Like its predecessors, the 2005 FMI show was bursting with the latest in food and beverage products and packaging. After the show, Packaging Insights spoke with FMI spokesman Todd Hultquist, who offered the following trends and insights in an exclusive interview:
Natural and organic products were very popular. So were convenience products, which is where package-promoted portability comes in. For example, Campbell’s Soup introduced soup in resealable cartons that you can take anywhere. You have to heat it up, but it’s resealable, shelf stable, and you don’t have to add any water. Bottled products, smoothies, and fortified products had more dynamic packaging because the beverage market is more competitive. There were different shapes and colors of bottles. Bottles looked more narrow or slender, making them easier for the hand to hold. Longer necks gave some bottles more style. Mainstream companies seemed to be offering more products in a 6-oz size, much like the can for RedBull, instead of more typical 12-oz cans. Companies were promoting products more as a single serving. Convenience products continued to be strong. We noticed combination products such as one from General Mills in a container that you drink from that has cereal on one side and milk on the other. Once more, packaged produce was a big hit, particularly combinations such as sliced apples with dips, or vegetables such as carrots and celery with dip. Again, it’s the single-serving sizes that we really noticed. Resealable pouches were everywhere. One company rolled out a line of mints for dogs and cats in little metal boxes that are selling at the checkout in major chains. For more information, visit FMI.org.
