Application of Tray Packaging in the Meal Kit Industry. Part 2
In the first part of this two-part series, we discussed the different types of meal kits and the packaging they require. Also, how tray packaging can help make your products more sustainable. Such as using materials made of low-density polyethylene (LDP). Or selecting widely recyclable packaging such as paper or plant-based materials.
More than 72% of Americans say packaging design affects their purchasing decision. Further cementing the importance of appropriate packaging of your products.
In this article, we will go over how tray packaging makes the meal kit industry more profitable through automation and smart packaging.
Why Choose Tray Packaging for Your Meal Kit Business?
The packaging you choose for your meal kits, both internal and external, must deliver on these fronts:
- Represent your brand
- Ensure freshness of all ingredients
- It should fit in well within your assembly line
- Should be compatible with your particular business model
- It shouldn’t drive up the production cost of each individual unit.
With creativity and some help from packaging automation, tray packaging can be modified to fulfill these criteria. Here are some more benefits tray packaging offers to your meal kit brands:
Advantages of Tray Packaging for Meal Kits
Consumer preferences have evolved immensely over the last few years. Packaging of all kinds now has more shoes to fill than ever before. Here are some ways tray packaging can help the meal kit businesses increase profit margins and streamline operations:
1. Saves Stacking Space
Tray packaging means all your products are in uniform units. Whether it's round deli trays or rectangular fajita kits, your product will be stackable and easier to store. They will move through your manufacturing plant seamlessly and take up less shelf/ refrigerator space.
Tray packaging also makes for more stable stacking. That reduces the chances of factory waste and damage to your inventory.
2. Transit Friendly
Compact tray packaging means more units can be transported in less space, saving you on transportation costs. That’s a good advantage in the current economy with inflated gas prices. Tray packaging also makes it easier for meal kits to be transported.
Imagine a large cardboard box where cans, containers, and sachets tumble around during transit and get damaged. Tray packaging allocates only the necessary space for each ingredient. That reduces the friction between and within each product, reducing transit damage.
3. Keeps Things Separate
Perhaps the biggest advantage of using tray packaging is that it keeps each ingredient separated yet together within one package. Dry pasta, chunky salsa, and runny sauces can all be accommodated in the same tray thanks to sectioning and sealing.
Another benefit of keeping the components of a meal separate is that it lets you cater to different dietary preferences. Want a low-sodium meal? Don’t add the whole seasoning sachet to your steak. Allergic to mushrooms? Good thing they never came in contact with any other ingredient in your meal kit!
4. Suitable for Both Perishable and Shelf-Stable Kits
Tray packaging is the perfect packaging medium for refrigerated and long storage meal kits. Depending on the material of tray you select, the same automated tray packing machines can be used for both types. That means no need to invest in a new machine if you want to diversify your business by adding new products.
5. Leak-Proof Sealing
Cross-contamination is a top reason edible items are so frequently recalled. Heat-sealed trays help cut down on your chances of a food recall by sealing each ingredient in its individual section/ blister. It’s a more effective way to leak-proof your meal kit than resalable plastic bags or containers that might crack and spill during handling or transport.
6. Customizable
The highly versatile range of trays available for you to choose from makes tray packaging ideal for compartmentalized foods. You can get customized trays as well, tailored for your particular product.
When you choose tray packing, it acts as both internal and external packaging of your meal kit. A separate printed sleeve or outer box can be added if you require. Both these packaging layers can be printed with your brand logo and graphics.
Customizing the look of your tray packaging will ensure your product stands out on supermarket shelves.
7. Effortless to Open
Packaging plays a vital role in the overall customer experience of your brand. Tray packaging requires no special equipment to open, such as a can opener or even a pair of scissors. That might seem like a minor detail, but it impacts the impression your products give.
8. Suitable for E-commerce
The business climate is changing globally. Ecommerce is claiming a huge share of all commercial consumption. Tray packaging gives you leverage in the e-commerce industry as well. Compact and sturdy meal kit trays are easier to transport and build to withstand longer transits. Appropriately packaged meal kits give your business a leg up in-store and online.
9. Automation Friendly
Automation is changing how edible products are mass produced. Automating your processing plant gives you the huge advantage of scalability.
You can effortlessly increase or decrease production. Or seamlessly switch between processing different meal kits with minimal downtime. Choosing automation-friendly packaging, such as tray packaging, gives you all these advantages.
10. Suits All Budgets
Tray packaging can be designed to accommodate all budgets. You can package both gourmet meal kits or more economical mac and cheese dinners in tray packaging just as efficiently. The packaging material, graphics, and layers of packaging can be changed up to give meal kits completely different looks.
Automate Your Assembly Line Today
Packaging automation can seem like an overwhelming step. Whether you’re looking for full automation or want to start small by investing in one machine at a time, Blueprint Automation has the solutions for you. Talk to one of our packaging experts today to get specialist advice on all your packaging needs.
