Cereal Packaging

Granola.  Once considered fruits and nuts eaten by...well, people that would eat fruits and nuts, granola is now a favorite conventional breakfast food.   www.wikipedia.org says "the names Granula and Granola were trademarked terms in the late nineteenth century United States for foods consisting of whole grain products crumbled and then baked until crisp."  Today, fruits, nuts, even chocolate are added to create many varieties.

Of course, increasing popularity and more varieties means greater competition.  A sluggish economy yields more cost-conscious consumers looking for value.  Building your brand of granola is, therefore, more challenging than ever before.

Building your brand of granola requires much more than simply offering a quality product.  You need effective marketing that tells a story which makes your brand distinctive.  Of course, marketing dollars are often a scarce resource and for many companies, extensive advertising is out of the question.  An alternative is readily available:  Innovative packaging.

While your primary focus may be to ensure the 'granola shopper' buys your brand, remember that your packaging may persuade someone just looking for any old breakfast cereal to buy your granola instead.  Fewer than half of all shoppers know which brand or product they are going to buy when they get to the store shelf.  The cereal aisle at any store is a prime example of just how many choices a consumer can have for one type of product.  Granola competes with adult cereal, cereal for kids, cereal with fruit and without fruit and made from a wide range of grains.  Your packaging must stand out.

Stand up pouches are the height of innovative packaging.  Multiple layers of specially-formulated film are laminated together, creating a barrier that is durable, puncture-resistant and protects the contents from vapor, odor, moisture and pests while locking in freshness, flavor and aroma.

Also called stand up bags and Mylar® barrier bags, stand up pouches have wide front and back panels that offer a blank canvas upon which to affix your labels or order custom printing of your product info, graphics, even a QR code or links to websites.  Transparent film is available to better showcase your brand.

Stand up bags stand on the shelf and apart from the competition.  Available round and sombrero-style hang holes offer an additional display option which increases your brand's visibility.

Stand up pouch granola packaging to build your sales and your brand:  Not a nutty idea and one sure to bear fruit.
 

Breakfast cereal.    Once simply corn or bran flakes, breakfast cereal now includes a variety of other grains and is often combined with dried fruits, nuts and other ingredients.  A walk down the cereal aisle at any grocery store presents customers with an almost mind-numbing array of choices.  Competing in this arena makes it difficult to capture a greater share of the market.  However, it is possible to distinguish your cereal line from the competition and build your sales.  Using stand up bags as packaging is one way to make it happen.

Boxes have traditionally been the preferred form of cereal packaging, with some obvious shortcomings.  One, customers have no idea how much is in that box on the shelf, often being "surprised" to find that the last person to eat cereal put an empty box back on the shelf.  Second, boxes don't fare well after they've gotten wet from, for example, a wet counter.  Third, the interior wax-like bag never really closes, allowing the cereal to get stale (and...shudder... bugs to dine).  Finally, the box always takes up the same amount of shelf space, no matter how little of the contents are left.

Stand up bags have none of these problems.  First, the bag design creates a sturdy, waterproof and puncture resistant container.  Multiple layers of specially formulated film are laminated together to create a barrier ideal for keeping things out while locking freshness and flavor in.

Stand up bags 'decrease' in size the emptier they get, which not only leaves more space on the shelf but lets your customer know just how much (or how little) cereal is left.  And no matter how wet the counter, your cereal will remain dry.

When it comes to extending the shelf life of your product, stand up bags are far superior to boxes because of the available zip lock closures which ensure that freshness and flavor are locked in (and bugs are locked out!).

Your sales will benefit from the versatile display options of stand up bags.  They can either be stood up on the shelf or suspended from round or sombrero-style hang holes.

Finally, the bag construction yields wide front and back panels, perfect for affixing your labels or ordering custom printing of your text and graphics in up to 10 colors.

Cereal packaged in stand up bags:  No use crying over spilled milk when you can increase sales instead.
 

