A roundup of category challenges
Food and beverage manufacturing is undoubtedly one of the most challenging sectors with a wide variety of products, often with their own manufacturing requirements and challenges. Throughout, our Expert insights: category complexities series, we spoke to industry insiders and SIG experts to assess the unique challenges in the different food and beverage categories. So, how are the complexities in plant-based manufacturing different from dairy or even water? And what are the considerations that are top of the mind across categories? Let’s look back for a refresher.
What makes food and beverage manufacturing complex?
There is no one answer to this as we learnt in our conversation with food and beverage professionals across the globe. From age-old concerns about food safety to more current issues like price points and sustainability, some of the top challenges often span product categories. Manufacturers need to also continually be at the forefront of advancing technology with innovation and research.
What is priority in plant-based manufacturing?
The phenomenal rise of the plant-based category tells its own story, but the category comes with challenges like no other as per our expert. The sheer variety of plant-based sources leads to differences in extraction and processing, adding a layer of complexity. The top five challenges range from formulating the right texture to optimizing nutrition profile without adding to the ingredient list.
What is so complex in packaging water?
Today, water has evolved to be a differentiated product on the shelves, but this seemingly simple category is often difficult to get right, says our expert. As one of the most sensitive products to package, the category has some unique challenges and needs to tick more boxes relating to consumer demand, going beyond the top asks of hydration and a crystal-clear taste.
What are the hurdles to growth in dairy?
Dairy is one of the most prominent and established food and beverage categories, so much so that dairy-based beverages continue to be an integral part of childhood diets in many parts of the world. However, the category still grapples with complexities in today’s conscious landscape. From changing consumer mindsets and premiumization to meeting price points and packaging for sustainability, our expert outlines the unique dynamics in dairy.
What are the factors shaping packaged food?
Packaged food is an integral part of our lives today but that means the demands from this category are many too. From providing affordable nutrition to ensuring the packaging is suitable for e-commerce, packaged food manufacturing has its own challenges, according to our expert’s view, especially as diverse foods and ingredients have equally varied requirements for processing and packaging.
What are the intricacies of packaging alcohol?
Packaging alcohol is anything but simple, especially at a time in today’s conscious landscape. As the industry reduces its reliance on glass and moves towards more sustainable and convenient solutions, alcohol producers need to consider multiple factors, from taste and shelf life to alcohol percentage and fighting deep-rooted perceptions in this age-old category.
A sustainable future
Of all the complexities around food and beverage manufacturing, one common thread is the ask for more healthy and sustainable solutions across categories. We, at SIG, can help you meet this challenge with our range of sustainable packaging solutions and flexible filling machines that enable you to control your own sustainability journey. Take SIG Terra, our portfolio of most sustainable packaging materials that includes a number of industry-first innovations. There are multiple other packaging options from cartons to bag-in-box and spouted pouch, all designed to lower the footprint of your product. Get in touch to explore how we can help you achieve your sustainability goals.
- February 15, 2024
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