A new level of convenience

In a meeting of on-the-go demands and premium preferences, a whole new generation of modern convenience food and drink is emerging

When it comes to food and beverage packaging, convenience is a given today. Consumers expect the products they buy to be easy to handle, hold, open, pour and close. But in the on-demand era where life moves fast and consumers face more choice than ever, added convenience can be a huge differentiator in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

This is the outlook in Mintel’s Global Food and Drink Trends report for 2019, which highlights the emergence of so-called ‘elevated convenience’. The premium preferences of today’s time-pressed consumers are driving the demand for even more convenient products – ones that help them keep pace with their busy schedules without sacrificing quality and experience, or a curiosity for new ingredients, flavors or formats.

“Today’s on-the-go consumers are shopping across channels for grab-and-go breakfasts, quick snacks, and dinner-time solutions,” says the report. “Improved convenience products must have wide distribution because connected consumers might be tempted to save time by turning to quick service restaurants or fast food service delivery, escalating the need for packaged food and drink to stay competitive.”

With the hectic pace of modern life, many consumers it seems are concerned about saving time, while others are willing to pay more to save themselves time. According to the Mintel report, 22% of consumers in Brazil would pay more premium prices for time-saving products, while 27% of US consumers think it takes too much time to prepare healthy food.

A new wave of shortcuts

What this means for the market is that we can expect to see the emergence of more premium convenience products both for at-home and on-the-go consumption – from upscale snacks and gourmet meal kits to easy-to-prepare, café-quality drinks.

To help producers tap into this elevated convenience trend, SIG offers a range of ultra-convenient packs and structures. One of which is Heat&Go – a microwavable carton structure that’s designed to make heating ambient beverages safe and convenient. This means consumers can enjoy premium and quality drinking experiences, whenever and wherever they are. Heat&Go replaces the aluminium film found inside a standard aseptic carton structure with a high-barrier alternative, allowing drinks to be microwaved without compromising protection or product quality. Heat&Go also meets the highest levels of consumer health and safety. It can be heated up to 60°C without damaging pack integrity and has a fail-safe against bursting when overheated.

Want to take a deep dive into the benefits of Heat&Go? Fill out the sign-up form below to download our exclusive Heat&Go brochure.

Other elevated convenience solutions from SIG include combidome, a convenient carton bottle; combismile, an innovative on-the-go pack; and drinksplus, enabling added-value drink products with real pieces of fruit, vegetables or cereal grains.

Want to know more about packaging solutions for elevated convenience? Contact us or learn more about our commitment to Product Innovation & Differentiation. And to ensure you stay ahead of the big issues shaping your business, subscribe to the SIGnals Update for a rundown of our latest news and stories.