Last year Europe's self adhesive label makers produced 900M m2 of labels – and according to FINAT, the European self adhesive label trade association, this is now increasing at a rate of three per cent a year. Food labels hold 23 per cent of the total SA label market.
FINAT claims: "There is a general belief that packaging and label design will become increasingly important and more sophisticated – while becoming more convenient for the consumer – but this must come at a similar, if not lower, cost than today. But food industry labelling will remain a high volume, low margin sector for our members."
The association has produced a wealth of information on labelling practices and preferences in its 'End-user Market Survey and Industry Report', which establishes the food industry as the largest consumer of the product.
FINAT managing director Jules Lejeune says: "Self adhesive labels are proving their true sales value in the increasing demand for them from manufacturers, retailers and shoppers. They are such a flexible solution – in more ways than one – that the slightly extra cost of some styles and designs outweigh any arguments for using their rival forms.
According to FINAT, overall demand for self adhesive labels in the food sector is growing at three per cent a year but as supermarket chains develop their own-brand products, their demand for this application of labels is growing at six per cent a year.
But all of this is dwarfed by Eastern Europe, where consumer demand for better, brighter food packages is pushing up SA label use by 48 per cent/year in nations like the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
The survey found that 40 per cent of all the food companies interviewed believe that the use of SA labels will grow in excess of the market, but 25 per cent of respondents do see shrink sleeves and flexible packaging making a spirited attempt to gain ground.
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| FINAT Tel: +31 70 3603837 |
