Global grab-and-go bottles market to reach USD118.2 billion by 2034

A study released by Future Market Insights shows market growth projections based on capacity (plastic (PE, PET, PP, others) and glass), capacity (up to 250 ml, 251 – 500 ml, 501 - 1,000 ml, and above 1,000 ml), and end use [food (sauces & condiments, soups & syrups, dairy products, and others), beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic (tea & coffee juices, soft drinks, bottled water, and others)], cosmetics & personal care, and others), across seven regions.

The global grab-and-go bottles market, valued at USD 81.6 billion in 2024, will expand at a CAGR of 3.8%, reaching USD118.2 billion by 2034. With a year-on-year growth of 4.7% projected for this year, the market is fueled by the rising consumption of ready-to-drink beverages and the shift towards sustainable packaging solutions. This according to a new report from Future Market Insights.

The study shows market growth projections based on capacity (plastic (PE, PET, PP, others) and glass), capacity (up to 250 ml, 251 – 500 ml, 501 - 1,000 ml, and above 1,000 ml), and end use [food (sauces & condiments, soups & syrups, dairy products, and others), beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic (tea & coffee juices, soft drinks, bottled water, and others)], cosmetics & personal care, and others), across seven regions.

Urbanisation and rapid lifestyle changes in terms of working hours, commuting time, and reduced time for daily chores result in an increasing preference for packaged food & beverage options. Working professionals, single-person households, and students are opting for ready-to-drink beverages, which they can easily pick from supermarkets or convenience stores.

Lifestyles of the middle-class population have improved significantly in the recent past due to rapid development of various economies. Furthermore, a rise in the number of working members in a family has resulted in changing food & beverage consumption patterns. Consumption of convenience food & beverages is on the rise, and is anticipated to significantly drive the global grab and go bottles market.

In Australia, customers under 25 years of age are the prime target segment for on-the-go breakfast products, with around 13% buying breakfast drinks each month. Consumers aged 35 to 49 are also developing a taste for breakfast drinks, which is further estimated to fuel the expansion of the market during the forecast period.

Innovations in product design to aid customer base expansion

As PET bottles are recyclable, grab-and-go bottles made of this material are expected to continue to be highly preferred among manufacturers. The growth in demand for grab-and-go bottles in emerging economies of Latin America and the Middle East & Africa is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for market growth. Increasingly stringent rules & regulations regarding the use of single-use plastic bottles make it crucial for manufacturers to prioritise the recyclability of grab-and-go bottles.

The global packaging industry has undergone substantial transformations in the last few decades. The design of the particular product is a crucial element of packaging and is likely to remain a key winning imperative to draw consumer attention in the marketplace. The high demand for variety in capacities and shapes has enabled strong competition in design-level innovations. Thus, efforts towards the innovative design of grab-and-go bottles will be fruitful for the grab-and-go manufacturers.

Key takeaways

Lightweight, non-fragile and economical, plastic remains a preferred material choice for the manufacturing of grab-and-go bottles, even during the forecast period. By material type, the plastic segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period.

Bottles with capacities ranging from 251 to 500 ml are highly preferred by consumers capturing 40% of the market share. It is observed that consumers are mostly opting for grab-and-go bottles having capacity ranges from 251 to 500 ml, making it a lucrative segment for the growth of grab-and-go bottles in coming years. However, bottles with a capacity of up to 250 ml will see traction as consumers from emerging economies are opting for smaller-size bottles.

The beverage industry is likely to generate a total incremental opportunity of USD 33.5 billion, by the end of the forecast period.

The presence of emerging economies, rising disposable income, and a growing working population with significant changes in drinking habits are among the factors driving the growth of South Asia's grab-and-go bottles market in the coming years. By the end of the forecast period, South Asia to witness a value expansion of 1.5X.

“Impulse purchase behaviour of on-the-go consumers is foreseen to place grab-and-go beverages ‘front at store’ at grocery shops, convenience stores, and mass merchandisers. Grab-and-go beverages are overflowing on shelves of supermarkets, quickly replacing generic products.”- Says Lead Consultant Ismail Sutaria in Packaging at Future Market Insights (FMI).

Profitable regions for beverage giants

The East & South Asia regions are the leading contributors to the global grab-and-go bottle market. China in East Asia and India spearhead the grab-and-go bottle market growth over the forecast period. These regions have witnessed rapid penetration of modern retail outlets.

Easy access to hypermarkets and supermarkets has enabled an increase in the consumption of beverages such as soft drinks. This has enabled beverage giants such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Company to invest heavily in areas of production, enhancing their manufacturing capacity, and ramping up their supply chain, all of which has led to an increasing demand for beverage packaging solutions.

An increase in per-capita incomes and the growing trend of the on-the-go lifestyle of consumers in these regions has facilitated exponential growth of the grab-and-go bottle market. Currently, India represents the sixth largest market for Coca-Cola Company, and the company is planning to make India its third largest market.

The per-capita consumption of soft drinks in India accounts for 5% of the consumption in the United States. But the growth in the consumption of soft drinks indicates immense opportunities for beverage packaging solutions manufacturers, especially in the area of grab-and-go bottles and beverage cans. There has also been an increase in preference for premium packaged beverages, which is expected to present lucrative opportunities for the grab-and-go bottle market in the region.