Cups have been long preferred as one of the ideal on-the-go food consumption formats. Rapid urbanization in emerging economies such as India and China, coupled with increase in per capita disposable income has resulted in fast growth in the consumption of case-ready meals, on-the-go. Manufacturers of disposable cups cater to the rising demand for convenient solutions for food consumption, especially considering the fast-paced lifestyle of modern consumers and consumer convenience. Conventional food cup manufacturers used to produce cups that could be reheated in a microwave, to a certain extent. However, they refrained from making any specific guarantees, due to varying abilities of microwave ovens. The need for microwavable versions was only realized once the consumption of case-ready meals and on-the-go snacks increased across the globe, fueled by a shift in the lifestyles of consumers.
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The rise in consumption of convenience foods and snacks such as macaroni, gourmet food, and soup, among others has led to the growth in demand for microwavable cups market. Conventional cups may consist of an inner-layer of thin plastic, which, if not FDA-approved, is unsafe for microwavable foods. This creates absolute need for microwavable cups which ensure food quality and yet remain heat-resistant. The same trend is expected to continue well beyond the forecast period. Thus, microwavable cups market is expected to witness substantial demand.
Key Trends and developments in the microwavable cups market –
- Brands such as Nissin are using customization as a key strategy for consumer engagement. InAugust 2015,Nissin introduced their first microwavable cup noodles, having an additional customization feature, which enabled the customers to customize their cup with healthier meal choices. The new meal allows the noodles to be microwaved in under 2 ½ minutes.
- In February 2015, Greiner Packaging GmbH won an award for its innovative packaging solution for Saga-Foods Zrt, which is a Hungary-based food processing company. The company was developing a new packaging concept for Frankfurter sausages. They developed the K3 cup with a resealable In-mold Label (IML) lid. The packaging used a combination of PP/EVOH, which creates a barrier effect. This enabled the cups to be placed directly in a microwave for heating.
- Interpress Technologies, Inc. offer plastic cups and bowls, for applications with moderate moisture barrier requirements and for microwavable applications. The cups have a printed paper overwrap, and are also available in a high barrier EVOH blend for applications with additional barrier requirement.
Some of the key players operating in the global microwavable cups market are – The Kraft Group, LLC, Interpress Technologies, Inc., Greiner Packaging GmbH, KeepCup, and Capitol Cups, among others.