Aside from the ritual of brewing coffee, is there any more comforting task in the morning than pulling out a box of cereal, bowl and milk at the ready?  Unless, of course, the box is really, really light and you realize that someone put an empty box back in the cupboard.    An illustration of why there has got to be a better form of cereal packaging than boxes.

There is!  Stand up pouches, also called stand up bags or printed stand pouches, are perfect for cereal packaging.  These bags protect the cereal from odor vapor, moisture and critters, ensuring that the each bowlful is as fresh as the first.  

Made from laminating multiple layers of scientifically designed film together, stand up bags are puncture resistant and durable, allowing for safe transport and long shelf life.  Stand up bag cereal packaging can be ordered with tear notches for easy opening and zip lock type closure for convenient storage, preventing spillage while protecting the cereal from spoilage.

For marketing purposes, stand up bag cereal packaging is ideal.  The bags can be custom printed with up to 10 colors.  As an alternative, labels can be applied on the wide front and back panels.  And the bags can be ordered with 'windows, allowing the consumer to see just how delicious that bowl of cereal the next morning is going to be.

In addition to standing up on the shelf,  hang holes are also available for stand up pouches, allowing for a hanging display.  Either way, the cereal will almost jump right into the cart.

Stand up cereal packaging.  Great for starting the day off on the right foot.  Interested in learning more about cereal packaging using stand up bags?

Cereal, the morning staple for years, obviously comes in all shapes and sizes.  Cereal packaging is no different.  Cereal packaging has historically been the outer paper carton with the inner liner but recently many cereal manufacturers are looking to a rising star in the flexible packaging business, the stand up pouch. 

Stand up pouches, also known as stand bags or stand up bags, are made from multiple layers of barrier film laminated together that provide barrier protection for the cereal from issues ranging from moisture, odor, even UV rays.  In essence, it keeps the cereal fresher for longer.  Further, recent advancements in technology now allow custom printing of stand bags in quantities as low as 5000 pieces.  This can be a game changer, and here's why.

Folding cartons, or the outer part of cereal packaging, are made from paper and require a huge minimum run on specialized equipment and then need the inner plastic liner to contain the cereal itself.  The inner plastic liner is usually high density film, the crinkly stuff, and provides some barrier protection but nothing like a stand up pouch.

Custom printed stand up bags for cereal packaging provides the barrier protection mentioned above but even better the entire solution is one piece.  Remember that stand up pouches are made from multiple layers of film and one of those layers is actually the graphics themselves trapped between other layers, kind of like a sandwich.  Here the printing is "trapped" and cannot be marred or scratched in any way.  In one piece the cereal is packaged and protected.  This can reduce cost and help the environment too.

Learn more about stand up pouches for cereal packaging

We live in a me too society, and cereal packaging is no different.  Unlike certain types of segments of the breakfast food industry such as granola or even oatmeal, cereal packaging tends to be stuck in its ways.  Since the beginning of time, let's say when cave men ate cereal (joking) they had a paper box with an inner liner inside.  For some reason Kelloggs and Post, etc have continued down this road.

The minumum run for a custom printed cereal box with inner liners is in the 100,000 range.  This doesn't include the printing plates required and that corresponding artwork creation expense.  The carton itself offers little or no protection and the inner liner offers minimal protection, as it is usually very thin high density plastic.

A stand up pouch is made from multiple layers of heavy duty barrier film in order to keep the cereal fresher for longer.  The stand bag is made to stand erect on a store shelf along with a zipper and tear notch for easy access to the contents.  The wide face and back of the stand up pouch provides room on the cereal packaging to show the company logo and quite possibly tell the company story.  Cereal packaging using a stand up pouch can be made using clear film in order to have a window to see the contents, or can be completely opaque to protect from sunlight or any other negative element.  Most importantly, custom printed stand up pouches for cereal packaging can be made in quantities as few as 5000 pieces...roughly 95% LESS quantity required to print with better quality than the cereal boxes from the big boys.  Cereal boxes are printed Flexographically, which is very "old school" while stand up pouches are Rotogravure printed, the bold, dynamic, photographic quality retailers want and consumers love.  Finally, the printing is trapped between different layers of the barrier film so it cannot be scratched or damaged in any way.

