A new survey by Canadean finds that one in five (22%) consumers consider tinned food difficult to open. With British consumers spending over £8 billion on the most convenient food products, manufacturers will increasingly adopt easier to open packs such as pouches for vegetables, soups, meat, and fish.

Young adults are most likely to look for an easier to open pack

Of British consumers, 22% find tinned food difficult to open. However, young adults are the most frustrated when it comes to opening their tinned tuna or beans: 28% of 25 to 34 year olds find tinned food difficult to open, compared to 16% of over 55s. Ronan Stafford, senior analyst at Canadean says: “Consumers want instant convenience, particularly young adults looking for a quick lunch or dinner solution. While there’s a minimal amount of time saved between opening a food can, and opening a bag or a pouch, young consumers simply don’t want the hassle of finding a tin opener or struggling with a ring pull.”

Packaging needs to reflect the growing demand for convenience in food markets

In addition to studying consumer perceptions of different packaging, Canadean tracked the influence of different motivators when consumers select what to eat. Across food markets British consumers selected over £8 billion worth of food in 2013 because it was the most convenient product. Stafford adds: “Consumers feel increasingly time-scarce and stressed, which makes 30 seconds saved in the kitchen a big deal. While food cans will remain a staple of supermarket shelves because of their low cost, I expect to see pouches and cartons grow in popularity as an easy to open alternative for office-workers and young families.”

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