Operations Professional Pathways
Executive Update
All Wrapped Up In The Latest Packages
We’ve all heard the adage, “Big things come in small pack- ages.” Well today, packaging of any size is a key component in the quality of food and beverage products. This is particularly true when it comes to carry-out foods. In fact, the ever-increas- ing popularity of take-out and grab-and-go illustrates perfectly how demand can drive innovation. For decades, college students, active moms, and busy profes- sionals relied on take-out restaurants for their quick meals, and fast service. In the past, that meant customers picked up their food served on paper plates, covered in foil. Oh, how things have changed. As the call for carry-out foods has grown, so has the demand for quality take-out packaging that keeps hot items hot, and cold items cold. Customers want their foods to remain separated, and their packages to be leak-free, non-contaminated, and easily transportable. After all, who wants their burrito covered in refried beans, or their fresh salad swimming in chicken gravy? Today’s customers want their to-go food to be the same quality when they get it home, as it would have been had they eaten it at the restaurant. Responding to Public Demand As the profile of take-out food has increased, so has the value of innovative packaging. Packaging companies have responded to the shifting consumer market by developing beautifully constructed, and attractively designed meal containers. There
Nothing stands still in the food industry, so packaging companies must find ways to keep up with the food trends and societal issues that influence consumer tastes. 1. Sustainability – The food and beverage industry is finding many ways to be friendly to the environment. And the packaging industry is joining them in their efforts. As a result, packaging companies are using materials that are recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, or sustainable in some way. 2. Automation – When customers grab a snack or a meal to-go, they want to be sure the food inside is fresh and safe. Enter the world of automation. Manufacturers have developed equipment that safely fills containers to the correct portion size, and heat-seals the lid on every package. In addition, by automating packaging production, the industry has increased production efficiency, addressed labor shortages, increased worker safety, and reduced material waste. Steps such as these may even help turn the supply chain shortages around. 3. Interactive Packaging – Manufacturers are using the outside of their packages as marketing and information tools, as well. By including a code or a chip on the label, they can share infor- mation about their sustainability efforts, or introduce consum- ers to the local farm from which the food was sourced. They can even advertise a rewards program, or a special promotion that may intrigue a customer into buying the product. QR codes, NFC chips, smart labels, and other kinds of interactive packaging features allow you to really tell your brand story or convey important messages to consumers while taking up minimal space, which is why we can expect to see even more of them in the coming year. 2 Innovative packaging helps manufacturers keep up with the latest food trends. But it also gives the industry another way to appeal to a customer’s desire for the latest and coolest ideas. 1 “Food and Beverage Packaging Trends 2022,” IPS Packaging & Automation, www.ipack.com/solutions/post/food-beverage-packaging-trends-2022 Accessed: July 15, 2022. 2 Ibid.
Trends Driving Today’s Packaging Ideas By Karen Haghighi, SNS
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are bowls, plates and cups that are sectional, hinged, clear or colorful, as well as microwavable, all created to fit the size, shape, consistency and temperature of every type of food being served. No matter where you are in the world, the food and beverage industry is one of the
Karen Haghighi, SNS, principal of KBH Foodservice Industry Consulting, is the former director of Child Nutrition Services at Prince George’s County (MD) Public Schools. She contributes to the quarterly CN Executive Update ® on a regular basis.
most important elements of our society. From local fruit and veggie growers to major snack producers, this is an industry that keeps us all going. In order to keep the entire world operational and well-fed, there’s one industry that must support food and beverage – packaging. 1
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