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FOODSERVICE PACKAGING: TRENDS FOR THE DAIRY, DELI AND BAKERY DEPARTMENTS
Foodservice packaging offers versatility, with many containers that can accommodate a variety of foods. For example, the same single container might hold a side salad, macaroni and cheese, or a fruit mix. This adaptability simplifies inventory, saves storage space and may create cost efficiencies. It can help create flexibility with fewer SKUs or less product on hand.
Foodservice Packaging: Trends for the Dairy, Deli
and Bakery Departments From the Foodservice Packaging Institute
With consumer habits ever-shifting, regulations tightening, and the continued need for operational efficiency growing, in-store dairy, deli and bakery departments need to keep up with the trends, including the trends for the foodservice packaging they choose.
Foodservice packaging is no longer considered to be “just a container.” It’s a tool for branding, sustainability, convenience, safety and cost control. The foodservice packaging used can make or break the customer experience, which can directly affect the person’s perception of that department.
Whether it’s recyclable or compostable, sustainable foodservice packaging has moved from being a nice-to-have to being a need-to-have. In the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s 2025 Consumer Survey, the most important environmental attributes for foodservice packaging were recyclability and compostability. Because more and more customers are aware of things like their carbon footprint, they are seeking brands and products that align with their values. For fresh departments, this means rethinking everything from the materials they choose for that foodservice ware to end-of-life management.
Customers also look for convenience in their meals on the go and are looking for ways to supplement their home cooking with convenient solutions. In this case, foodservice packaging may need to be microwave-safe, oven-safe and even freezer-safe. Compartmentalized trays keep ingredients separate and fresh. Foodservice packaging with clear, tamper-evident lids shows the food, keeps the food secure and prevents leaks during transport — nobody wants to carry home a meal that leaks in the grocery bag. In the Consumer Survey mentioned above, 59% of the respondents say that being leak/spill proof is the most important attribute of single-use foodservice packaging.
As fresh departments expand catering services, foodservice packaging becomes a key differentiator. This packaging serves as a mobile advertisement, often the first and last impression a customer has of a brand. Branded containers for catering trays, boxed lunches and baked goods platters reinforce the brand and make catered products stand out.
Complex regulations surrounding foodservice packaging is another trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Varying from state to state — and even between municipalities — regulations for foodservice packaging can become overwhelming when your focus is on your department. When ordering packaging, look for a knowledgeable foodservice packaging partner who can help ensure that the products you use will be compliant in the markets you serve.
The trends in foodservice packaging for dairy, deli and bakery embrace versatile, sustainability and consumer-centric packaging that will help meet the demands of today’s shoppers but also build a more profitable department for the future.
ABOUT FPI: Founded in 1933, the Foodservice Packaging Institute is the trade association for the foodservice packaging industry in North America. FPI promotes the value and benefits of foodservice packaging and plays an active role in advancing the recovery of FSP to support the circular economy. The association serves as the industry’s leading authority to educate and influence stakeholders. Members include raw material and machinery suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and purchasers of foodservice packaging. For more information, visit
www.FPI.org.
Across the deli and bakery categories, one constant remains clear: labels do more than identify products, they influence behavior. As consumers navigate tighter budgets and busier lives, packaging serves as a silent salesperson, guiding choices in both planned and impulse purchases.
WHAT’S IN STORE | 2026 © 2026 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association
Industry Landscape
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