Shoppers browsing the fresh meat cases in their local supermarkets have little idea of the influence they exert over the case-ready tray packaging displayed there.
As the meat industry approaches 2016, it is important to reflect on the drivers of change and innovation that will continue to affect companies in the new year.
The global market for flexible packaging is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 3.4 percent over the next five years, and is expected to reach $248 billion by 2020.
Although it dates from the 1940s, chub packaging remains a favorite for pumpable products such as ground beef, ground turkey, sausage, chorizo, salami, taco meat and pet food.