Food packaging may not seem as a major requirement for some food operators, but one can’t deny that it is important to ensure that packaging is efficient to suit a variety of events. Not only will it benefit your business and be customer friendly, but it will also increase opportunities for catering or more if the overall customer experience is positive.
Food entrepreneurs often only have the advantage of extending their normal business hours and setting up booths when there are special events, such as during sports or concerts. Keep in mind that during these events, customers often prioritise convenience and pleasure to eat — this becomes a key element to consider when they are buying food.
Minimise your food packaging…or remove it
In this case, not only do you need to consider the time factor, but also the ease of disposing trash after they’ve finished their food.
Given these considerations, it’s best to minimize your packing or remove it altogether - light snacks such as sandwiches and sausage bread can be wrapped with a simple tissue or paper so it will reduce waste.
Additionally, solid foods such as fried noodles and fried rice should be packed in containers that can be tightened. This provides convenience for customers as they can store their food to be enjoyed at any time.
Food packaging for night markets
When it comes to night markets, many customers like to buy packaged food. Because of that, make sure that your food is presented in a neatly packaged form that does not spill. This means that soup-based foods should be placed in plastic and drinks should be placed in adhesive plastic cups.
Plastic containers for packing food
For noodles, it’s best to place noodles in a plastic bag or a separate plastic container, and have the soup places in a round plastic container as it is of the same shape as the bowls that diners usually eat from in restaurants or at home. Noodles should be packed separately from the soup to ensure that it does not soak up the broth become too overcooked.
For rice dishes, regular rectangular plastic containers are best for keeping them tightly sealed so that diners can eat at their convenience.
Eco-friendly food packaging options
However, snacks like fries, chicken popcorn and cheese potatoes are an exception as many customers like to walk around while chewing them. The packaging for these foods should be easily accessible, with no need to open and close the food.
For these types of packaging, why not consider eco-friendly options that also do not break the bank? The most common eco-friendly option is probably paper packaging. However, for a traditional touch you may want to consider other options such as opeh leaf or even banana leaf to wrap your snacks in!
Branding your food packaging
Other than catering to your diners’ convenience, one important role that food packaging plays is the role of branding. People often think of social media when it comes to the topic of branding. However, food packaging plays an important role too. A well-designed food packaging can leave an impression to diners and even non-diners, drawing awareness for your brand so that these customers may visit in the future.
In fact, food packaging can also tell your diners more about your brand, whether it is your sustainability efforts, ethics or just how much you care for your diners.
Here are some quick tips to get you started on how you can make the most out of your food packaging design:
1. Let your brand identity reflect its values
This should be done with your target audience and your brand identity in mind. Are you a food business that focuses on sustainability? Consider eco-friendly options. Or perhaps you cater to a slightly more affluent audience that are looking for your higher-quality food products. In this case, you need to ensure that your packaging reflects this as well, with luxurious designs to convey this.
Through your food packaging, your target audience will be able to identify your brand quickly and are more likely to be interested in the food that you sell.
2. Ensure that your food packaging suits your food
This may seem like a given, but more often than not business owners and chefs get lost in the design process that they forget the fundamentals — ensuring you’re your food packaging is suitable for the food that you’re selling.
Give thought to the specific needs of your food and beverages, such as whether they crack easily (like in the case of biscuits), when you think of the various food packaging options that you’re choosing.
3. Less is more when it comes to food packaging design
When it comes to providing information, it’s always easier for diners to know more about the product and your brand when information is conveyed in a simple manner.
Taking this into consideration, only include key information about your brand and product, and minimalise any design elements that are not crucial in conveying these information.
In fact, cutting down on the amount of printing to be done for food packaging may even help you to save some costs!
With these tips on food packaging in mind, choose wisely whether it’s food packaging for events, day-to-day takeaway or even food delivery!
