When it comes to food products, the right packaging can be the difference between an always sold-out product at the store and those that blend into the background, with anyone barely noticing them.
In the food industry, product packaging should be the right combination of aesthetics, functionality, and quality. They are not just the outer packages of the food product but also play a role in attracting customers, storing the food, and shaping customer experiences with the product.
If you are a designer or a food brand owner, you already know how much your food package design can make or break your brand. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different types of food packaging, when to use them, and how to design exceptional packages using Yellow mockups and other design elements.
Why Is Food Packaging Important?
The main goal of food packaging is to serve as an outer cover for a food product. As such, it’s usually the first point of contact between the consumers and the product. However, its functions go beyond just being a covering. When you understand how important the role of a package is in the overall success of your product, you ultimately tend to make more informed decisions.
Here are some important functions of a food package:
- Preservation and storage: Food packages protect the product from tampering as well as physical damage caused by impacts, chemical damage caused by chemical reactions, and environmental damage caused by dust and pollution.
- Brand awareness and customer attraction: Since packages are the first contact customers have with a product, they play a huge role in creating brand awareness. A good food package can evoke a sense of quality, communicate the brand values, and ultimately influence customer’s buying decisions.
- Customer experience: From ease of handling to storage method, customer’s experience with a product package can determine whether or not they would be repurchasing.
- Product information display: One of the most crucial roles of a food package is to display all the necessary information like brand name, food type, ingredients, expiration date, and other important information.
Types of Food Packaging
There are a plethora of food packages out there, from sustainable paper bags to glass jars. So instead of listing out all the possible food packages out there, we’ll be looking at some categories of food packaging based on material and trends. They are:
Flexible Packaging
Flexible packaging is extensively used for packaging a wide range of food products, including snacks, candies, dried fruits, and frozen foods. The material’s flexibility allows for easy storage and handling. It is also used for packaging liquid products such as juices, energy drinks, and even alcoholic beverages. The flexible nature of the packaging accommodates different bottle shapes and sizes. If you are new to using flexible packaging, you can check out mock-up templates of this package on platforms like YellowImages.
Rigid Packaging
Just like the name implies, rigid packaging refers to any food package that is sturdy and inflexible. They are best used for food products that need structural support and robust shields. Some examples of rigid packaging include glass jars, metal cans, and plastic tubes. Aside from the external protection they offer, they are also the best choice for preserving the flavor and quality of the food content.
Sustainable Packaging
As environmental consciousness grows, you’d want to opt for packaging that is not only versatile but also biodegradable or eco-friendly. Now more than ever, sustainability takes center stage in the food industry. It is important that your food package also reflects this value. Examples of creative sustainable packaging include recyclable paper boxes, compostable food wrapping paper, and wax paper. If you are looking to up your sustainable packaging game, you may want to check creative templates for paper boxes and wrappers on Yellow Images or other similar platforms.
Innovative Packaging
Creative and unique designs can make products stand out on the shelves and this is where innovative packaging comes in. These packages are aimed at capturing the customer’s attention, improving consumer experience with the product, and providing solutions to a specific problem. For example, the creation of edible packaging. While it is still a novel concept, it is aimed at tackling the issue of waste that comes with food packaging while also making the product stand out.
How to Choose the Right Food Packaging?
To choose the right packaging for your food product, you’d want to consider certain factors like the nature of the product, your brand identity, customer preferences, budget, product type, preservation, and storage method amongst other things.
When opting for flexible packaging, lightweight and adaptable materials like polyethylene or polypropylene might be suitable especially if your products are bottled beverages. You can get premium mock-ups of this packaging, to see how your product will look in the real world without spending tons of money in production.
Rigid packaging on the other hand often involves materials like glass, metals, or certain types of plastic and paper. You can go for them if you want to preserve your food’s original flavors. You can buy premium mock-up templates of cans, jars, and other rigid packaging on Yellow Images.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to the question of what the best package for food is, it all boils down to your unique need, your food product, and what matters to your customers. It is important that your packaging embodies your brand values, while also catering to product safety and customers’ expectations.
If you’re unsure, you can do an A/B test using mockups of two different food packaging designs. This way, you can test audience reception and gauge the possible success of the packaging.
Leave a Reply