Global Metal Food Cans in a Challenging Marketplace

Still a volume winner

Despite challenges from other packaging types, the metal can is maintaining a significant market volume. While challenges remain, there are still growth opportunities on a global scale.

The challenge of new pack innovations

The metal can has not evolved very much, apart from easy-open closures, since its inception. This lack of evolution means threats from newer pack types, such as pouches and thin wall plastic containers, offering added functionality, will continue.

Consumers looking for convenience

One of the key drivers of success is convenience; easier opening, packaging to cook in, (microwavable or boil in the bag packs), reseal able and so on. Metal cans have struggled to address these issues effectively. However, the metal can does what it does, very well, consequently volume share will be maintained, particularly where food needs to be stored for longer periods.

Pack performance is the key to success in fish/seafood and fruit and vegetables

Metal food cans continue to perform well in the fish/seafood category; it remains preferred pack type in terms of preservation, presentation and value. Healthy eating trends means demand for fish/seafood is growing and the metal can share in this growth. Latin America will offer the best opportunities for growth as fresh fish/seafood remains beyond the financial reach of most consumers.

Globally government initiatives aim to increasing healthy eating via fruit and vegetable consumption, has boosted canned fruit and vegetables sales albeit with mixed results.

Value remains an asset

The metal can performs well where value is a key driver, as it remains a low cost pack type with strong basic functionality. It performs less well when brand owners are looking for added value by means of pack functionality.

Cats get pampered too

Some of the biggest losses in metal can volume have occurred in pet food as consumers again look for convenience, choosing dried food in flexible plastic over canned dog food, and premium single-serve pouches over canned cat food.

Emerging markets an opportunity.....

Growth continues to be strong in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Although becoming increasingly affluent, the emerging regions offer some notable growth opportunities for metal food cans. Metal cans will continue to be strong in regions where refrigerators and freezers still remain scarce and low cost packaging with good preservation properties is vital.

.....but convenience demands continue to grow.

Although metal can volumes are likely to remain steady, the opportunity for growth is being eroded by other pack types which above all else, offer more convenience.

Convenience is key to the North American market and the decline of metal cans there reflects this. However, this region will offer the potential for good growth for metal cans in pet food.

As consumers become more affluent they are increasingly willing to pay for convenience. In order to compete, the metal can must address the issue of convenience; recent development in hybrid packaging, may help to address these problems.

What this report includes

• Top-level strategic analysis of how major consumer trends will influence global markets
• Consumer insight
• Impact across all relevant consumer markets
• Unique graphics and case studies
• Key market snapshots
• Accompanying presentation to synthesise main findings

Why buy this report

• Identify factors driving change now and in the future
• Understand motivation
• Forward-looking outlook
• Briefings and presentation should provoke lively discussion at senior level
• Take a step back from micro trends
• Get up to date estimates and comment