Even though it feels like no time has passed at all, this time last week, Asia CanTech 2026 was closing its doors. Our community is still abuzz and we’re loving seeing your posts on LinkedIn and receiving your thoughts and feedback. I hope everyone had safe travels after the show, whether that was onward to other customers, a holiday or just home to normality. 

I’ve been keeping Thailand alive by bringing back a big tin of Thai tea – even though I discovered afterwards you can also buy ChaTraMue in the UK! But the fact that you’ve brought something home from your travels is always more special, I think. We also arrived back to the office to a delivery of Whitebox Cocktails’ latest drop – thank you to Clare @ Neu Communications for arranging that.

It’s always good to have winter warmers to hand (outside of office hours, of course). But while these products are ‘nice to have,’ tinned, ready-to-eat products have been highlighted as essential in the UK’s ‘Be Ready’ campaign, which encourages households to stock up on food with a long shelf life, in case of emergencies such as extreme weather or cyber attacks, which could affect services including power, water, phone signals and access to the internet. According to the advice, we should have three days’ worth of emergency supplies.

Nevertheless, many have questioned how useful this advice is to the public when everyone is having to navigate rising costs. According to Euromonitor International’s Top Global Consumer Trends 2027 report, consumers are increasingly favouring brands they trust to remain available, consistent and affordable. More than half only buy from brands they trust completely, while 72 per cent worry about rising prices.

But the government isn’t encouraging the frenzied ‘panic-buying’ we saw over the pandemic in 2020; its recommendation is just for consumers to add the essentials into their weekly shop if they weren’t already, and it does seem to be working. In the ten days following the ‘Be Ready’ campaign launch, sales of tinned and jarred goods climbed 37 per cent, according to data from retail research firm, Worldpanel by Numerator. Tinned meat and fish were among the most popular products within this figure, once again proving metal packaging’s invaluable role in times of uncertainty.

This is a timely reminder that tins offer more than convenience: they provide reassurance, longevity and value at a time when all three matter more than ever.

• Alex Rivers (she/her), CanTech International editor
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