My point is this...at a time when being unique and different is a good thing, why not be different?  Why not be the IKEA of the cereal industry?  With stand up pouches, your cereal packaging can protect and also be one of your main selling features when building your brand.

Dry food packaging is a broad stroke of the packaging industry that includes everything from cereal and trail mix to granola and flour and everything in between.  The point of this post is to explain in a little detail how using stand up pouches can save money over other types of packaging. 

Let's assume we are dealing with dry food packaging for flour.  Some options to package flour include

• Folding Cartons
• Corrugated Boxes
• Heavy Duty Plastic Bags
• Paper Sacks
• Stand Up Pouches

Folding cartons are made from paperboard (either recycled or virgin grade).  Dry food products packaged using this type of container are limited to the amount of weight, most likely less than 1.5 pounds and folding cartons offer little or no barrier protection, meaning in order to protect the flour another type of packaging is required, most likely a plastic bag.  In a nutshell, dry food packaging using folding cartons would need not only the carton but an inner barrier bag as well.  Estimated cost for a custom printed folding carton that would hold 1 pound of flour $.25 cents + $.02 cents for an inner liner.  $.27 cents

Corrugated cartons are another style using paper but this dry food packaging is much more durable than folding cartons...and in many instances...cheaper too.  Same as folding cartons, corrugated cartons offer no barrier protection for the flour, so an inner liner, most likely a plastic bag, will be needed to not only contain the flour but offer some barrier protection.  This style of dry food packaging will cost $.20 cents + $.02 for an inner liner.  $.22 cents

Tomorrow...in Part Two, we'll discuss other types of dry food packaging.

As I've mentioned in other posts, dry food packaging pertains to so many industries from pet food and cereal to spices and bread crumbs.  Just because a product is dry doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't spoil or go bad or go stale.  We've all had crackers or cookies that were in less than optimal dry food packaging and they lost flavor or weren't crispy or whatever.  This ultimately turns into a serious negative in the eye of any consumer and we all know consumers have long memories.

Here is where stand up pouches, also known as stand bags or stand up bags, can play an important role in dry food packaging. First, stand bags protect.  The multiple layers of barrier film are made specifically to keep the contents fresher for longer.  Stock stand bags are generally made with far more barrier protection than the customer may need and custom stand pouches are developed with the particular dry food product itself in mind, the weight of the product, the enviroment it will be stored or displayed in, opened and closed, etc.  My point here is either way, using stock stand bags for dry food packaging or custom stand bags, your product will be protected far and away better than other types of flexible packaging and other types of packaging like a bag inside a box or a bag inside a metal in, etc.  Look no further than other posts pertaining to dry food packaging for info regarding how stand up pouches save money over other types of packaging.

As far as performing, stand bags are the stars of the show on retail store shelves.  Whether you'll use a stock stand pouch where you apply a label or better yet you purchase custom printed pouches that have the bold and dynamic printing that says "LOOK AT ME" or "LEARN WHY OUR PRODUCT AND COMPANY ARE SO GREAT" these flexible stand bags will stand effectively and erect on a store shelf and also provide easy access into the contents using the tear notches and ziplock or even a pour spout if needed.

At StandUpPouches.net, stand bags are our passion.  We believe if you have a need for dry food packaging stand pouches will protect and perform.  FYI, if you are interested in other advantages using stand pouches for dry food packaging, see these other blog posts here!

Yesterday we chatted how stock stand up pouches could help build your dry food packaging brand.  Today, it is custom stand up pouches for dry food packaging.  Also known as stand bags or stand up bags, these innovative flexible pouches have been counted on for years by the big boys like Nestle in good times and in bad to not only protect their product but maintain and/or solidify their brand name in the consumer's mind.  However, recent advancements have made custom stand bags possible for small to medium companies as well.

