North America

Tobacco in Canada is undergoing significant structural changes with traditional cigarettes losing ground due to declining smoking rates and the switch to alternative vaping products. Cigarette production witnessed a significant decrease in 2023 with…

Stand-up pouches are the most popular pack type in Canadian baby food, including both plastic pouches and aluminium/plastic pouches. They are viewed as offering a modern look, while being lighter and safer than glass, and enabling infants to feed…

Flexible packaging continues to be the dominant packaging in confectionery, with flexible plastic the main individual pack type thanks to its strong position in chocolate confectionery. Flexible plastic is also the most-used pack type for sugar…

In 2023, the pack type share of HDPE bottles continued to increase for goat milk packaging. HDPE is a food-safe plastic that does not leach harmful chemicals into the products it holds. This helps maintain the freshness and quality of dairy products…

Due to factors like recyclability and functional design, folding cartons continue to gain pack type share in frozen ready meals in Canada, having already become the most popular packaging format in the category over the review period, just ahead of…

While brick liquid cartons and gable top liquid cartons are still the biggest pack types in the category in unit volume terms, shaped liquid cartons are seeing strong growth and gaining share in the packaging of plant-based milk in Canada. Shaped…

Glass jars are popular for use in shelf stable vegetables packaging in Canada due to their exceptional preservation properties, visual appeal and environmental credentials. These qualities make them a popular choice for manufacturers and consumers…

Processed meat and seafood packaging had been in decline for a number of years before the pandemic resulted in a growth spike in 2020 in Canada. Since 2020, it has been back in decline, including another fall in its packaging unit volumes in 2023.…

While HDPE bottles, PET bottles and PET jars are the main pack types in mayonnaise in Canada, glass jars were gaining share in unit volume terms in this category over the review period, with this expected to continue over the forecast period. Glass…

Although PET jars still lead packaging in chocolate spreads, glass jars have been gaining unit volume share in this category. Glass jars are considered more environmentally friendly than plastic packaging as they are recyclable and can be reused.…

In 2023, the collective weight of inflationary pressures, waning consumer confidence, and persistent brand boycotts led total volume sales of alcoholic drinks in the US to drop to their lowest level in a decade. Bright spots existed in categories…

Total volume sales of beer in the US continued to decline in 2023. Bud Light, the long-reigning beer brand by volume in the US, saw a devasting loss in volumes in terms of actual sales and share in 2023, due to a pernicious culture war-driven boycott…

While overall cider/perry in the US marked 2023 with a loss of volume and value sales, and a loss of share in overall alcoholic drinks, advocates paint a rosier picture for the category’s performance and outlook. Much in the same way the larger…

In 2023, RTDs in the US maintained total volume decline along with current value growth. The common trend in alcoholic drinks of value growth and volume decline in 2023 aligns with the resonant message of premiumisation, particularly “less but…

2023 was a difficult year for spirits. Despite experiencing a period of high growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, the category faced an increasingly challenging environment due to both consumer and industry dynamics. Supply chain issues and rising…

Wine in the US maintained total volume decline and current value growth in 2023. Following 2022 and the rise of inflation, 2023 was marked by continued increases in unit prices across beverages, and wine was no different from other alcoholic drinks.…

Alcoholic drinks in Canada in 2023 presented a mixed picture. While overall volume growth remained modest, strong performances by Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages and non-alcoholic drinks masked a decline in traditional alcoholic beverage consumption.…

Beer, despite being the largest alcoholic drink category in Canada, continued to lose popularity in 2023. The country's younger population increasingly moved away from traditional beer, perceiving it as a drink for older generations. The category…

In 2023, cider/perry in Canada continued its downward trajectory. Although some growth was brought on by the on-trade sector, the off-trade segment saw a significant decline. The category struggled due to a lack of new product launches and faced…

RTDs remain the top performer in alcoholic drinks, driven by strong consumer demand. Though a relatively small segment, RTDs are experiencing explosive growth, particularly among Generation Z. This demographic embraces innovative flavours, prompting…