According the latest report by Freedonia, demand for yogurt packaging is forecast to grow 1.3% per year to $605 million in 2025, limited by slow growth in overall yogurt consumption and stagnation in the dominant spoonable yogurt market. While demand for yogurt packaging cups will be weak, healthy gains are predicted for pouches and bottles, as consumer interest in squeezable and drinkable yogurt formats continues to rise.
Other factors supporting growth include:
• the ongoing popularity of yogurt as a convenient, healthy snack and as a meal supplement/substitute
• increasing use of value-added yogurt packaging products such as multi-compartment cups, paper cups (which provide sustainability advantages), and pouches with fitments that facilitate on-the-go consumption
• rising use of higher value stand-up pouches in lieu of traditional tubs for larger volumes of yogurt to reduce food waste and lightweight packaging
• growing sales of single-serving yogurt multipacks, which are more packaging-intensive than products sold individually.
COVID-19 Pandemic & Health Concerns Support Yogurt Consumption
As consumers ate more meals at home during the pandemic, they also purchased more yogurt, including trying new brands and formats. As consumer interest in yogurt as both a healthy snack and a better-for-you dessert continues to rise, introductions of innovative yogurt styles and flavor profiles will promote demand for yogurt and related packaging such as single-serve cups, pouches, and bottles, as well as larger volume tubs and pouches.
Pouches & Bottles Benefit from Growth in Squeezable & Drinkable Formats
Growth in demand for yogurt pouches will continue to outpace that of other yogurt packaging formats, boosted by a healthy increase in sales of squeezable yogurt products. Bottles will also log above average growth due to ongoing interest in drinkable yogurts including kefir and other non-dairy yogurt alternatives, particularly among health-conscious adults. In contrast, slow growth in the mature spoonable segment will limit opportunities for cups and tubs.
Yogurt Brands Aim to Improve Packaging Sustainability
As in the larger food industry, improving packaging sustainability is an important goal of yogurt brands and their packaging suppliers, with reducing the use of virgin plastics and improving recyclability representing key targets of these efforts. A growing number of yogurt producers are looking for ways to increase their use of paper, which is recycled at higher rates than plastic and has a sustainable, high-value image. Notably, in August 2021, Chobani launched a paper cup for its oat milk-based yogurt product line. Suppliers of plastic packaging are looking for ways to increase recycling rates and the use of recycled plastic content, but also to benefit from the appeal of paper with the use of higher-end wrap labels.
