Consumers have opted for more affordable grocery choices in recent months, resulting in positive engagement with the food storage industry. As food storage products continue to evolve, this report provides key data-backed insights so you can keep up with consumer preferences.
US Food Storage Market – Current Landscape
The food storage industry is in the midst of a significant transformation. As economic conditions gradually improve, consumers are still acting cautiously, which has led to a surge in home cooking and a growing demand for cost-effective food storage solutions. Many prioritize functionality and durability, with a noticeable trend toward choosing reusable and sustainable options.
Sustainability and convenience are crucial for younger consumers, and brands must balance these aspects to appeal to this demographic. Brands can continue to drive interest in the category by seizing opportunities to help the category become more personable through design and mindful meal preparation.
US Food Storage Market Report – What’s Inside?
Key Topics Analyzed in the Report
- Utilization of food storage types.
- Applications for products.
- Criteria for choosing products.
- Motivations for using food storage.
- Frustrations with food storage products.
Report Scope
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defines the food storage and trash bag market as consisting of the following segments
- Plastic food storage bags
- Food storage containers – Includes plastic and glass containers
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Wax paper and parchment paper
Although food storage containers are covered in this report, they are not included in the market size.
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Mintel analyst Lindsay Cameron. She has a master’s in Marketing Research from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s in Marketing from Arizona State University. Prior to joining Mintel, she conducted consumer research for a DTC ad agency and began her career in pet retail.
Home cooking surges, boosting demand for cost-effective, functional, reusable storage. Brands can stand out by balancing sustainability with cost efficiency.
Lindsay Cameron
Mintel Analyst
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Executive Summary
- What you need to know
- What consumers want and why
- Market size & forecast
- Market predictions
- Opportunities
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Market Dynamics
- Market context
- Market drivers
- Cutting back on dining means more eating at home
- Although consumer prices have decreased, sentiment remains low
- Graph 1: headline CPI and shelter CPI, 2021-24
- Graph 2: consumer sentiment index, 2022-24
- GLP-1 medications support the need for portioned food
- Market size and forecast
- Market size remains consistent
- Retail sales and forecast of food storage products at current prices
- Retail sales and forecast of food storage products at inflation adjusted prices
- Market segmentation
- Plastic food bags continue to dominate food storage sales
- Graph 3: total retail sales and forecast of food storage products by segment, at current prices, 2019-29
- Retail sales of food storage products, by segment
- Waxed paper rises as consumers begin shifting to plastic-free solutions
- Retail sales and forecast of plastic food bags at current prices
- Retail sales and forecast of plastic food bags at inflation-adjusted prices
- Retail sales and forecast of aluminum foil at current prices
- Retail sales and forecast of aluminum foil at inflation-adjusted prices
- Retail sales and forecast of plastic wrap at current prices
- Retail sales and forecast of plastic wrap at inflation-adjusted prices
- Retail sales and forecast of waxed paper at current prices
- Retail sales and forecast of waxed paper at inflation-adjusted prices
- Market share/brand share
- Private label sees growth across all four categories due to consumers’ lack of confidence in the economy
- Sales of food storage products, by company
- Sales of plastic food bags, by company
- Sales of food storage containers, by company
- Sales of aluminum foil, by company
- Sales of plastic wrap, by company
- Sales of waxed paper, by company
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Consumer Insights
- Consumer fast facts
- Usage of food storage products
- Food storage products continue to be essential kitchen staples
- Graph 4: usage of food storage products, trended, 2019-24
- Younger generations are leading with usage of reusable products
- Graph 5: usage of food storage products, by generation, 2024
- Uses for products
- Help consumers reduce waste waste, with leftovers and freezing food driving usage category wide
- Graph 6: uses for food storage products, by type, 2024
- Utilize food storage containers’ high usage to find new ways to use products
- Graph 7: store cooked food in food storage containers, by gender, 2024
- Highlight versatility in food storage bag offerings
- Graph 8: uses for food storage bags, 2024
- Tupperware shows off the versatility of reusable bags
- Help younger audiences gain interest in food wraps
- Graph 9: uses for food storage wraps, 2024
- Sharing food wrap “hacks” can help younger groups see the value in food wrap solutions
- Unlike other areas of food storage, organization drives glass jar usage
- Graph 10: uses for reusable glass jars, 2024
- Improve accessibility with effective kitchen organization
- Factors for product selection
- Functionality is consumers’ top priority when considering what food storage products to purchase
- Graph 11: factors for food storage product selection, 2024
- Women prioritize functionality, while men focus on distinct attributes
- Graph 12: factors for food storage product selection, by gender, 2024
- Utilize secondary features when engaging with younger generations
- Graph 13: secondary factors for food storage product selection, by generation, 2024
- Stasher highlights easy-to-clean aspects of their reusable bags
- Highlight durability to attract budget-conscious consumers
- Graph 14: durability as a top factor in food storage selection, by financial situation, 2024
- Motivations for using food storage
- Consumers are primarily motivated to use storage solutions to extend their food purchases
- Graph 15: motivations for storing food, 2024
- Target older consumers with eco-friendly, budget-conscious food storage solutions
- Graph 16: motivations for storing food, by generation, 2024
- Help parents make healthier decisions
- Frustrations with food storage products
- Functionality and durability are the greatest sources of frustration
- Graph 17: frustrations with food storage solutions, 2024
- Help younger consumers do more with less
- Graph 18: frustrations with food storage products, by generation, 2024
- Make switching between appliances less of a hassle
- Attitudes and behaviors toward food storage
- Food storage products have the potential to make people feel more organized
- Graph 19: attitudes and behaviors toward food storage, 2024
- Sustainability must balance with convenience
- Graph 20: sustainable behaviors and attitudes toward food storage, by generation, 2024
- Bridge the food storage knowledge gap for both parents and non-parents
- Graph 21: knowledge with food storage methods and matched behaviors, by parental status, 2024
- Bridge the food storage knowledge gap for both parents and non-parents
- Support young adults’ passion for DIY food projects
- Graph 22: usage of specialized food storage products, by generation, 2024
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Innovation and Marketing Trends
- Launch activity and innovation
- Revolutionizing food storage with PureFize UV technology
- Cliik strives to make food storage containers more personable
- Marketing and advertising
- Tupperware strives to strengthen brand identity
- Ziploc finds a blank space with Donna Kelce as ‘Chief Leftover Officer’
- Opportunities
- Focus on helping people save what they already have
- Make it more than just a lunch box
- Embrace self-expression to make the category more appealing
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Appendix
- Market definition
- Consumer research methodology
- Generations
- Abbreviations and terms
- Bases: food storage product type detail
- Food storage products fan chart table
- Retail sales and forecast of plastic food bags
- Plastic food bags fan chart table
- Retail sales and forecast of aluminum foil
- Aluminum foil fan chart table
- Retail sales and forecast of plastic wrap
- Plastic wrap fan chart table
- Retail sales and forecast of waxed paper
- Waxed paper fan chart table
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast fan chart methodology
- Value, average price and volume of plastic food bags sales
- Value, average price and volume of aluminum foil sales
- Value, average price and volume of plastic wrap sales
- Value, average price and volume of waxed paper sales
- Total retail sales of food storage, by channel
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