Market size and structure

Food packaging accounts for 21% of the market.

The European market

Disposable table top products

The European market for disposable table top products is worth approximately EUR 4 billion. Duni is the leader within the premium segment, which accounts for around 55% of the market. 

The European market for disposable table top products is estimated to be worth approximately EUR 4 billion, divided into napkins (30%), table covers (6%), candles (33%), serving products such as plastic cutlery and plastic glasses (10%) and meal packaging solutions (21%). Some two-thirds of the European market for table top products relates to the Professional customer market. 

The assessment of market size, and the breakdown between various products and customer markets, is based on information from Euromonitor and B Kay-Tissue, as well as Duni’s own industry knowledge and estimations. 

Underlying Growth

Demand for Duni’s products is affected by trends in the restaurant, hotel and catering industries, as well as the grocery retail trade. According to the market survey FACET, the European restaurant industry has registered sales growth of almost 4% annually during the 2000’s; this is higher than the GDP growth, which has been around 2-3% annually. The growth is largely due to an increase in disposable incomes, which in itself is a product of economic growth, but is also due to the increased frequency with which meals are being consumed outside the home. 

The recession has also affected the HoReCa market, which for example in Germany declined by 4.1% in 2009, compared with last year. Duni, however, registered some growth in Germany during 2009. 

Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) also declined, but to a lesser extent than the total foodservice industry in Europe. According to NPD, QSR (an umbrella term for self-service and fast food restaurants) lost 1.6% in the number of visitors during the first half of 2009, compared with almost 3% for the total market. 

Premium products largest segment

Disposable napkins and table covers can be divided into standard and premium products, with the latter being produced in at least three-ply tissue or airlaid. Standard products account for approximately 45% of the total estimated sales on the European market for napkins and table covers, while premium products account for around 55%. The ratio between standard and premium products varies, however, between different regions in Europe. 

Italy is the single largest market for paper napkins and table covers in Europe. In addition, Southern Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece) is the largest market region in Europe. In Southern Europe, premium products account for around one-third of the total market. The market’s size is explained by volumes within standard products. In Eastern Europe, premium products account for approximately one-third of the total market. Sales of Duni’s products are strongly affected by growth within the foodservice industry. For most of the 2000’s, growth has been positive, and on many key markets has exceeded GDP growth. 

In the Nordic region and Central Europe, premium products account for a higher share of the market for napkins and table covers than in Southern and Eastern Europe. Germany, Austria and Switzerland together comprise the second largest market region in Europe for paper napkins and table covers, with premium products accounting for roughly two-thirds of the market. The premium products’ high market share is largely due to the manufacturers’ dedicated sales work and historically strong economic growth. The UK and the Benelux countries together constitute the third largest market region in Europe for disposable napkins and table covers. As in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, premium products account for approximately two-thirds of the total market. This is the case also in the Nordic region. 

Duni is the clear market leader in Central Europe, Northern Europe and the Benelux countries, which are the markets where the premium segment is dominant. 

Major competitors

The European market for disposable table top products is very fragmented. Duni is the largest European company on this market. Duni’s main competitors within the Professional and Retail sectors are large pulp and paper companies for whom disposable table top products represent only a small part of their product portfolio, such as SCA, Georgia-Pacific, Kartogroup, Kimberly-Clark and Metsä Tissue. In addition, there are a large number of smaller regional and local companies. In Central Europe, mention may be made of Papstar, Swan (including Benders) and Mank; in the Nordic region, of Papstar, Celest and Fiblon; and in Southern and Eastern Europe, of Garcia de Pou, Paloma, Renova, Okay, CGNP and Fato. Within Retail, Duni also encounters competition from the grocery retail chains’ own private labels. Within the Tissue sector, competition consists of large pulp and paper companies, some of which, e.g. SCA, Georgia-Pacific, Kartogroup, Kimberly-Clark and Metsä Tissue, are also active on the disposable table top products market. In addition, there are a number of smaller, specialized companies, such as Buckeye, Concert, McAirlaid, LPC and Fiberweb. The European market for packaging solutions for take-away meals is also very fragmented. The largest companies include Færch, Huhtamaki and Sabert.

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• The Share

Food packaging accounts for 21% of the market.

The European market

Disposable table top products