WalMart, the "Number One" Fortune 500 Company of the World, with an annual sales turnover of more than US$ 250 billion, is the super giant retail store for the common American. WalMart promises to provide products at the lowest price in USA. Walmart's impressive sale records definitely befit its "Number One" position. The retail giants' product-mix, that encompasses all the requirements of the masses, influences not only the sales of its vendors, but also influences the positioning of their products on the retail shelves of USA as well as packaging. That it would single handedly influence the packaging system and changes therein, is but natural. This is reflected in the following very interesting case study:

EPS trays are in popular use for meat packaging by retails shops in USA. WalMart found that EPS trays have a tendency to crack when stored in cold cabinets. Besides, the limited drawing characteristics of EPS limits the depth of the trays. It is not feasible to manufacture deeper EPS trays, limiting the quantity to be packed. Walmart experimented with PP trays and found that PP could be converted into deeper trays by thermoforming process. PP trays also did not show cracks when stored in the cold cabinets. WalMart has been successful in forcing vendors to make a switch from EPS to PP trays for meat packaging.