SNACK food producers are optimistic about the next three years, with 92% envisaging growth, according to a recently-published white paper.
‘Snack Foods Packaging Trends’, published by The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, reveals that 88% plan to purchase new machinery over the next three years as a result of new product lines and packaging options. More than half have machinery that is between 20 and 30 years old.
Complete automation is likely to replace manual operation, with the recruitment and retention of labour being a large factor for prompting new machinery purchases and adapting new technology, those surveyed revealed.
Improvements in throughput, food safety and the need to reduce bottlenecks while improving quality control are also key reasons given for imminent purchases.
Photo: Kateryna Hliznitsova
