Kick off 2026 with a competitive edge at PACK EXPO East. Register now!
Get a jump on your 2026 goals at PACK EXPO East. Put projects in motion, accelerate timelines and solve challenges—all in one trip to Philadelphia.

Cost of food packaging to consumer stays stable

The 1994 Update of the Food Marketing Institute's Supermarket Facts shows that the cost of packaging consumes 8 cents of the consumer's food dollar, a figure virtually unchanged since FMI started tracking it in 1986.

From another FMI study-Trends in the United States: Consumer Attitudes and the Supermarket-comes a glimpse at how important recyclable packaging is when food shoppers select a product in the supermarket. According to the Trends study, 38% of shoppers consider recyclable packaging very important and 34% see it as somewhat important. Product taste was considered most important of all, followed by nutrition, price, product safety, and storability. Sur- prisingly, the only issues ranked less important than recyclable packaging related to convenience: ease of preparation and food preparation time. For more information, call FMI at 202/429-8294.

Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
The AI revolution in packaging robotics is here
Robots that see variations, adjust grip pressure automatically, accept plain-English commands, and predict their own maintenance. Discover how AI is transforming packaging operations.
Read More
The AI revolution in packaging robotics is here