Market Trends of Stand-Up Pouches Industry
Rising Adoption of Flexible Packaging Solutions for Packaged Food and Beverage
- The rapidly expanding food and beverage sector in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific is attributable to the growing population, changing consumer lifestyle, and growing spending capacity. Lifestyle changes and easy access to information on health and nutrition are increasing the demand for indulgent and healthy foods, convenience foods, and single-serve options. These rapid changes in the food and beverage landscape create demand for convenient packaging options like stand-up pouches.
- According to the Organic Trade Association, the consumption of organic packaged food and beverages in the United States is projected to reach USD 27.86 billion in 2025 from USD 24.78 billion in 2022. This is expected to fuel the demand for cost-effective, flexible packaging solutions, including stand-up pouches.
- Stand-pouch packaging enhances business brand identity and strengthens visual marketing. Pouches are versatile, flexible, and attractive, promoting the brand and increasing sales. Stand-up pouches that are digitally printed can significantly elevate a brand's identity per the specific desires of the business. The company can utilize the whole surface of the pouch to display exciting graphics, logos, branding messages, or product details.
- Consumers now consider stand-up pouches a signifier of quality, making it necessary for vendors to communicate premiumization through such a form of packaging. Stand-up pouches offer superior protection for foods, keeping them safe from moisture, light, air, and bacteria.
- The ongoing expansion of the market can be attributed to factors such as the increasing demand for packaged food and beverages driven by convenience and affordability. Stand-up pouches are usually made with lightweight materials, significantly lowering transportation costs. The demand is also fueled by the fact that pouches come with various closure options, including a spout, zipper, and tear notch, further boosting the growth of the market.
- Several industry manufacturers focus on introducing sustainable solutions and have constantly worked on customer and market needs. For instance, in January 2024, API Group, a US-based packaging company, and its subsidiary Accredo Packaging, collaborated with the Fresh-Lock team to introduce a flexible stand-up pouch made with 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material for food packaging. The product is available with child-guard slider technology, resulting in child-safe closure protection and promoting a circular economy.
Asia-Pacific is Expected to be the Fastest-growing Market for Stand-up Pouches
- Stand-up pouches are gaining popularity in the region's growing food processing industry. Due to increasingly busy lifestyles, consumers favor lightweight, portable snack packaging to accommodate their on-the-go needs. Compact sizes with resealable features such as zippers are popular, meeting the demand for convenient on-the-go options. The market is driven by the growing preference for mostly on-the-go food products and retort-packed goods to maintain shelf stability.
- The expansion of organized food retail outlets plays a pivotal role, offering consumers diverse products with enticing discounts. The food processing industry in India is undergoing a transformative phase, embracing technological and social advancements. Thus, the demand for convenient and ready-to-consume products underscores the significance of efficient and innovative packaging solutions like pouches.
- Urban areas, particularly, witness a surge in the popularity of processed foods like ready-to-eat products and snacks. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, the annual household consumption of processed foods in India is expected to triple by 2030, establishing the country as a lucrative market.
- In April 2023, SIG announced the inauguration of a second production plant in Palghar, India. The plant produces SIG's bag-in-box and spouted pouch packaging, previously marketed under Scholle IPN and Bossar.
- The pet care industry in Asia registered positive growth due to increasing pet ownership, driven by demographic changes and the rising income levels of the population. Health for Animals, a government organization, estimated that China will have the most pets in the world by the end of 2024, which is expected to drive the demand for stand-up pouches in the country.
- The growth of the Thai pet food export market presents a significant opportunity for the pouch packaging industry, as pet humanization drives demand for premium packaging solutions. With a focus on convenience and freshness, pouch packaging plays a pivotal role in meeting the evolving needs of domestic and export markets within the pet food industry.