5 drivers to the grocery sector in 2020

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Image by ElasticComputeFarm from Pixabay

The UK retail market will continue to undergo a monumental change in 2020.  To survive this shift and thrive in a new climate of change, the UK grocery sector is driven to evolve. So, what exactly are these changes that we, as producers and retailers, face today?

1. Convenience and choice will drive consumer behaviour

Let’s face it: Our customers’ shopping habits are changing. Apparently, the pattern is said to have shifted markedly about five years ago.  One must note that this generation spends money differently from the way their parents used to. In the future, for instance, it would be incomprehensible for them to spend two hours of their time food shopping on a Sunday.

2. Online will take a larger share of grocery sales

In a digital world, the grocery run has also changed course and found a faster, easier route. Thanks to online shopping, e-commerce giants like Amazon now have bragging rights to a convenient platform on which to shop from home. Inevitably, we must contend with innovations and advancements in which we should neither be outpaced nor left behind. 

3. Discounters will continue to eat market share

A renewed focus on low prices has come from consumer demand for value after the economic downturn. Although the economy has recovered, consumer habits have remained consistent. Decades have seen the Big Four namely Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s dominate the UK scene. What these retailers seem to have underestimated, however, is the meteoric rise of present-day discount chains. Clashing with the titans of the supermarket industry, they promote the value of no-frills shopping where one can buy comparable goods at low prices. Powerful as price is, it drives trade in a different direction. 

4. Further consolidation and diversification.

Dealt this hand, the Big Four were forced to broker deals to acquire greater volume and growth. Mergers like Sainsbury’s/Asda and Tesco/Booker rendered them more influential and competitive. Because of the redundancy and overlap that comes with consolidating companies, however, store closures and job losses could result from it. 

Demographically, we are also dealing with a much more diversified consumer base. As we face this diversification in population, the grocer of today no longer caters to the tastes and preferences of the same market as it had before.

5. Brexit is still a wild card.

Last but not least, blame it on Brexit. Britain’s exit from the European Union will certainly have a long and lasting impact beyond the grocery front. Aside from disrupting many supply chains and affecting the trade and import of goods, it also drives the UK manufacturing sector to drastically expand both farming and production locally in order to meet the country’s demand.As with any retail market, we in the UK know only too well that the customer always comes first! Thus, part of being consumer-driven would be to respond to these changes in the context of these five factors. Game-changing, they will shape how well we operate in the present and influence how much we succeed in the future.

Understanding Our Emotional Response to the Colour of Food

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They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and it looks like they are also the lens through which we view a lot of our food choices. At the centre of our thoughts and emotions, the human brain works so intricately as to enable us to respond to the stimulus of colour as perceived through vision. And when the eyes perceive colourful food that is either stimulating or suppressing to the appetite, then the body responds accordingly.

At present, how well do we understand our emotional response to colour? As individuals who vary in age group, gender, upbringing, and culture, we all respond to external stimuli differently. We each have our own preference when choosing clothes, combining accessories, and furnishing our homes. When it comes to food however, it looks like there are colours that affect us universally.

Now knowing that they affect personal choices, this knowledge can be put to good use in food packaging design. We no longer pick them impromptu and at random, but instead choose the ones that specifically cater to the human palate.

Looking at the colour wheel, there are those that stimulate us visually and emotionally. Furthermore, a darker shade evokes a stronger response while a lighter shade or hue creates a weaker one. In a nutshell, they basically influence our emotions and affect our mood as follows:

  • Red – Passionate. Energetic. Excited.
  • Orange – Happy. Friendly. Affordable.
  • Yellow – Sunny. Optimistic. Playful.
  • Green – Fresh. Natural. Organic.
  • Blue – Honest. Calm. Caring.
  • Violet – Creative. Imaginative.
  • White – Pure. Clean.
  • Brown – Earthy. Nurturing.
  • Black – Strong. Sophisticated.

So, there you are. With just a few strokes on the palette on your food packaging design, you can elicit either a positive or a negative response. You are able to create the desire to eat up or to cut down on food. As a food producer or retailer, this comes in handy because you absolutely want the eyes of your consumers on your products!

Are you interested in more tips about using colour in food packaging? Go ahead and have a look at Best Food Packaging Colours that Influence Consumers to Buy and The Type of Packaging that Gets Your Product into Their Shopping Carts. Happy reading and thank you! J

Should I Go for a Form Fill Seal Machine?

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The sale of single-use products are on the rise. With this growth, it’s essential that manufacturers and packagers find efficient, consumer-friendly ways to package goods. Major corporations across the globe, like Miracle Grow, Knorr and Iams, have turned to stand-up pouches, using a form fill seal machine, to fill this need. The following questions may serve as a guide for those deciding whether form fill seal machines are the right choice for their product.

Are Speed and Precision Important?

