Companies constantly innovate with technology and redesign their packaging to get better performance, improve marketability and enhance sustainability. Here’s a look at two packaging solutions on Packaging Dive’s radar for their new formats or redesigns.
Freezer-friendly format
Food brand Daily Harvest is changing several elements of its packaging as it expands from solely being direct-to-consumer to having products in retail stores. The company says the changes benefit both consumers and retailers.
The shape of some containers didn’t play well in the freezer aisle. Specifically, the company said the single-serve bowls’ packaging caused several to topple out of the freezer if a consumer grabbed one. Plus, some retail locations stacked the meals in such a way that the outward-facing side didn’t show what was inside. Those products now come in a box.
The new box also makes it easier for consumers to store the product at home, according to Daily Harvest, and cutlery can be balanced on the tray’s lip. Plus, it is more durable during transport through the supply chain, and it allows for a shelf life that’s six months longer.
The company also felt that the images of real ingredients on its previous packaging, such as fruits and vegetables, confused retail consumers: They weren’t sure whether the product inside was already made or needed to be prepared at home. The new imagery shows the fully prepared meals.
The new packaging now is on stores shelves nationwide, including at Kroger, Target and Harris Teeter.
Töst of the town
Nonalcoholic drinks company Töst Beverages debuted products in 250-milliliter cans to accompany its existing line that uses 250-milliliter and 750-milliliter glass bottles. The company said in a news release that the cans provide a portable option for “settings where a glass format may not be ideal.”
"After testing can formats at experiential events and in arenas and sporting venues like the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past fall, we've found that the canned format opens up a whole new world of possibilities," CEO Brooks Addington said in the release. “While TÖST has become renowned for our sleek and elegant glass bottle design, we recognize that our customers love the simplicity and multi-use capabilities of cans.”
The canned products are available on Töst’s website and will roll out in retail locations throughout this year.
