Case-ready packaging carries a heavy load. It’s tasked with representing the product and its values, protecting food safety, preventing color discoloration and prolonging shelf life.

Every meat packaging format has its place, at least for today. By tomorrow the market landscape may have shifted once again, reordering the field. This isn’t news; it’s the nature of a responsive and vibrant retail marketplace. 

New packaging in the deli and lunchmeat category often is being driven by consumers’ lifestyle needs. For example, portable protein packs were created because consumers want to be fit and eat less while on the go. 

Sell by. Use by. Best by. No matter how it’s defined, shelf life is a key value driver for highly perishable meat and poultry products. 

A host of retailers and processors see innovation as the prevailing driver of packaging format changes in the future, says one veteran industry source.