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Fast casual restaurants & retail markets to drive gains
US demand for foodservice disposables is expected to exceed $22 billion by 2019. Gains will be boosted by above average growth in revenues in the limited service restaurant segment, which accounts for about 80 percent of the total for disposables, despite representing only about half of foodservice revenue. Better growth for fast casual restaurants and coffee/ snack shops will boost demand for cups, dinnerware, and other products.
Outside of restaurants, foodservice disposables are used in retail establishments that sell prepared foods, vending machines, institutional foodservice outlets such as school cafeterias, sports venues, hotels, and a host of smaller outlets. Prospects in these markets vary, but the best outlook among those listed above is for retail stores, including grocery stores, warehouse clubs, and convenience stores. Retail stores will continue to expand their selections of prepared foods, in order to better compete with restaurants that offer takeout meals.
Packaging products to be fastest growing type
Packaging products are expected to post the fastest growth among foodservice disposable product types through the forecast period. The increased popularity of takeout meals from full service restaurants will drive demand for bags, wraps, and any number of rigid containers, as will continued growth in prepared food sales in supermarkets and convenience stores (including those attached to gas stations). Expanded menu offerings have also prompted the development of new packaging formats, such as salad containers with compartments that hold add-in toppings and dressings, bags for rotisserie chicken that can be placed in the oven, and products that serve both as package and dishware for loaded french fries and nachos, and Mediterranean platters including hummus, tabouleh, and other Middle Eastern specialties.
Environmental concerns becoming more critical
While there is little in the way of national legislation or regulation pertaining to the use or recycling of foodservice disposables, several trends have emerged. A growing number of municipalities and counties have imposed bans on the use of expanded polystyrene, long the material of choice for products such as clamshells and hot beverage cups. While no states have instituted similar bans, some have had the issue under consideration. Such bans have prompted improvements to alternative products, such as paper hot cups that can be used without an additional insulating sleeve, and clamshells formed from molded pulp or other sustainable materials.
Company Profiles
Profiles of 34 US industry competitors such as Dart Container, Georgia-Pacific (Koch Industries), International Paper, Pactiv (Reynolds Group) & WestRock
Additional Information
This study examines the US market for foodservice disposables. Product segments covered include packaging (e.g., containers, lids, wraps, bags, etc.), serviceware (e.g., cups, dinnerware, utensils, etc.), and napkins and other disposables (e.g., moist towelettes, table covers, toothpicks, frills, etc.). Markets for these products include eating and drinking places, retail stores, institutional establishments, lodging and hospitality sites, sports and recreation venues, and other establishments (e.g., company cafeterias, office coffee services, military installations, meal delivery programs for the elderly, airlines, etc.). Excluded are products sold at retail for home use, though disposables for commercial use that are sold in retail outlets such as club stores are included. Also excluded is packaging for supermarket and convenience store items not prepared at the store (e.g., fresh produce, baked goods, deli meats, etc.).
Historical data (2004, 2009, and 2014) and forecasts for 2019 and 2024 are presented for demand for foodservice disposable products by unit and value in current dollars (including inflation); demand data by market is presented in current dollars. Also presented are historical and forecast data for raw material usage in foodservice disposables in pounds and total dollars. “Demand” (or sales, or apparent consumption) is defined as all shipments from US plants, plus imports minus exports.