Instore - December 2018 - 25

cover story

A "Collision" of
Packaging trends
the locally sourced wheat in your instore bread, for example -you'll
definitely see the results."
Proteins, plant-based proteins, customization, meal kits and Hispanic
and Asian dishes are among some of the other trends to keep a close
eye on in 2019, Richard says.

Smaller servings, labor efficiencies
In grocery instore bakery, expect another strong year in 2019, says
Mike Docherty, vice president of marketing for North America
for Brill, a division of Sandy Springs, Georgia-based CSM Bakery
Solutions Co.
"We predict fresh bakery will continue to have steady growth, as it
has for the last several years," he says.
Among the bakery industry trends to keep an eye on in 2019,
Docherty says, are consumers' desire for customization, demand for
smaller portions and operators seeking labor efficiencies.
When it comes to customization, Docherty says, digital will play an
ever more important role. "As we look forward, we expect online
ordering for decorated cakes and other bakery offerings to become
more sophisticated to serve consumers' desires for customization."
It's demographics, meanwhile, that's driving demand for smaller
portions, he says. With more than three-quarters of U.S. households
containing fewer than three people, companies like Brill are working
with their retail partners to diversify their offerings to cater to this
growing market.
"We've seen some retailers have success with simply offering
smaller options of their core products," he says. "We work with our

Look for the snacking craze
to grow even more in 2019.

In the packaging world, there are two big trends that are
on a "collision course" heading into 2019, says Lynn Dyer,
president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute.
The first is convenience. "Consumers are increasingly
interested in more convenient, prepared food and beverage
options," Dyer says. "These include more grab-and-go items,
plus delivery and catering options."
More convenience typically means more packaging. But for
an increasing number of consumers, more packaging isn't a
good thing. That's trend No. 2, and makes it easy to see why
Dyer uses the "collision" metaphor.
"There is a growing concern about single-use items,
especially those made from plastics, which are seen as
'wasteful' by some," she says. "How do you meet the trend
toward more convenient food delivery without single-use
items? It's a dilemma more and more will face in the future."
Given the concerns about single-use, expect to see growing
interest in reusable packaging in 2019, Dyer says. That could
take the form of customers bringing their own packaging
into stores or systems that provide reusable packaging that
can be returned to the store. "Whether customers are willing
to play a more active role like this - that remains to be seen,"
she says.
Another trend that will only ratchet up in 2019, Dyer says, is
increased competitive pressure in an already-competitive
retail industry. "With increased competition for consumers'
food dollars, retailers will look for more opportunities to
compete," she says. "Their greatest competitor continues to
be traditional foodservice outlets, like restaurants and cafes."
As millennials seek customized "just for them" food and
beverage items, foodservice outlets are meeting those
demands, Dyer says. Retailers will also need to be able
to provide that same level of service, which means more
"prepared just for you" items and fewer "already prepared for
the masses" grab-and-go items.
Labeling - in particular, more of it -will be trending up in
2019, Dyer says. "I think we can expect more labelling as
customers increasingly want to know what they're eating,
where it's sourced and what allergens may be present."
Grab 'n go products will continue to be in high demand
next year, Dyer says. But the category will likely continue to
undergo a bit of a facelift. "Customers are time-crunched,
and they want to grab and go then head out the door. But
they may not want it off the shelves, but instead made their
way," she says. "Think about how many restaurants now offer
apps so customers can pre-order and just grab and go."

instore * DECEMBER 2018 * 25
Instore - December 2018

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