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Increase in Online Grocery Shopping Impacts Beverage Pack Sizes and Machine Needs

Manufacturers are being pressed to readjust strategies or accelerate previously made plans in order to address the e-commerce channel surge and meet related demands.

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The pandemic accelerated online grocery sales, with 73% of consumers saying they purchased groceries online in early 2021, up from only 17% in 2017. And 61% said they shop online now more than they did pre-pandemic, according to PMMI Business Intelligence’s new report “2021 Beverage Trends Driving Change.”

In addition to purchasing beverages alongside online grocery orders, D2C sales have also become more common, with 44% of beverage manufacturers interviewed stating they are shipping at least some of their products directly to consumers through e-commerce orders. “Shipping direct to consumer (DTC) is costly and we need to rethink the existing package,” said one Packaging Engineer.

As consumers are making fewer purchases from grocery stores because of e-commerce, there is a shift in size and packaging preferences. Specifically, consumers are moving away from mid-size beverage options in favor of larger bulk formats or multipacks of smaller sizes. Gallon sizes and multipacks (especially variety packs) of single-serve sizes have expanded in popularity, while sizes such as the 20oz bottle have fallen out of favor. One Senior Packaging Engineer said, “There are global plans in place to add lines that are dedicated to the demands of e-commerce.”


Read article   Read this story on machinery needs of beverage manufacturers.


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