UK retort pouch market ‘saturated’

The same benefits of shelf standout, cost efficiency in the supply chain and energy efficiency in processing still apply to retort pouches, says one supplier, but the UK market is showing signs of saturation.

Among recent German successes for Clondalkin group company LPF Flexible Packaging is a range of convenience foods in standup pouches for Müller's Mühle. And of cuisine-conscious France, marketing manager Mathijs Preenen said: "Surprisingly, perhaps, it's one of our biggest markets for retort pouches and tray lidding." But he added: "The UK is not so big for Clondalkin or LPF, and the pouch market appears to be saturated."

The pouches for Müller's Mühle incorporate LPF's microwave-friendly barrier option of silicon-oxide-coated polyester rather than aluminium. The easy-open pouches are gravure printed in up to nine colours. "Of the various retortable materials, I'd say that pouches are the most cost-effective, especially taking transport efficiencies into account," said Preenen.