Whether you are a grocer selling bakery or deli products in-store, a restaurant or bakery enabling customers to take home your fresh desserts, or an entertainment venue counter encouraging patrons to carry your products to their seats, you face a challenge in the market: making your products and your business stand out.

Superior quality and taste are the foundation of a successful foodservice operation. But closely behind is branding your foodservice packaging, helping to establish recognition and, ultimately, encourage more people to return and make purchases.

Ask these four questions to determine if specialty packaging options, many offered by Bagcraft, might be used to help elevate your foodservice brand. 

Does your product appeal to a specific target market?

Label Insight's 2017 Shopper Trends Study found that 49% of consumers adhere to a particular diet or nutrition plan, and 75% avoid specific ingredients when shopping for food products.

Does your product packaging communicate its ingredients, as well as any specialty appeal, well? Since 67% of consumers say it is challenging to determine whether a food product meets their needs simply by looking at the package label, it may be time to consider specialty packaging options with updated, designed branding and more transparent labeling. 

Does your company prioritize sustainability?

Global market research firm Nielson confirms that 66% of consumers around the world are prioritizing purchases from brands committed to positive social and environmental change; in fact, they are willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Your packaging should reflect your commitment to sustainability if that is a company priority. Establishing yourself as part of a positive change through not only your product, but its packaging, will build trust with potential buyers. Nielson also adds that 51 percent of millennials (those born 1985-2000) check product packaging for sustainability claims.

Is your packaging usable by your target market?

Knowing your target market very well can guide your decisions when it comes to your branding or customization needs. For example: does your target market value easy-to-use containers and packaging? Consider easy-open flexible packaging. Does your target market value packable, transportable, resealable containers? Consider adding clasps or other add-ons to make your package easier to bring along when traveling.

Product use will be part of your customer's decision-making process when they're comparing your product compared to another. Make it easy for customers to use your product the way they need to, instead of having to change their use to fit your product.

Does your current packaging accurately reflect your brand?

"Packaging is the billboard that sells your messaging," says Brent Anderson, packaging advisor at Nosco. Or, as studiers of mass communication can tell you from Marshall McLuhan, "The medium is the message." The meaning is the same: the form of the medium (the packaging) embeds itself as part of any message you are trying to transmit or convey, including the message of your company's product to a potential customer.

Rebranding can be an expensive undertaking. But it's important that your packaging accurately represents both your brand as well as your product today, not in the past. Custom packaging can include an updated bag type and shape, including flexible packaging, as well as updated design on the bag itself.
 

Explore custom packaging solutions available from Bagcraft for the wide array of options available for your foodservice product packaging and branding today. Contact us to get started on your custom packaging.