Dry food packaging obviously encompasses many different product categories from pet food to cereal, from flax seed to quinoa.  The situation remains the same, how can these manufacturers protect their product and build their brand?  Custom printed stand bags are the answer.  Now, certain manufacturers like StandUpPouches.net can run as few as 5000 pieces with the same incredible bold Rotogravure printing, eye catching graphics, and all the features like ziplocks, tear notches, hang holes, and even pour spouts that many thought were only available to the major players.

Stand pouches are made from multiple layers of barrier film that is laminated together so the dry food product itself is protected from moisture, vapor, odor, and even sunlight.  Even better, the printed layer is trapped between these barrier film layers, so there is no way to scratch or damage the printing at all.  By design, stand up pouches are made to stand erect on a store shelf and a natural advantage from this design is the wide face and back of the pouch that is perfect for a company to print their logo but more importantly the company story and why this particular product is so good, yummy, different, longer lasting, etc.  Want to learn more?  Check out our Building Your Brand Starter Kit.

Talking about dry food packaging sounds like watching paint dry, right?  Wrong!  Dry food packaging is critical for the protection of products such as bread crumbs, bird feed, spices, and even cereal.  Without the proper packaging, these dry foods would go stale, develop or attract odor, even go bad due to ultra-violet sunlight.  While all of these issues are critical to protect the dry food and keep it fresher for longer, here I'm going to rattle off some ways that the right dry food packaging can build your brand.

Stand up pouches, also known as stand up bags or stand bags, have revolutionized the packaging industry.  Made from multiple layers of barrier film laminated together stand bags are made to stand upright on a store shelf while providing generous space for a company to apply a label and explain the contents, tell the company story, and otherwise begin building a brand.  Dry food packaging involves many small to medium size companies desperate to get their product on a store shelf.  Many small companies don't have the ability or need to purchase 25,000 to 75,000 pieces of a custom printed stand pouch.  Many large companies can afford it but why purchase stand bags for so many if they are trying new flavors or are private labeling for other companies at smaller quantities? 

Here is where stock stand pouches for dry food packaging can help.  Available in various sizes from the ultra tiny that will hold 1 ounce to jumbo sizes that will hold 5+ pounds, these pouches are available in cases of 1000 pieces, are available for immediate shipment, and come with ziplocks and tear notches and sometimes hang holes. Further, stand bags are available in solid colors or even combinations with one side being clear and the other being a solid color. The point here is that companies can purchase a case of stand bags for a tiny investment, print a color label from their own PC printer, and apply it to the ample space on the front and back and even bottom of the pouch to start showcasing their product and just as important their logo and company story and why their product is so great. 

In my next post, I'll discuss how custom dry food packaging can build your brand too!  Until next time..

Cereal and for that matter granola could be termed staples at breakfast.  Industry leaders continue to be excited about ready to eat cereals, of which granola falls into that category.  However, I'm going to write this post from the perspective of consumer walking into a Whole Foods or even a Trader Joe's with a clean slate in my noggin over what type of granola I'm going to take home with me...in the hopes of proving my point that granola packaging with stand up pouches does matter and will increase sales.

Granola packaging historically has tried to model its packaging after the natural look of granola itself.  Most likely this means that they'll buy paper packaging for their granola.  Or, another option is a bulk plastic bag, similar to what you would get in the produce aisle of a
supermarket with a twist tie and a label slapped on indicating the flavor.  I've also seen metal tins used with a plastic bag on the inside...here the manufacturer is paying for two types of packaging.

Then, there is granola packaging using stand up pouches.  Also known as stand bags or stand up bags, these pouches made from flexible film are available stock where you can apply a label or custom printed with vivid, bold, photographic images that hit the consumer right between the eyes...POW!  While stock stand bags for granola packaging is very acceptable, I'm going to imagine we are talking about custom printed stand up pouches.

