Fresh Meat Packaging Market Report 2025

The fresh meat packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $3.07 billion in 2024 to $3.29 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing investments in new plants, increased popularity of seafood, rising preference for biodegradable and reusable packaging, and increased disposable income.

The fresh meat packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.26 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing consumption of meat, rising government investments, and a rise in global population. Major trends in the forecast period include focus on launching sustainable packaging, focus on smart packaging, use of prevented ocean plastic and undergoing partnerships to improve their product offerings and to stay competitive in the market.

The rising consumption of meat is driving the growth of the fresh meat packaging market. Fresh meat offers health benefits and helps reduce the risk of microbial contamination, thereby increasing the demand for effective packaging solutions. For example, a report from Dezan Shira & Associates, a China-based multi-disciplinary professional services firm, indicated that approximately 92.27 million tons of meat were produced in China in 2022, marking a 3.8% increase from the previous year. Thus, the growing meat consumption is propelling the expansion of the fresh meat packaging market.

Government investments play a pivotal role in propelling the fresh meat packaging market forward. Various countries are actively investing in the growth of fresh meat packaging to meet evolving demands. In January 2022, the US government announced a substantial investment of $1 billion in new and expanded meat and poultry processing, funded through the American Rescue Plan. Similarly, the Saudi Arabian government unveiled plans to invest $5 billion, aiming for self-sufficiency in the poultry meat sector by allocating $4.5 billion until 2025. This investment will enable the production of approximately 1.3 million tons of broiler chickens annually, fostering demand for fresh meat packaging.

The fresh meat packaging industry is experiencing a shift towards interactive and smart packaging solutions to enhance customer satisfaction. Smart packaging technologies, including barcodes, RFID devices, QR codes, and NFC, are employed to improve shelf life, monitor freshness, ensure quality, and enhance safety and convenience. Foster Farms, a prominent poultry firm, introduced the DORI package, incorporating QR codes to provide consumers with access to over 500 fresh chicken recipes and a guide to poultry labeling terminology.

Major companies in the fresh meat packaging market are increasingly focused on developing innovative, sustainable packaging solutions to reduce plastic usage, extend product shelf life, minimize environmental impact, and address the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly alternatives. Sustainable meat packaging solutions involve methods and materials designed to lessen environmental effects while ensuring the safety, quality, and freshness of meat products. For example, in May 2024, Tesco plc, a UK-based retail company, launched a new initiative aimed at sustainable meat packaging by introducing pillow packs for its fresh mince products. This innovative packaging seeks to significantly reduce plastic usage while maintaining product quality. The pillow packs are slightly inflated to keep the contents in perfect condition, preserving freshness and optimizing space during transportation, allowing more products to fit in delivery vehicles and on store shelves.

In May 2024, Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a U.S.-based packaging solutions provider, partnered with WM Morrison Supermarkets plc to improve the sustainability of its private label steak packaging by introducing a new photographic print pressed board tray. This collaboration aims to enhance the eco-friendliness of Morrison's private label steak packaging by replacing plastic with a more sustainable pressed board tray. This change is intended to reduce environmental impact while upholding high-quality packaging standards for fresh meat products. WM Morrison Supermarkets plc is a UK-based company specializing in fresh meat packaging.

Major companies operating in the fresh meat packaging market include Sealed Air Corp, Amcor Plc, The Smurfit Kappa Group plc, Sonoco Products Company, Crown Holdings, Cascades Inc., Winpak Ltd, Mondi Plc, Bollore Group, Oakdale Meat Co, Yunnan Shennong Meat Food Co Ltd, Zoneco Group, Dalian Hanwei Enterprise Group, Charoen Pokphand Group, SP Group, Ajamco Group, Toppan, ArtPlast Polska Sp. z o.o, Siba International, Doyoo Group, LINPAC Packaging SEALPAC UK & Partners, Multivac UK, PACCOR Packaging GmbH, SIG Combibloc Group, CoCopac Limited, Frigorco Pampeano, Solidus Solutions, ULMA Packaging, Supervac Maschinenbau GmbH, Krehalon, BRF S. A, Noelma, Zeus Petruzalek, Coveris Holdings S.A, La Cooperativa Trento Chaqueña, IGC Engineering Ltd, Compañía Avicola, Atlantis-Pak, LAICOM S.R.L, JBS Foods, Schoeller Allibert AB, Valley Meats, Foster Farms, Conagra Brands Inc, Tyson Fresh Meats Inc, Smithfield Foods Inc, Bemis Company Inc, Berry Plastic Group Inc, National Beef Packing Co LLC, Cargill Inc, Diamond Meat Processing LLC, Ponapack, Qatar Meat Production Company LLC, Amber Packaging Industries LLC, Al Bayader International, Egyptian Meat Processing Co, Kenya Meat Processors Ltd, Quality Meat Packers, Nile union meat company, Gilgal Meat Mart Limited, Irvin & Johnson Ltd, Rainbow Farms Pty Ltd, Astral Foods Ltd, Coveris Rigid Turkey Ambalaj A. S.

North America was the largest region in the fresh meat packaging market in 2024. The regions covered in the fresh meat packaging market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the fresh meat packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

Fresh meat packaging plays a crucial role in extending shelf life, facilitating efficient transport, and enhancing storage for meat products. It ensures the fresh and timely distribution of meat, contributing to overall product quality.

The main types of packaging formats used in the fresh meat packaging market include modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), vacuum skin packaging (VSP), vacuum thermoformed packaging (VTP), multi-layer shrinkable packaging, and others. Modified atmosphere packaging involves creating a gaseous atmosphere around the food product at a level conducive to food preservation. Various materials are utilized to manufacture these packages, such as polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyamide (PA), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polypropylene (PP), among others. These materials are employed to pack a variety of meats, including beef, pork, poultry, mutton, seafood, and others.

The fresh meat packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides fresh meat packaging market statistics, including fresh meat packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a fresh meat packaging market share, detailed fresh meat packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the fresh meat packaging industry. This fresh meat packaging market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The fresh meat packaging market consists of sales of modified atmosphere packaging, vacuum skin packaging, vacuum thermoformed packaging, and other fresh meat packaging used to preserve fresh meat and forms of fresh meat products. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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