Ready To Eat Food Packaging Predictions For 2013

Anyone likes ready to eat(RTE)foods? Why do you like them? Yes, they're convenient. We can consume the ready to eat foods anywhere & anytime. In last century, cans or glasses were the only packaging methods for canning. Undoubtedly, they were excellent barrier, which extended the foods' shelf life. However, most of the nutrition value were lost during the retort process. That's why more & more protesters state that RTE foods are unhealthy.

Now, I'm pleased to tell you that there's a healthier RTE food packaging, called retort pouch. It's the most latest packaging technology for ready to eat food.

Campbell Go series - Retort Pouch
Let's take a look of retort pouch - the food packagers of the year（Campbell Soup Company):

2012 Campbell Go Series - Replace Can by Retort Pouch 

See, isn't it look good? Campbell enjoys the first mover advantage of retort pouch. New Campbell Go series got the packaging awards & boosted the sales & brand awareness by using retort pouch.As retort process time is shorter when using retort pouch, loss of nutrition value is greatly reduced and taste better. In other words, retort pouch packaging is profitable for producers & healthier for customers.

2013 Prediction of Ready To Eat Food Packaging

Retort Pouch is environmental friendly as less wastes & materials will be produced.

Nowadays, consumers are willing to pay more for their health & environment.Retort pouch is the sustainable packaging as it reduces materials & wastes. Although the production method of using retort pouch will be totally different with can, I still believe that retort pouch is the leading packaging, which helps businesses to stay ahead in 2013. Let's enjoy the first mover advantage with Campbell Soup Company.

Happy New Year! Welcome to ask and share with me about retort pouch or other ready to eat food packaging :)

Reference:
1 Food Packagers - Campbell Soup Company
http://www.foodandbeveragepackaging.com/articles/85927-food-packagers-of-the-year-highlighting-four-companies?v=preview
2 Retort Pouch Features
http://www.lipackhk.com/enProduct.aspx?cid=41
3 Campbell Go Series
http://www.campbellsgo.com/

Impressive Jardin BiO' olive flexible spout pouch

Heineken 5L Big Can For Beer | Li Pack Co Ltd Bag In Box For Wine

Impressive packaging in 2012, but it's not new to you, right?
Ok, it's time to introduce 2013 packaging. Take a look of it.

Jardin BiO' 2L olive flexible spout pouch 

Isn't it more impressive & outstanding? In 2012 PLMA, the annual worldwide private label show, I saw this impressive oil packaging. Jardin Bio, a French natural foo company, replaced the traditional bottle oil packaging by a 2L flexible pouch with a tab. The new oil pouch performs much better than BIB & glass bottle in term of costs, convenience & sustainability. It is estimated that the new oil packaging pouch reduces wastes by 90%. I do like this packaging which is cost effective, eye catching, ease & convenience.

Campers & hikers must like it as it's very light & easy to carry. I believe this spout pouch will be the next generation of large volume liquid packaging pouch, such as, alcohol, wine, beverage, water, oil, etc.

Any other better liquid packaging recommendations to inspire me? :) Please share with me.

Reference:
Henieken: http://www.heineken.co.uk/
Jardin Bio': http://www.jardinbio.fr/
Li Pack Co. Ltd: http://www.lipackhk.com/

Packaging is everything!

Packaging is everything. Who doesn’t like awesome & innovative packaging? A product with better packaging is worth more in customers’ mind. To be a marketer, you should pay more attention about how you package your products. Selecting the right packaging for your products is a kind of philosophy. “Right” packaging makes a mid-range product be a premium products. Let’s consider the difference between the rival companies and Apple with a similar specification smartphone . For example, rival companies’ accessories are wrapped by tough plastics, which fully protect the products,yet,  it’s not user friendly. How about Apple? Apple’s well-designed packaging box, which allows customers to get the charge, USB cable, other accessories easily at one time. From packaging the product itself to packaging box, Apple provides an excellent user experience to customers. So, you know how important packaging is?

Tips for choosing the right packaging specifications

Packaging is not only the aesthetics, a “right” packaging can protect your products, deliver a message to your customers, build up your brand as well as make your products be more user-friendly, which is the major and the most important packaging’s function.

To design a package of your product, there are many and many factors should be paid attention and considered. Here is a simple checklist for you when you are designing your products’ packaging:

1.Barrier
2.Stiffness
3.COF
4.Sealing properties
5.Pollution resistance
6.Hot Tack
7.Formability
8.Puncture resistance
9.Mechanical Strength
10.Printability
11.Gloss
12.Opacity/Transparancy
13.Heat Resistance
14.Corrosion Resistance
15.Electrostatic Properties
16.Easy Tear
17.Easy Peel

To sum up, marketer should find a packaging which fulfills your requirements with a minimum of materials and costs.