Food and drink to grab and go this winter is high on the list of priorities for a population that seems to be in a constant state of movement. This growing trend is driving demand for food and drink that can be easily eaten ‘on the hoof’.
Kevin Curran, managing director, Tri-Star Packaging, says: “Thanks to our increasingly busy lives, our demand for food on the go grows ever greater.
“In fact, according to research by Horizons FS, the UK’s foodservice sector will increase by £10 billion between now and 2019 – to a total value of £56 billion. These days, we expect to be able to eat what we want, when we want, wherever we want – whether it’s at work, out shopping or travelling. And it’s not just the number of meals eaten while out and about that’s on the rise – the sheer variety available is also evolving.
“Consumers now want a choice of burritos, noodles, curries, wraps, sushi and salads. You name it – if it’s something we can eat sitting down at a table, we also want to be able to eat it on the go.”
He says this trend has had a huge impact on food and drink packaging, which increasingly needs to make it possible for caterers to serve meals in a way that makes consumers think: “Hey, this is easy. I’ll do this again tomorrow.”
“That means ergonomic designs – like our award-winning, compostable Oval Eco Street bowl – that make meals easy to hold in one hand and eat on the move,” says Curran.
“It means packaging that looks great, offers fantastic food presentation and is ultra-clear, like our award-winning Tri-Pot, or with ultra-clear lids, like our Coalesce packs, so consumers can browse easily what’s on offer and make their choices quickly and with confidence – which is key to keeping queues moving and customers happy.”
Curran also touches on environmental concerns with the rise of grab and go: “We’re seeing a big increase in demand for compostable packaging, particularly for containers like our new Oval Eco Street Bowl, which is made from bagasse – a fully compostable sugar cane pulp that grows abundantly.
“As well as being environmentally friendly, it’s perfect for hot and cold food, such as curry, noodles, burritos, pasta and salad, and offers fantastic presentation, visibility and stackability.”
“Caterers are also looking for packaging made with eco-conscious materials such as recycled and recyclable rPET plastics, like our award-winning, curvy, ultra-clear Tri-Pot deli pot, that have outstanding on-shelf appeal and excellent sustainability credentials.”
Linda Young, marketing manager for Huhtamaki UK, says paper containers are proliferating at the quality end of the grab-and-go phenomenon.
“For hot and cold food, a quality range of paper food containers provides operators with a versatile disposable serving solution to suit a variety of popular menu choices – from panini and handheld snacks to pasta and rice dishes.
“Equally, with the popularity of street food still strong, ‘trendy’ takeaways inspired by some of the world’s most enjoyed cuisines will prove popular.
“Healthy eating choices are also in demand, fresh juices and smoothies, and contemporary breakfast concepts such as fruit, yoghurt and granola – even cereals – are popular choices these days, and can all be served in clear tumblers,” says Young. “Using disposable tumblers to showcase products of this nature really adds to their appeal.
“Of course, thanks to the popularity of takeaway hot drinks – our independent research into consumer attitudes towards takeaway hot drinks shows that 80% of the UK population buy a takeaway hot drink – a range of disposable paper cups that supports and promotes the style and presentation of your outlet is essential.
“Huhtamaki’s Taste range of paper food containers includes different styles, in order to give caterers a versatile product to suit a variety of popular menu choices – whether hot or cold – and perfectly meets the demands of the grab-and-go food culture.”
With the popularity of breakfast pots and snacks to go, lighter grab-and-go choices are more appealing than ever before. The new Huhtamaki Eatwell range is ideal for serving quality takeaway choices that appeal to lifestyle-conscious consumers, from superfood salads and root-vegetable stews to snacking options and sweet treats.
Paul Willcocks, director of exclusive brands at Bunzl Catering Supplies, says: “To manage the growing trend for grab and go in the cost sector, we have introduced Handle-it drinks holders, a solution designed to carry single or multiple drinks while customers are still able to have their hands free to deal with other day-to-day items such as train tickets, ID passes, handbags or car keys.
“Handle-it was recently honoured at the Takeaway Innovation Expo, winning the Innovation Award.
“With Christmas round the corner, we have launched a range of festive cups that aim to provide a cost-effective, quick solution for all cost sector caterers – big and small – and at an affordable price,” says Willcocks. Caterers can choose from Christmas Holly Design, Gingerbread Men with Baubles, or a contemporary Swirling Tree Design.
Bunzl is also supplying Hot‘n’Crispy bags, by Smith Anderson, that retain the core temperature of hot and warm products for up to 15 minutes while retaining the crispiness of the crust. The grease-resistant design of each bag allows even the greasiest of foods to be stored without affecting quality.
Meanwhile, the ten-piece Blanco Collection from Planglow has a lighter, brighter look – a mix of white and clear packaging and labels – inspired by casual dining and developed to emphasis product quality.
Rachael Sawtell, marketing director for Planglow, comments: “The Blanco range reflects emerging industry trends, and was developed for our customers with their feedback and support.
“Blending natural and industrial elements, Blanco offers a clean, minimalistic look with subtle detailing: contemporary, sleekly designed items where the products they package are able to shine.”
The collection includes three white wedges (deep fill, standard fill and heat seal) plus a white bloomer pack. There are also three fully compostable clear bags – a multibag, a wrap bag and a baguette bag – with each one providing a crystal-clear view of the product inside.
“Launched last year, our Street Food range is proving popular with hot and cold food vendors alike, too.”