With increasing concerns about both food safety and the environment, there are pros and cons to using plastic packaging for fresh foods. Add to that, consumer demand for convenience, and the question becomes even more complicated. This variety of consumer expectations begs the question…”What do consumers want when it comes to packaging?” And does that vary by department?
A recent study by Category Partners (CP) revealed that about one-third of shoppers prefer to buy their fresh foods in plastics containers, whether in bags, clamshells or overwrap. That number varies somewhat by department, with 39% of respondents saying they prefer to buy fresh meat in plastic packaging, compared to a somewhat lower 29% of respondents, who prefer to buy produce in plastic packaging.