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Trends in Packaging of Food

Marathon Corporation, Menasha, Wisconsin

ABSTRACT

A very curious thing has taken place in this country—and almost without our knowing about it. A revolution is under way in the food market, and the food industry appears only vaguely aware of it. Back in 1941, Americans spent $20 billion for food. In 1953, they spent $60 billion. Over the past 12 years, the increase in U. S. food expenditures has been greater, dollarwise, than the increases in spending for homes, consumer durables, or automobiles—or even for all of these combined. Briefly, the American people decided that food was more important to them. In 1941, they were allocating 22% of their cash income for food. In 1953, the figure was up to 26%.

Over the past decade and particularly since 1946, the American public has made a radical change in its habits of buying food. Some of the factors responsible for this change are:

1. Mechanization of packaging. The development of automatic fast-moving packaging lines made possible mass volume production of packaged foods.