Sales of food storage products in the U.S. totalled nearly $1.5 billion in 2003. At current prices, the U.S. Food Storage market has just about held steady, with a 3% increase over the period 1998-2003. This has been achieved through growth in the early years covered, and despite falling current price sales since 2001. However, after removing the effects of inflation, in constant price terms, sales have decreased 8% over the period. Contributing to this decline is consumers’ increasing preference for convenient food options such as frozen/prepackaged meals and restaurant meals, which usually do not require food storage products.

This report explores the hypothesis that the food storage market faces challenges ahead, despite market share increases in mass merchandising outlets and drug stores. Factors such as increased plastic resin prices will contribute to higher production costs while decreased at-home cooking and lower sales of food storage items normally used to store ingredients used to prepare meals from scratch will dampen sales further.

However, as marketers emphasize innovations in convenience and disposability in food storage products, American consumers may be sold on the greater convenience and multiple uses of new food storage products. Additionally, private label brands will increase market share as consumers recognize their equable quality to national brands, leading to further market value pressure.

Growth in sales of food storage products is likely to hinge on three key factors:

increased sales of disposable food storage products

increased usage in non-food applications

real innovation

In order to capitalize on these opportunities, manufacturers must have a thorough and up-to-date understanding of consumer attitudes toward food storage. To that end, Mintel commissioned unique consumer research focusing on food storage, including usage by age, gender, income and ethnicity. Mintel’s analysis reveals changing attitudes and behavior patterns toward food storage, and will help you keep your brand and your products positioned for maximum profitability.

The food storage market includes:

plastic wraps

plastic food bags (storage, sandwich and freezer)

plastic food containers, aluminum foil, and wax paper

Excluded from the scope of this report are:

plastic garbage bags

bin-liners

specialized products (i.e. trash compactor bags)

plastic utensils

plastic/Styrofoam plates

lunchboxes

kitchen wipes