A&M University.
Besides viewing the presentations and participating in live Q&A with the speakers, you can also chat live with other industry peers and with leading industry suppliers from around the world.
You can come and go throughout the day as your schedule permits -- or, if you can't participate on October 21, you can view an archive of the event for 90 days afterward. Sign up today!