The new year is right around the corner, and while reflecting on the last 12 months of activity in the packaging industry, we’re noticing some fascinating growth happening in the pet food market.
Overall sales of pet products are expected to rise 3 percent, but the use of packaging in this space is already growing faster than overall product sales. While the industry itself is project to see a steady upswing, the pet food packaging market itself is slated to increase 8 percent by 2020.
Pet brands can prepare for a prosperous new year, but careful focus must be placed on the perception of their products – especially in the midst of several pet food recalls that caught the attention of pet owners across the globe. Dozens of products were pulled from shelves in 2015, some as a precaution, and others due to harmful contamination that could be detrimental to consumers’ beloved cats and dogs. Mold, Salmonella, Listeria, and contact with chemicals have all been of chief concern among pet food customers, and it’s up to pet brands to use their dog food packaging, as well as consumer trends, to determine how they will protect their products and present them in the new year and beyond.
While recalls can severely damage a brand’s reputation, there is a silver lining – pet companies are pulling these products from stores out of concern for their customers, and they now have the opportunity to retool their offerings and redesign their packaging to communicate their commitment to safety and improvement of the food they create for our furry friends.
Single-serve and small-sized packs of pet food and treats are projected to be popular in 2016, but looking at the bigger picture can help pet brands deliver a winning product and experience to their customers that boosts transparency, builds trust, and develops loyalty and lasting relationships between brand and consumer.
According to a recent Packaged Facts report, the following traits can help brands better design their dog food packaging around customers' desires:
Convenience
Portability
Ergonomics
Safety
Sustainability
Transparency
Clean labels
Your dog food packaging has the ability to reassure customers that the product inside is nutritious, wholesome, and made with clean ingredients that are beneficial for their pets. The structure of your package communicates your brand’s commitment to keeping pet food protected from harmful outside elements while offering convenience and ease of use for pet owners. Many consumers own multiple animals or larger dogs, and they seek out brands that offer the best value for their dollar. Instead of having to constantly return to stores to replenish smaller bags, big bags for packaging dog food meet the chief concerns outlined above while reducing inconvenient reordering of product that has run out.
Pet food companies are likely to adopt new systems that merge the physical and online worlds in 2016, and big bags for packaging dog food will play an important role in this. Your packaging labels and design have the ability to link your product and your brand’s online presence with the use of barcodes and mobile devices, allowing customers to scan a package for more detailed information on the product’s ingredients, usage, origins, and much more.
Boosting transparency and shaping positive perceptions about your pet food brand can be achieved using flexible packaging that is lightweight, recyclable, easy to open and reclose, and keeps flavor, freshness, and nutritional content locked in tight. Stand up pouches and flexible box bags can be produced with handles, zip locks, tear notches, and many other features that offer added convenience and portability, and large sizes can be produced for bulk quantities of pet food without any reduction in the quality of the container.
Forward-thinking brands that will play a key role in the growth of the pet food industry as a whole will focus their attention on their labels and product packaging and recognize these tools as significant stages in their marketing and branding strategies. Big bags for packaging dog food serve as large-scale visual communication devices that build trust among your customers and refresh your pet business for the new year and beyond.
(Image Source: kowboy fred)
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