Food Packaging Box Trends

In designing or redesigning packaging, you should consider the following trends.

Sustainable Packaging

Customers began to put increasing pressure on companies and restaurants before the COVID-19 pandemic to make their products totally transparent before the pandemic. 

COVID-19 has put some environmental concerns on hold, but understanding food origins remains one of the hottest food trends. Where, what, and how it's made are important questions for customers. Due to increased corporate social responsibility pressure, customers are less forgiving of companies that don't share their values.

And it’s not just about food anymore. It is important for restaurants to adopt sustainable packaging practices as well. Nearly two-thirds of Americans demand sustainable packaging and clear labels, according to Asia Pulp & Paper. 

Anything that cannot be recycled, including single-use plastics, is prohibited. Instead, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and even edible packaging is on the rise. With McDonald's announcing they will ditch foam packaging in 2018, and Starbucks testing compostable and recyclable coffee cups, many restaurants are already following suit.

Customers who support environmentally conscious brands can be won over by sustainable packaging. You might experience the wrath of your customers if you fail to adopt sustainable practices. 

Minimalistic Packaging

There's a minimalism trend everywhere: Clean, simple websites, book covers with less clutter, and, you guessed it, minimalist packaging. 

By rebranding its takeout packaging box with more modern, minimalistic designs, Burger King was one of the first big restaurant brands to embrace this pared-down aesthetic. Other brands quickly followed suit, stepping away from cluttered designs with multiple colors and fonts. 

But what’s driving this trend?There are many factors:

• Minimalistic packaging takes a no-nonsense, no-frills approach. 
  

• It's cost-effective, material-savvy, and environmentally friendly. 

• Creating and reinforcing an upscale image increases the perceived value of a brand.

• The brand can better communicate their core message and increase customer awareness if there is less clutter clouding the message.

To remain ahead of the curve, remove any irrelevant information and graphics from your packaging, and only include the essentials.

Personalized Packaging

As a way to stay competitive, many brands are personalizing their packaging. 

The rise of this trend isn’t surprising. Businesses benefit from personalized service, which helps staff learn regular customers' names, creating stronger relationships with them. Restaurants can also benefit from free word-of-mouth marketing if the packaging is shared on social media.

Furthermore, personalization ensures that companies remain top-of-mind with customers. If you received a personal note every time you ordered food, wouldn't you feel special?

You could print personal messages on your to-go items as a restaurant owner. On the packaging, write "Made with love for [insert customer name] by [insert server name]."

While personalization may not have made a significant difference in the past, COVID-19 will change everything. The majority of people now order pre-packaged meals online rather than dine in, which limits brands' ability to communicate with customers. It's one of the few opportunities to communicate directly with customers ordering takeout or delivery, and show them how much you care.

Convenient Packaging

In today's busy world, customers demand convenience.There is a big impact of convenience on restaurant takeout box. Food is ordered and eaten on the go, or in the safety and comfort of one's own home - without having to cook or wash dishes.

Food delivery packaging should be designed with convenience in mind. It should be lightweight, easy to carry, and resealable (so you don't have to eat it all at once).

Takeout from a restaurant that specializes in noodles, for instance, might come with a convenient handle. You could also offer accordion takeout tubes that get smaller and smaller as you eat them, as Eat&Go did. In the end, the customer gets something that is pocket-friendly.

Brand Personality

One of the best places to start when marketing your restaurant is with takeout box packaging. Now that consumers are increasingly ordering through third-party apps instead of directly from restaurants, this is especially true.

Takeout packaging with your branding helps the customer associate the food they're eating with your particular restaurant (rather than with the best food delivery app). With stronger brand recognition, that customer is more likely to order directly from your restaurant in the future.

The packaging should include your company name or logo at a minimum to ensure your brand is visible.Putting logos on a takeout box isn't the only opportunity here.

Customers can interact with your brand through packaging, as mentioned at the beginning. By extension, your food packaging shows your customers what you care about. This means that your packaging should reflect your brand personality and extend your brand identity. Ask yourself:

Are the materials you're using aligned with your brand?

• How well do the visuals and information on your packaging communicate your brand identity?

• Are you communicating with your audience through your packaging? 

• Do you include relevant information on your packaging (e.g. your website or social media handles)?

• You can find out if your packaging will positively or negatively impact your brand by answering these questions. 

TOPICS:takeout packaging box,restaurant takeout box,take box packaging,food packaging box