I wander to the store, the sights and sounds and smells of Whole Foods or Trader Joes consumes me, past the produce and checkout lines, it's granola I'm in the mood for.  I see granola A in a paper bag with a clear window, similar to what the bakery gives me when I order a few cookies for our kids.  Sure looks good, very natural looking, not a whole lot of graphics but a nice label that says its cinnamon apple flavor but the label isn't straight and in fact there is an air bubble trapped under the sticker.  That's OK, I think, the granola looks tasty so I look at the clear window of the bag only to see that it's glued on the inside of the paper bag...that really thin cellophane plastic that is clear as a bell but very flimsy.  The twist tie at the top of the granola packaging looks handy.  Will it work? 

I grab another granola brand, this really looks good, much more expensive than all the others, the printed label says its the best but that's all there is, a printed label applied to a metal in.  I cannot see or touch and feel granola at all.  Hmmm, expensive doesn't always mean the best, but whoever made this is using very expensive granola packaging.

Then, I see granola packaging using a printed stand up pouch.  Bold, dynamic printing, lots of cool graphics and a clear window on the front and bottom of the pouch so I can see the clusters of granola, I can see the coating of honey and cinnamon, this looks really tasty.  Wow, this printed stand bag has the granola company story, I never knew it was made from an old family recipe from Vermont.  Plus, it has a ziplock so I don't have to eat the entire bag or use one of those silly chip clips to try to keep the contents fresh.  Its not the cheapest granola, but it's not the most expensive either...very interesting.  Plus, the pouch itself is made from layers of film, I can feel them, this is a very sturdy bag that will stand on my cupboard when I get home and even withstand a fall if my daughter drops it or it gets bumped off the table.  Yeah...I like the granola using a stand up pouch...I feel smarter for having looked at them all too.  I'm going to buy this brand in the stand up pouch.

See, granola packaging makes a difference.  Stand up pouches will protect granola, keep it fresher for longer, and help build not only your brand but your sales too!

It's often thought that granola packaging was the first to use stand up pouches, also known as stand bags or stand up bags.  While I have no proof of this, personally it is the first product I remember.  Bear Naked blasted onto the scene and soon I noticed not only the granola but interestingly I even noticed the packaging.  While the granola looked delicious, and I can now say with fresh fruit and 1% milk it was delicious, it was the granola packaging that interested me.  Trust me, at the end of the day taste is going to be the deciding factor, but packaging is critcal.

Granula (as it was originally spelled) was invented by Dr. James Caleb Jackson in 1894 for his prominent health spa, known as The Jackson Sanitarium.  A similar cereal was invented by John Harvey Kellogg (that's correct, from Kellogg cereal family) and the name was changed to granola to avoid legal problems.  But I digress.  Back to my consumer shopping and facination with granola packaging.

Here, the product was standing on a store shelf, not lying down flat, and I could actually see the granola.  I could see the time and effort the manufacturers took to make sure the granola fit into the stand up bag and filled the pouch so it stood erect on a store shelf and better yet filled the clear window of the stand bag so the granola was the star of the show.  I could actually see the rolled oats coated with honey and whatever yummy stuff they use that made my mouth water!

I could actually imagine myself grabbing a handful out of the bag for a snack or pouring a bowl for breakfast the next morning.  Yikes...what is happening to me?  It's true, packaging made a difference in my eyes as a consumer way back then.  To a larger extent, stand up pouches make a difference for granola packaging in so many ways.  Stand up bags can:

• *  Help Companies Build Their Brand
• *  Protect Granola and Keep It Fresher For Longer
• *  Save Granola Companies Money Over Other Types of Packaging
• *  Increase Sales

Look no further than coming posts to see each of these bullet points.  Stand up pouches changed granola packaging forever.  I believe using stand up pouches for your granola can change your product's future as well.