Food processing and handling equipment include cooking, food storing, and packaging equipment such as microwave ovens, refrigerators, mixer blenders, pressure mills, marinating vacuum tumblers, and chapati makers, among others. Making and storing food items has become easy with this type of equipment. The growing population and their increased use of dairy products, meat and poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat meals, and junk foods such as chips, drinks, and other packed foods are assisting in the significant growth of the food processing and handling equipment market. Moreover, companies such as Pro Pac and others are helping food industry business owners package their food items in a quick and effective way and deliver them to customers. With these use cases of food processing and handling devices, the market is about to witness huge growth with a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period of 2021–2027, according to OMR Research analysis.
Types of Food Processing and Handling Equipment
The food processing and handling market is bifurcated into various segments, including food processing equipment, food service equipment, and food packaging equipment for various food item types, such as packaged meat, dairy products, and others.
Food Processing Equipment
Food processing equipment includes those machines or utensils that assist in food preparation or cooking. The companies that contribute to the processing equipment market include Philips, Krones, Marel, JBT Corporation, Milton, Surya, Prestige, and others. These companies provide different machines, including sterilizers, mixer grinders, food washers and dryers, and others.
Food Service Equipment
Food service equipment is a safety machine or equipment that assists in easy cooking, such as gas stoves, ranges, ventilators, and safety equipment, and display cabinets, among others. Other types of service equipment include cutlery, furniture, glassware, and others. The growth of this segment in the food equipment market is surging due to the rise in restaurant and hospitality businesses. Some of the companies that contribute to this market include Dover Corporation, Duke Manufacturing Co., Inc., and others.
Food Packaging Equipment
Food packaging is related to the activities that assist in the packaging of commercial food items and beverages. The companies that are assisting the food industry in this segment are Omori India Pvt. Ltd., ALE International LLC, ATCOWORLD, Pro Pac, and more.
Recent Launches and Collaborations in the Market
The market players such as Ali Group S.r.l., Dover Corp., Electrolux Professional, GEA Group, IMA Group, JBT, Pro Pac, BSH Home Appliances Ltd., Texwrap, Alto-Shaam, Inc., ALFA LAVAL, and Hoshizaki America, Inc. are contributing to the food processing and handling equipment market with new launches and acquisitions, including:
• In August 2022, Wagamama, a restaurant chain, launched its new sustainable food packaging range using recyclable materials. With this launch, Wagamama aims to cut 330 tonnes of virgin plastic from British restaurant chains every year.
• In July 2022, Texwrap, designer and manufacturer of automatic shrinkwrap machines, introduced its new Kayat SRX Series for shrink packaging. With this machine, users can add graphics to the packaging of a wide variety of food items and beverages.
• In July 2022, Reading Bakery Systems, a manufacturer of bakery equipment, introduced its new Thomas L. Green WCX Wirecut Machine. This machine is able to make cookies, pet treats, snakes, batters, icings, and others with different color options. Furthermore, this machine can make 300 cuts per minute and maintain a consistent weight in each piece.
• In July 2022, Ali Holding S.r.l., a manufacturer of commercial food processing equipment, acquired Welbilt, Inc. With this acquisition, Ali Holding aims to build a strong base of customers in different regions and serve the food industry market better with a new team and plans.
• In July 2022, Antares Vision Group introduced the All-in-One food inspection machine series. This machine is capable of inspecting weight, leaks in packaging, labeling/print verification, and other regulatory compliance.
• In May 2022, Alto-Shaam, Inc., a cooking and heating oven manufacturer, launched its Converge Multi-Cook Ovens. These ovens are automatic and are capable of steaming, baking, air frying, and grilling food items at the same time.
Conclusion
The food industry is without a doubt witnessing huge growth, and it will grow steadily in the future due to the increasing demand for food and beverages by the growing population. Moreover, regions such as India, China, and the US, among others, are investing in more food processing units and farming, which is affecting the food processing and packaging market positively in these regions. With the growing technological advancements and automatic food processor and handler units, the market is set to see new growth opportunities.