Spring Canton Fair 2025 Results: New Buyer Connections and New Bagasse Packaging Projects
Spring Canton Fair 2025 concluded successfully for Grizzlies, bringing new customer connections, deeper discussions with existing partners and fresh opportunities for upcoming molded fiber packaging projects.
During the second phase of the 137th Canton Fair, our team met distributors, foodservice buyers, importers, retailers and private label customers from markets around the world.
Many visitors arrived with more specific sourcing plans than in previous years. Rather than simply browsing products, buyers were ready to discuss target items, required specifications, samples, compliance documents, custom development and expected order schedules.
For Grizzlies, the exhibition was an important opportunity to present our sugarcane bagasse tableware range and demonstrate how our manufacturing and OEM/ODM capabilities can support long-term international sourcing programs.
Strong International Buyer Participation at the 137th Canton Fair
The second phase of the 137th Canton Fair was held from April 23 to April 27, 2025.
By the end of Phase 2, 224,372 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions had attended the fair, setting a new record for the same stage of the event.
This strong international participation created valuable opportunities for Grizzlies to communicate directly with customers from Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, Latin America and other markets.
For many buyers, the fair was not only a place to discover new products but also a chance to evaluate suppliers for the next purchasing cycle.
Buyer Discussions Became More Project-Focused
One of the clearest changes we observed at Spring Canton Fair 2025 was that buyer conversations became more detailed and project-oriented.
Customers increasingly came prepared with:
- target product categories;
- required dimensions and capacities;
- sample feedback;
- market-specific compliance questions;
- custom mold requirements;
- expected order quantities;
- planned purchasing timelines.
This allowed discussions to move quickly from general product introductions to practical project planning.
For Grizzlies, these more focused conversations created better opportunities to understand customer requirements and recommend suitable molded fiber packaging solutions.
Bagasse Food Containers Remained a Core Product Category
Bagasse food containers remained one of the most discussed categories during the exhibition.
Buyers were looking for molded fiber packaging suitable for takeaway meals, prepared food, catering, retail and food delivery.
Different customers required different combinations of:
- container shape;
- capacity;
- depth;
- compartment structure;
- lid type;
- barrier performance.
For prepared-food and retail programs, transparent lid compatibility was also important because customers wanted both food visibility and strong shelf presentation.
These discussions showed that buyers are increasingly selecting packaging around the actual food application rather than simply choosing the closest standard size.
Clamshells Continued to Support Takeaway and Meal Programs
Hinged molded fiber containers also remained popular among restaurant, takeaway and catering customers.
Grizzlies offers a broad range of bagasse sugarcane clamshells in multiple sizes and compartment configurations.
Single-compartment formats can support burgers, sandwiches, fried food and rice meals, while divided formats are suitable for combination meals and catering applications.
Products such as our 8 × 8 inch and 9 × 9 inch three-compartment bagasse clamshells allow buyers to offer meal packaging with separate sections for mains, side dishes and vegetables.
For foodservice buyers, having multiple clamshell structures within one product program can help serve different menu formats more effectively.
Customers Were Increasingly Interested in Complete Product Ranges
Another important result from Spring Canton Fair 2025 was growing interest in complete molded fiber product portfolios.
Distributors and private label customers often wanted to source several categories from one manufacturer instead of managing multiple suppliers.
In addition to food containers and clamshells, customers discussed:
- bagasse bowls;
- round and square plates;
- compartment plates;
- food trays;
- cups and lids;
- custom molded fiber products.
Our bagasse sugarcane plates and bagasse sugarcane trays can support catering, restaurant, institutional and prepared-food applications.
For B2B customers, consolidating several categories with one supplier can simplify quality management, logistics and repeat-order planning.
2025 Buyers Were Paying More Attention to Barrier Performance
Barrier performance became an even more important technical topic in 2025.
As molded fiber packaging expands into more demanding food applications, buyers need solutions that can handle different levels of oil, moisture and temperature.
Dry foods may require relatively simple structures, while hot meals, oily dishes, chilled foods and frozen products can require stronger barrier performance.
Grizzlies works with customers on different coating and lamination directions depending on the intended application.
These may include PE, PLA, water-based coatings and other barrier structures for projects where standard uncoated molded fiber may not provide sufficient performance.
This flexibility helps customers use molded fiber packaging across a wider range of foodservice and prepared-food applications.
PFAS-Free Requirements Remained Important
PFAS-free packaging continued to be an important sourcing requirement in 2025.
After the U.S. FDA announced in 2024 that PFAS-containing grease-proofing substances were no longer being sold for food-contact use in the United States, buyers became increasingly focused on alternative barrier solutions.
