The majority of all packaging in Europe is food packaging. We have investigated which applications dominate the primary packaging sector. Our latest study shows you which product segments dominate in terms of unit numbers, which packaging systems are leading the way, and which brand manufacturers play a decisive role in the respective segments. It is worthwhile for manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators to keep a close eye on these segments and their leading brand manufacturers. This is where the trends, pilot projects, and innovations that will shape the market in the coming years are emerging.
Overall, the ten largest applications account for around one-third of the total food packaging market in Europe. We present them to you in a countdown. For our current BP Consultants Market Intelligence study, we drew on figures from GlobalData (2024), among other sources.
10th place: Chocolate bars (9 billion units)
Chocolate bars and other countlines are among the top-selling impulse products in retail. They are mainly packaged in flexible plastic packaging. The dominant brand manufacturers are Mars, Nestlé, Mondelez, and Ferrero, whose brands such as Wrigley’s, Nestlé, Cadbury, and Kinder are present throughout Europe.
9th place: Impulse ice cream (10 billion units)
Small portions of ice cream for immediate consumption are also almost exclusively packaged in flexible film packaging. The leaders in this segment are Unilever, Ledo, and Nestlé.
8th place: Snacks & chips (10 billion units)
Chips, pretzels, and other snack products also rely primarily on flexible plastic packaging to ensure freshness and crispness. The leading suppliers are PepsiCo, Bahlsen, and Lorenz. Their brands – such as Lay’s and Walkers – dominate supermarket shelves.
7th place: Chocolate & cereal bars (13 billion units)
In addition to countlines, molded chocolate and granola bars also play an important role. These are also predominantly packaged in flexible films. The key players are Lindt, Nestlé, and Mondelez, which are successful throughout Europe with strong brands such as Lindt, Nestlé, and Milka.
6th place: Pasta (15 billion units)
Dried pasta is one of the classic applications in the food market. Flexible plastic packaging in the form of bags dominates here. The Italian manufacturers Barilla and De Cecco, as well as the Spanish Ebro Group, shape this market. Garofalo from Italy is also a well-known brand.
5th place: Eggs (18 billion units)
Eggs are a special case: here, moulded pulp clamshells are used, a predominantly fiber-based packaging system that offers high recyclability. There is no dominant brand manufacturer. The segment is fragmented and strongly influenced by private labels.
4th place: Natural cheese (23 billion units)
Natural cheese includes all cheeses that are produced through natural maturation and without further industrial processing. Packaging is predominantly in flexible plastic solutions. The dominant suppliers are Lactalis and Arla, whose brands Galbani, Président, and Arla have high market shares across Europe.
3rd place: Milk (32 billion units)
Milk packaging is a classic in the European market. Liquid packaging board (beverage carton) dominates here, ensuring freshness and shelf life. The biggest players are Lactalis and Arla, which are represented across the continent with brands such as Parmalat, Lactel, and Arla.
2nd place: Yogurt (41 billion units)
With over 40 billion units per year, yogurt is one of the highest-volume applications. It is mainly packaged in plastic cups, sometimes with fiber-based sleeves. The dominant brand manufacturers are Danone and Müller, whose brands Activia, Danone, and Müller are leaders in the European market.
1st place: Packaged bread (53 billion units)
Packaged bread is the clear leader with over 53 billion packaging units. The segment is dominated by flexible plastic packaging. The leading suppliers are Uno and Agrofert, whose brands Uno and Golden Toast can be found on almost every European supermarket shelf.
Conclusion
- The European food packaging market is characterized by a small number of extremely high-volume applications. These ten segments alone account for one third of the total market.
- The central role of flexible plastic packaging is striking, alongside special solutions such as cardboard composites for milk and fiber-based trays for eggs.
- It is worthwhile for manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators to closely follow these segments and their leading brand manufacturers. This is where the trends, pilot projects, and innovations that will have a formative influence on the market in the coming years are emerging.
