Product category:
Packaging exhibitions, conferences and seminars
News Release from: easyFairs UK
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 April 2006
More innovation required
The UK's food and drink industry is looking for greater innovation from its packaging suppliers, to support its expansion plans according to new research.
The UK's food and drink industry is looking for greater innovation from its packaging suppliers, to support its expansion plans according to new research The study among over 100 leading UK food and drink manufacturers was carried out by the organisers of the easyFairs Process, Pack and Track Food Shows
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 10 Jul 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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It reveals a food and drink industry with some ambitious plans to deliver over the next 12 months.
For instance, over the next 12 month, 65% of food and drink processors plan to launch new products, 45% are moving into new markets and a quarter will expand their overseas sales.
To deliver these plans 25% will forge a strategic alliance, one in ten will expand their current site and 10% expect to merge with or acquire another company.
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Easyfairs, the organiser of the Process, Pack and Track Food South and North shows, said it is anticipating a repeat of the success of its Packaging Innovations show in March.
Packaging Innovations Show Bookings Going Well
Easyfairs UK has reported a high level of interest from design agencies in the Packaging Innovations exhibition, which takes place on October 18 and 19 October at Sandown Park, Esher (UK).
Tube labelling machine order illustrates trend
An ongoing industry trend is towards labelling tubes as opposed to using pre-decorated tubes; a trend that has been evident since the arrival of bespoke tube labelling machines.
However, food and drink manufacturers are also looking to the packaging industry to help them.
For instance 45% want to reduce their materials usage, 40% need to speed up their packing lines, over a third want to introduce a new innovative pack format while 30% are looking to packaging to provide greater product differentiation.
Although over half are feeling the heat from cheaper overseas competitors, and as a result are looking for cost reductions (24% report that they will be moving to cheaper materials during the year ahead) only 39% report that budget is inhibiting their packaging innovation.
Indeed, well over a third of the food and drink companies questioned said they would like much greater innovation from packaging suppliers - and 12% feel their packaging suppliers are too complacent.
Packaging companies who don't respond to this agenda will miss out.
As the food and drink companies reveal a real appetite to invest in packaging over the year ahead.
For instance during the year 25% will invest substantially more in labelling, coding, printers and smart packaging and 30% will spend more on packaging machinery in a drive to deliver cost savings, improved throughput and shelf standout.
Haf Cennydd, show director for easyFairs Process, Pack and Track Food says: "As food and drink companies grapple with the twin challenges of reducing their cost base and expanding their businesses so all aspects of supply are being scrutinised".
"Suppliers who help them respond to these challenges will be rewarded with far more mutually lucrative relationships." The research bears this out as almost a third of food and drink companies are on the look out for new materials, 36% expect to be working with new suppliers over the next 12 months and one in five are looking for fewer, deeper supplier relationships.
Companies will have the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the research and develop relationships with food and drink manufacturers at the easyFairs Process, Pack and Track Food shows.
easyFairs Process, Pack and Track Food South (24th - 25th May 2006) is being held at Sandown Park in Esher while Process, Pack and Track Food North (14th - 15th June 2006) will be at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.
In addition to attending 15 free learnShop seminars and a mix of discussion groups, the food companies who attend the shows will be able to meet over 60 exhibitors who span a range of production areas including waste management, logistics, packaging, as well as processing automation and traceability.
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