For molded fiber packaging, the challenge is to provide suitable grease and moisture resistance while also meeting changing chemical compliance expectations.
Buyers at Spring Canton Fair 2025 therefore discussed both PFAS-free requirements and the practical performance of the finished package.
For Grizzlies, the objective is always to match the barrier solution to the food application rather than applying the same structure to every product.
PPWR Became a More Concrete Topic for European Buyers
One of the most important regulatory developments influencing European buyer discussions in 2025 was the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 entered into force on February 11, 2025, creating a new regulatory framework for packaging and packaging waste across the European Union.
The regulation strengthens requirements relating to packaging reduction, recyclability, reuse, labeling and substances of concern.
Although most provisions will apply from August 12, 2026, European buyers were already beginning to review future packaging programs in light of the new rules.
This made early discussion around material composition, barrier structures, packaging design and documentation particularly valuable for customers planning products for the EU market.
Customization Was a Major Part of New Project Discussions
Many of the new opportunities generated during Spring Canton Fair 2025 involved customized products.
Professional buyers increasingly wanted packaging developed around their own food applications, brand positioning and logistics requirements.
OEM and ODM discussions included:
- custom dimensions;
- special compartment layouts;
- different product depths;
- custom molds;
- product color options;
- lid development;
- coating and lamination requirements;
- private label packaging;
- carton and pallet specifications.
Grizzlies supports customers throughout the development process, from product concept and mold design through sample confirmation, testing and mass production.
This allows customers to move beyond standard catalogue products and develop packaging suited to their own market requirements.
Our Manufacturing Capacity Supports Large-Scale Programs
For buyers preparing new sourcing plans, manufacturing capacity remained an important part of supplier evaluation.
Grizzlies Industries has more than 15 years of OEM and ODM experience in disposable food packaging.
Our current production network includes:
- 11 production bases;
- more than 1,000 employees;
- over 280 automated forming machines;
- monthly production capability of approximately 200 × 40HQ containers.
This manufacturing scale allows us to support distributors, restaurant groups, retailers and private label customers with large-volume and repeat-order production.
It also gives us greater flexibility when a customer needs multiple SKUs, different mold structures or mixed product programs.
Compliance and Documentation Remained Key Purchasing Criteria
Buyers also continued to ask detailed questions about compliance documentation.
Depending on the destination market and application, customer requirements may involve FDA, LFGB, BPI, OK Compost, OK Compost Home, BRCGS, BSCI and PFAS-free documentation.
Professional buyers increasingly want to review these documents early because product approval, retailer requirements and market compliance can affect project timelines.
For Grizzlies, documentation support is therefore part of the sourcing process from the beginning rather than something discussed only before shipment.
New Buyer Connections Created New Project Opportunities
One of the most important results from Spring Canton Fair 2025 was the number of meaningful new buyer conversations.
New customers used the exhibition to evaluate our product range, manufacturing scale, technical capabilities and approach to customized development.
Existing customers also met with our team to review current cooperation and discuss additional products for their next purchasing cycle.
These conversations created opportunities for:
- new product sampling;
- custom mold development;
- expanded product ranges;
- PFAS-free packaging projects;
- new barrier and lamination solutions;
- future bulk orders.
The exhibition therefore served not only as a product showcase but also as the starting point for several longer-term sourcing discussions.
From Exhibition Discussions to the Next Purchasing Cycle
Spring Canton Fair 2025 showed that international food packaging procurement is becoming more structured.
Buyers increasingly expect suppliers to support more than manufacturing alone.
They want partners who can help with product development, material selection, compliance, samples, tooling, quality control, logistics and stable repeat production.
This is where Grizzlies' combination of molded fiber manufacturing, OEM/ODM development and large-scale production becomes particularly valuable.
Looking Ahead After Spring Canton Fair 2025
Spring Canton Fair 2025 gave Grizzlies valuable opportunities to strengthen customer relationships, develop new buyer connections and identify upcoming molded fiber packaging projects.
The market is clearly moving toward more application-specific packaging, stronger compliance requirements, PFAS-free barrier solutions and greater customization.
At the same time, buyers continue to value stable manufacturing capacity and reliable long-term supply.
Grizzlies will continue developing bagasse containers, clamshells, bowls, plates, trays and customized laminated molded fiber packaging for foodservice, retail and distribution customers worldwide.
If you are planning a new bagasse packaging project or preparing your next sourcing cycle, contact Grizzlies to discuss samples, specifications, coating solutions, OEM/ODM development and bulk procurement requirements.