foodservice packaging institutes annual report shows market shifts in distribution and materials.november 25, 2014falls church, va. each year, the foodservice packaging institute fpi publishes a trends report, examining the everevolving foodservice packaging supply chain. released this week, the 2014 trends report discussed industrywide shifts in areas such as packaging, materials, machinery, distribution and operations. among the reports findings were packaging this years foodservice packaging trends focused on both the environmental attributes as well as the look of containers. demand for products that can be recycled andor composted continued, with perhaps a greater interest this year in compostable products. respondents also pointed to the use of unique colors, shapes and sizes that help to incorporate branding in a package. at the same time, clear transparent packaging was also mentioned, which focuses the visual cues on the foods and beverages, instead of the container. raw materials shifts within the resins used to make foodservice packaging continue, and this years survey results showed greater demand for polypropylene in particular. on the paper front, an increased interest in molded fiber was seen. distribution survey respondents purported that the proposed merger of the two largest foodservice distributors would lead to changes in the broader distribution landscape. if the sysco corp. acquisition of us foods inc. is secured, the rest of the distribution community will need to adapt to compete. this could lead to the additional niche distributors, and more mergers and acquisitions within small to medium companies. operations foodservice operators are looking to differentiate themselves from the competition. healthier menu offerings, sustainability initiatives and even packaging are a few ways to satisfy the changing demographics of todays consumers and drive sales. fpis trends report lets us share an upfront glimpse into the industry and how it is evolving, said lynn dyer, fpi president. this year, changing demands throughout the supply chain are impacting our industry and how we adapt and serve the needs of customers.source httpwww.nacsonline.comnewsdailypagesnd1125145.aspx.vhqh58kmzy
