Food processors cope with supply chains, pandemic and changing customer needs
PMMI’s Jorge Izquierdo, vice president of market development, sheds light on the state of industry trends including automation, OEE, omnichannel and blockchain
Food packaging (and consumer goods packaging in general) are seeing some stiff demands. While PMMI is predicting that the global food packaging market in itself will reach $400 billion by 2025, with a CAGR nearly 5%, there are some real challenges to overcome, both in packaging and the supply chain. For example, processors struggle to keep up with new customer demands, while product and packaging changeovers occur frequently to meet consumer needs. In addition, OSHA has been cracking down on unsafe machines, and the need to clean is more important than ever.
If that weren’t enough, couple all those concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, and you've a recipe for challenges everywhere you look. For sure, the pandemic has certainly created a veritable stress test for supply chains as people ate less at restaurants and more at home. Thus, supply chains have become more complex—with big box stores and on-line fulfillments, while tracking is crucial today to prevent food fraud and minimize the level of outbreaks due to foodborne illness recalls.