Many pet owners have high standards for pet food. Keeping up with packaging trends that correspond to consumer expectations and needs can help your company stand out and level up. Loyalty is an important consideration in the crowded and competitive market for pet products, as customers often stock up on and continue to rebuy their pets’ favorite foods. From resealable packaging to durable and safe materials and smart design features, here are three next-level packaging trends for pet food products.
Make It Resealable
Press to close zippers are trending in pet food packaging design because this feature encourages pet owners to store food in original packaging. Keeping packaging around for longer can significantly increase the visibility and impact of product branding. In addition to seeing the design of pet food packaging in brick-and-mortar or on online pet retailers and at home prior to opening the bag, resealable bags keep brand information fresh in consumers’ minds for the duration of the shelf life of each bag of pet food.
Resealable closures are available for small bags of pet food under 5 pounds up to large bags over 20 pounds. Your company can affordably try out different barrier films, closures and designs by partnering with a packaging service that offers cosmetic packaging low minimums. Any closure mechanism you choose should exclude air and moisture to prolong the freshness of pet food.
Choose The Right Material
Pet owners often have several priorities for pet food packaging, but durability is one of the most important factors. In particular, packages of pet food should be resistant to puncture, which poses a threat to package integrity and product quality throughout distribution, shipping, display and storage. The packaging material you choose and the thickness of barrier films are both important factors for designing pet food packaging that consumers trust.
A food-safe barrier film is also essential for consumable products intended for pets. The size of packaging can also factor into your choice of materials. For example, a relatively thin film can be suitable for supplements in a stick pack, such as food toppers, which may be sold separately for single-serving use or in boxes or pouches. Thicker films are essential for heavy bags of pet food.
Include Smart Packaging Features
Many pet owners want to know more about the nutrition of pet food recipes and the sourcing of ingredients. Smart packaging features such as Quick Response codes can instantly connect consumers to your company website. You can also use QR codes on flexible packaging for food to enable consumers to trace supply chains and determine authenticity or freshness.
Resealable pet food packaging maintains freshness and increases the visibility of branding. Packaging that is durable, food-safe and informative can also make customers more likely to seek out and rebuy products. Smart features that inform pet owners about why your products are the best choice can lead to positive reviews and increase word-of-mouth recommendations. Any pet food company can level up their packaging by following one or more of these trends.