In a world where most disposable gloves have good quality and are readily available, how does anybody choose where to source them?
There are plenty of indicators. But one you absolutely should—and will—care about is fill rates.
In today’s marketplace, measuring the quality of products is inescapable.
Buy something online? Oh, look—you got a survey email. Send in a product registration card? You, too, are the lucky recipient of a survey. Go to your doctor? A survey is not uncommon. Simply have lunch at your favorite fast-food establishment? Guess what—they want your opinion too.
Avoiding cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria in food service establishments is a perennial struggle. Washing dishes, pots, and pans at high temperatures, and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces, are common and effective means of combating germs and assorted microorganisms.
One of the most important defenses against food poisoning, however, is proper handwashing. Hands can spread germs in both the kitchen and the dining area; some of these germs, like salmonella, can make employees (and, even worse, customers) sick. Washing hands frequently with soap and warm water is an easy way to limit the spread of germs.
Last in a series
Currency has real impact on disposable glove prices. The currency exchange rate has been favorable to U.S. buyers in the single-use glove market the last few months, with a strong dollar trading at its highest rate in 20 years. If the dollar should stumble, glove prices are likely to feel upward pressure.
That is why it’s important to monitor international markets closely. If you hear the dollar is weakening, be prepared—and prepare your customers for what could lie ahead.
Now that 2024 has arrived, we’re a year further from the pandemic. Multiple trends are continuing to impact glove market conditions, from pricing of NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to logistics, energy, and coal prices.
Overall, disposable glove use in the United States continues the upward trajectory it has been on since the 1980s. The market is projected to experience healthy growth throughout the next decade, again proving to be an excellent business opportunity.
AMMEX wishes you the best of prosperity and success in the new year!
In 2024, we expect the disposable glove market to continue to grow and develop. We expect the same factors we’ve always believed in to be important again: fill rates, quality control, high compliance standards, and superior customer service.
In the food service market, price can be an outsized factor for single-use gloves. With a lot of eateries operating on razor-thin margins, operators often must be frugal.
At the same time, safety and hygiene are paramount when working with food. That makes disposable gloves much more than simple accessories—they are vital tools in preventing contamination and ensuring the safety of both staff and customers (and, ultimately, the business).
Disposable gloves are essential for—among lots of other things—maintaining hygiene, protecting workers from potential hazards, and preventing the spread of infections. Without strict quality-control measures, even a tiny production slipup could cause an entire batch of gloves to go bad.
It’s likely both distributors and end users can relate to opening a case of new gloves, only to discover that they are all bricked together. Or they tear as soon as they’re pulled on. Or they have the distinctive odor of being well past their use date.
Costs of doing business in the disposable glove market seem to be leveling off after several years of big swings. United Parcel Service and the Teamsters reached a deal to avoid a strike by getting the raises the drivers wanted. Thus, higher labor costs will likely affect the price of most goods they transport.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association also forged their own deal after months of labor strife; you can expect that agreement to eventually factor into product costs as well.
As we’ve mentioned in recent weeks, despite overall volatility in global markets, disposable gloves are in a good place.
The first half of 2023 has seen a number of factors pose challenges: threats of recession, interest rate hikes, persistent inflation, and a general sense of dread about the short-term health of the economy (which has, nevertheless, largely remained strong).
