Valentine’s Day Food Packaging Consumers Will Love
Receiving Valentine’s Day chocolates and sweets is a hallmark of the holiday. Here’s how to ensure they’re delivered fresh to customers.
Consumers spend more than $27.4 billion for Valentine’s Day every year, according to 2020 research by WalletHub. Of this, roughly $5.5 billion was spent on romantic evenings out in 2018, according to Statista. However, with pandemic safety measures still in effect, candle-lit restaurant dinners won’t be an option for many couples in 2021.
It’s also worth knowing that the growing trend of online shopping is expected to continue, creating an even higher rush than usual for Valentine’s Day.
From flowers to candies, it’s critical that items are delivered intact to consumers. But food distribution comes with a unique set of challenges, compounded this year by the higher than usual volume of orders. Case in point: Preparation is key.
Maintain the Cold Chain to Ensure Freshness
There’s a world of difference between a fresh chocolate-covered strawberry versus a pre-packaged product that’s been stored at room temperature for days or weeks. Plus, ice cream or cream-filled chocolates can’t even be delivered to consumers without some form of refrigeration. What’s more, even roses and other types of flowers benefit from the cold.
To get perishable, savory treats safely to consumers’ doorsteps, manufacturers and distributors must ship with controlled temperatures. The cold chain distribution network provides a solution to delivering and maintaining the quality of perishable products — from the point of origin to the end customer. Insulated packaging solutions are key to keeping items cool while deflecting heat and other types of environmental interferences during the delivery window.
Pregis’ ThermaCycle™ Flex line of solutions combines metallic, all-polyethylene thermal films with durable, lightweight, leak-proof, and moisture-resistant bubble cushioning to insulate and protect goods during transit. Insulated box liners and roll stock keep products cold — both in shipping parcels from manufacturer to distributor and in transit for last-mile delivery. The self-sealing pouches are easy to use, lay flat, and are manufactured for durability with a one-piece construction process, making them ideal for individually protecting gifts like Valentine’s chocolates and other amorous treats that may be left on doorsteps for extended periods. In fact, ThermaCycle™ Flex’s product line has been used to safely deliver over 150 million meal kits.
It’s important to note that the ThermaCycle™ Flex line is composed of 30 percent recycled content and is classified as a category 4 recyclable (low-density polyethylene), which can be given to most stores with drop-off recycling programs for processing.
A Solution for Every Type of Treat
Applying cold chain logistics to food items that don’t traditionally need refrigeration can enhance taste and quality. For example, cookies and cakes kept at cool temperatures retain more moisture than those left to the elements. ThermaCycle™ Flex is an excellent source for food distribution and are a way to raise the bar on customers’ experience.
Also, due to high order volumes, manufacturers might be forced to ship more in less space, mixing products together in the same packages — especially in the case of Valentine’s Day meal kits. Adequate cushioning will be necessary to prevent food from crumbling or becoming crushed.
In addition to ThermaCycle™ Flex for keeping products cold and protected, consider bubble cushioning pouches to protect individually wrapped cookies or pastries within larger boxes.
Innovative products like ChamberPak can protect wine bottles from impact and scratches as well. The solution fully encloses bottles in adjoining tubular air tubes for near-universal protection and cushioning. Each chamber is sealed with patented one-way valves, so even if one is punctured, the others will remain inflated and protective. The LDPE film is durable enough to maintain air pressure for up to a year. ChamberPak is fully-customizable and offers incredible value in comparison to other engineered solutions.
Make It Special
Opening a gift from a loved one is an almost-sacred experience. In this era of high-volume home deliveries, unboxing is part of that gift-opening process — and consumers notice when brands use premium packaging.
Pregis’ Inspyre tissue paper uplifts practical void fill, cushioning, and wrapping into something beautiful, with a wide variety of stock colors. Brands can also customize the paper with original artwork.
HC Inspyre air cushions provide even greater protection for fragile food items, especially as box liners or wrapping, and the proprietary square bubble shapes stand out more than conventional bubble solutions.
Valentine’s Day will be unusual in 2021, but with the right food packaging solutions, manufacturers and distributors can help consumers make it a memorable one.
For help with cold chain logistics and food distribution
