With decades of experience across multiple sectors in the Food and Beverage industry, Stephen Gould is ready to work with you to create retail food packaging solutions that take your products to the next level.
Packaging is crucial to the success of every retail food business. The attention and care invested in food preparation should be reflected in your customer-facing packaging, whether it is a branded product for grocery stores or secure delivery containers for restaurants.
Customers increasingly expect retail food packaging that is not only safe and secure, but also visually appealing. With competition more fierce than ever, it is essential for food and beverage companies to make a quality first impression with their packaging.
Custom packaging is a great way to make your product stand out. Designing custom retail food packaging requires an understanding of the customer experience, as well as familiarity with retailer specifications and FDA requirements.
Whether you’re looking to design custom packaging for your food products or use premade supplies like to-go boxes, take-out bags, or biodegradable packaging, Stephen Gould can help you choose the right materials and application for your business.
Considering Customer Experience in Food Packaging
As more categories of food become widely available for shipping and delivery, packaging has become an essential touchpoint in the customer experience.
A lot can happen between the moment your product leaves your facility and arrives in your customers’ hands. There are multiple variables to consider when selecting retail food packaging, including duration of journey, temperature variables, spill and leak prevention, and branding. Taking care to perfectly execute your packaging experience communicates to customers that your highest priority is for them to receive your food as it was intended to be enjoyed.
That’s why Stephen Gould offers a wide selection of retail food packaging in different materials, styles and sizes to meet your specific needs. We offer a range of retail food packaging solutions that will keep your products safe during transport to their destination. Our bags, boxes and other products safely seal and close, keeping any contents protected from outside contamination or spills. We also offer a variety of eco-friendly retail food packaging solutions, including molded paper pulp materials and biodegradable, non-water absorbent options.
We also work with companies to create custom packaging solutions that increase brand awareness and make for a more memorable customer experience. Whether you’re running a bakery, a fast-casual restaurant, or a CPG food brand, Stephen Gould can design creative solutions to give your containers, bags, and wrappers a distinct brand identity.
Designing Retail-Ready Food Packaging
High-volume grocery and big box retailers have very specific requirements for brands hoping to have products stocked on their shelves. These design requirements are intended to maximize shelf space, streamline inventory management, and guarantee products are presented to shoppers in pristine condition. Specific standards for materials and dimensions vary from one retailer to another depending on the size of their stores, shelf space, and their inventory and storage needs.
Stephen Gould has developed long-term relationships with many of America’s largest retailers. Our team has designed and manufactured packaging for a variety of food and beverage products that meet the exacting standards of these retailers.
Retail-ready packaging refers to packaging can be quickly opened and slid on to a shelf with products easily accessible for customers. Retail-ready packaging also includes custom display cases or pallets often found in retail warehouse or club stores. Broadly speaking, retail-readiness is determined by five standards:
- Easy to identify
- Easy to open
- Easy to shelve
- Easy to shop
- Easy to recycle
Our team can provide you with custom retail food packaging solutions that help your product make an impact on shelves while adhering to retailer guidelines, making it easy for them to keep your product in stock and customers satisfied.
Federal and State Requirements for Retail Food Packaging
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food packaging and labeling in order to keep consumers safe and informed. Any packaging that comes into direct contact with food is classified as a “food contact substance.” All food packaging materials, from papers to coatings and adhesives must comply with FDA regulations in order to be considered safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has a set of regulations in place requiring all plastics and textiles in food packaging to be treated with antimicrobial technology that prevents bacteria, mold, mildew, fungi, discoloration and odor.
FDA guidelines also require labelling food packaging with nutritional information, expiration dates, handling instructions, and the packaging company’s contact information. Potential allergens must also be clearly labelled, whether the product contains or they were packaged in a facility where certain allergens are used.
In addition to consumer safety, the FDA also regulates food packaging for environmental impact of its use and disposal. On top of FDA regulations, many states and local jurisdictions have created their own regulatory standards to reduce certain packaging materials and institute recycling requirements.
Stephen Gould’s packaging engineers and subject matter experts are committed to helping clients navigate this increasingly complex regulatory landscape by designing food packaging solutions that meet standards for safety and environmental impact in every market. No matter the size or scale of your business, we can ensure that your food and beverage products meet every last guideline for safety and environmental impact so your customers can enjoy the beautiful products you’ve created.
Contact us today to learn more about our vast selection of retail food packaging products and our custom packaging design solutions.
