the foodservice packaging institute&rsquos annual trends report uncovers shifts in the industry related to packaging, machinery, materials, and more.  this year&rsquos trends report from the foodservice packaging institute fpi, which is based on the association&rsquos annual survey, examined the everevolving foodservice supply chain. among the industry shifts uncovered by the survey were the following&bull in packaging this year&rsquos foodservice packaging trends focused on both the environmental attributes as well as the &ldquolook&rdquo of containers. demand for products that can be recycled andor composed continued, with perhaps a greater interest this year in compostable products, which could be the result of a growing number of food waste diversion issues throughout the foodservice industry. respondents also pointed to the use of unique colors, shapes, and sizes that help incorporate branding in a package. interestingly, clear transparent packaging was also mentioned, which focuses the visual cues on the foods and beverages, instead of on the container.&bull in raw materials shifts within the resins used to make foodservice packaging continue, and this year&rsquos survey results showed greater demand for polypropylene in particular. on the paper front, increased interest in molded fiber, especially from domestic sources, was noted.&bull in machinery the trend in machinery used to manufacture foodservice packaging is the use of highly automated machines that run faster, more efficiently, and at lower costs.&bull in distribution survey respondents purported that the proposed merger of the two largest foodservice distributors&mdashsysco corp. and us foods inc.&mdashwould lead to changes in the broader distribution landscape. if sysco&rsquos acquisition of us foods is secured, the rest of the distribution community will need to adapt to compete. this could lead to additional niche distributors, and more mergers and acquisitions within small to medium size companies.&bull in operations foodservice operators are looking to differentiate themselves from the competition. healthier menu offerings, sustainability initiatives, and yes, packaging, are a few ways to satisfy the changing demographics of today&rsquos consumers and drive sales.&ldquofpi&rsquos trends report lets us share an upfront glimpse into the industry and how it is evolving,&rdquo says lynn dyer, fpi president. &ldquothis year, changing demands throughout the supply chain are impacting our industry and how we adapt and serve the needs of customers.&rdquothe report is complimentary to fpi members it is available to nonmembers for 250. contact natha dempsey at ndempsey@fpi.org for more information.source httpwww.greenerpackage.comcompostbiodegrade2014foodservicepackagingtrends&n…
