Are you Prepared to Capture Your Share of the Stand-Up Pouch Market?

Achieving a professionally designed stand-up package that best connects with consumers requires packaging machinery with the versatility to meet the needs of manufacturers today, and to handle the diverse packaging styles and SKUs of tomorrow. © stockup – stock.adobe.com

By Spencer Johnson and Tony Kaufman

The popularity of stand-up, shelf-ready pouches come as no surprise to any of us here in the packaging industry – and for good reason. Consumers choose them because these flexible packaging options are lightweight and convenient to use, and the sleek appearance and overall durability of the packaging make it an attractive option for food and consumer packaged goods (CPGs) manufacturers alike.

However, achieving a professionally designed stand-up package that best connects with consumers requires packaging machinery that is versatile to meet the needs of manufacturers today, and handle diverse packaging styles and SKUs of tomorrow. Providing a higher level of guidance and industry insight is where a reputable packaging OEM can consultatively advise manufacturers with sound recommendations for the implementation of stand-up pouches.

Upward Trajectory

Just how popular are stand-up pouches? According to Data Bridge Market Research, a market research and consulting company, the stand-up pouch market is expected to grow at a rate of 7.41 percent per year through 2028 and is expected to reach a market value of more than $41 billion by that year. The report credits increased functionality of features such as zippers or sliders, spouts and tear notches that offer greater convenience and performance as major factors driving up the value and positive impression of stand-up pouches.

These advances in design have positioned stand-up pouches as the go-to packaging option for consumers on the move. Enhanced closures mean the product remains secure and fresh. Pouches are also lightweight in comparison to rigid packaging and are easy to carry for mobile use. Benefits like these continue to drive demand for this packaging style.

In looking at consumer buying preferences, the trend toward stand-up pouches is coming at the expense of rigid packaging. When compared side-by-side, rigid packaging does have drawbacks. For starters, they are bulkier, limiting the number of items per case during transport and increasing shipping costs. By comparison, stand-up pouches are flexible, enabling a greater number to fit in a case and providing a better shipping ROI. Also, the cost to produce a rigid container is typically higher than a flexible package – costs that get passed onto the buyer.

Included within the flexible packaging family are single-serve packaging, which has shown robust growth in its own right. According to Market Research Future, a U.S.-based market research firm, the single serve packaging market size is expected to grow from $187 billion in 2023 to an astounding $250 billion by 2032. The report cites contributing factors to its anticipated sustained growth include popularity of on-the-go consumption, increased demand for convenience, and the rise of e-commerce. Many brands are employing sustainable materials into their single-serve packaging and stand-up pouches, which connect with consumers, further driving up demand.

Getting Started with Communication

The key for food and CPG manufacturers is to have the right infrastructure in place to meet demand. A first step toward achieving that goal is seeking the advice and counsel of a reputable packaging OEM. Communication is vital at this juncture. Having a complete understanding of your desired production rates and communicating that to your supplier is important. Simple information to know up front includes:

• What products do you want to put in the stand-up pouch, and what is the quantity for each pouch?
• How many pounds of product an hour would you like to fill?

Knowing this information upfront is a great way to start a conversation with your supplier. However, some people believe speed is the most important element to focus on, and that is not really the case.

Often, for example, people at trade shows will ask, “how fast can your bagger go?” That is generally not the most effective way to view your application. Rather, an OEM supplier is going to be more interested in understanding the full scope of your project, and that starts with engineering:

• What are your requirements?
• What kind of available space are you operating your packaging lines in?
• Do you have enough vertical space for a vertical form fill seal machine or floor space for a horizontal form fill seal machine?
• How many hours in a shift will the machines be running?
• What type of packaging do you need to produce today?
• What types and styles of packaging do you suspect will be required in the future?
• What rate of throughput do you need to achieve both today and in the future?
• Does your machinery, both upstream and downstream, have the speed to sync up with your desired throughput of your packaging machinery?
• Are the machines flexible to run different styles of packaging?
• How is the product arriving at the packaging machinery, and how is it exiting?
• How does the packaging machinery integrate into your existing equipment?

Discussing this information as a first step lays the foundation for the entire project moving forward. Whether your application calls for a vertical form fill seal, horizontal form fill seal, sachet, or pre-made pouch machine, it is imperative you install the right solution with the flexibility to provide strong ROI for years to come. There is tremendous opportunity when it comes stand-up pouches and flexible packaging. Are you set up to capture your share of the market?

About the Authors

Spencer Johnson is the Western Regional Sales Director for the Flexible Packaging Group of ProMach (https://www.matrixpm.com/). He can be reached at Spencer.Johnson@promachbuilt.com. Tony Kaufman is the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Ossid (https://www.ossid.com/), a ProMach brand. He can be reached at Tony.kaufman@promachbuilt.com.