Other methods of packaging can require several steps and lengthy processes. Consider the time it takes to measure out the right amount per package. Then, factor in the amount of time it takes to fill and seal. Are special labels being applied? These things can all be streamlined and completed in seconds using a form fill seal machine. Not only does this allow for more accurate measures, but it also allows for reduced costs in labor. Some companies new to the process are amazed that they can package their commodities faster than they can manufacture more. Moreover, the unique materials and designs allow for less waste during the packaging process, saving the producer even more money.

Is Consumer Satisfaction Essential to the Business?

The compact form of empty stand-up pouches and other flexible films produces less waste than most other delivery methods. Having less to throw away signals to the customer that they’re not paying extra for useless packaging. It also provides them with the satisfaction that they’re keeping more waste out of landfills. One of the greatest benefits is that it keeps foods fresh for longer periods of time. Whether it’s candy, dried fruit, nuts or soup, the airtight seal locks flavors in, resulting in a better end product. Additionally, pouches can keep food fresh without the use of preservatives. This allows manufacturers to create a higher-quality product that appeals to the growing market for natural foods. The ability to easily package and store things for one-time use also enables the consumer to waste less food, because the proper serving has already been measured out.

Are Aseptic Conditions Crucial for the Product?

Some products absolutely must be clean and bacteria-free. When packaging a sensitive item like baby food or medicine, the health of the final recipient is dependent on it. Glass was once a popular delivery method for supplies such as these, but it wasn’t without issue. Breakage was common and storage was both cumbersome and difficult. Stand-up pouches are incredibly resilient, provide worry-free delivery and can be kept sterile throughout the packaging process. This makes them arguably the safest choice on the market when the consumer needs the most protection. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to packaging goods. However, form fill seal machines are incredibly diverse, allowing proper sealing as well as labeling of products ranging from food to fertilizer to razors. They can deliver higher customer satisfaction and reduced costs for businesses across the board. They offer options for cleanliness that can’t be achieved as simply or efficiently as any other method of packaging on the market

Are You Using the Right Flexible Film?

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Choice and decisions: businessman thinking with question marks wIt’s not enough to begin with a first-rate product. The superiority of a brand, and continued integrity of it, depends on using the proper flexible film packaging. As all films are not created equal, and each product requires protection from different elements to maintain freshness and quality, it’s important to know if the packaging selected is suited for the commodity. Examining the following common destructive elements can help determine if the right levels of defense have been chosen for the task.

Contaminants

Keeping overall contaminants out of food products is generally the first thing manufacturers consider. Bugs, dust, dirt, and other debris destroy buyer confidence. Most packages, at the very least, provide this level of protection. However, it’s also important to verify the reliability of the seal to safeguard against pollutants while the product is transported, on the shelf, and after it’s reached the consumer’s home. Additionally, it’s vital to know that a wrapping’s ability to protect against any element will change depending on atmospheric conditions. Therefore, exposure to heat and humidity should be taken into account.

Moisture

Plastics typically work as an excellent moisture barrier. Water vapor transmission rates are scientifically measurable and don’t vary much between plastic films. Some differences may be noted, but they’re so small that they don’t generally have any effect on the shelf-life of a product. This makes them best suited for protecting things like chocolate and dehydrated foods, which are particularly sensitive to moisture changes, but not baked goods that can lose ideal firmness, unless the film is perforated to allow ventilation.

Oxygen and Aroma

The ability for oxygen to pass through will vary greatly from one option to the next. Verifying the oxygen transmission rate of the film used will help determine whether the packaging is a proper choice for the product. For instance, dairy products will generally benefit from a low-oxygen transmission rate, while it wouldn’t be nearly as important with dry dog food. There’s no precise way to measure whether aroma or odor can permeate packaging, or to what degree. However, it’s clear when it happens. Items that give off a strong smell, like fish, or ones that absorb them easily, such as dehydrated foods, should be packaged with a specialized aroma-barrier coating.

Light

Light transmission can vary significantly as well. Generally, candies and the like remain fresh even if the wrapper contains a window that allows light directly in. Dry pet food stays at its best in a dark, or opaque bag. An item like potato chips or moist pet food needs to have light totally shut out to avoid rancidity and benefits most from metalized packaging.

Consumer satisfaction should be a number-one priority for any business. When producing consumable goods, there’s a lot to take into account to make sure the end-product reaches customers in the same condition in which it was created. As such, it’s essential to choose a flexible film that provides adequate protection against the elements that are most destructive to each individual product. Doing so delivers longer shelf-life, better quality goods and higher overall consumer satisfaction.

4 Tips for Getting Your Package Messaging Right

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Confectionery Stand up PouchWhether it’s wrapped in laminate packaging or anything else, a product has mere seconds to attract a shopper’s attention and convince them that it’s the right choice. While the packaging has many duties, one of the most important ones is to demonstrate the product’s benefits quickly and effectively. Here are four tips that the big guys in marketing use to make the magic happen.

1) Clear the Clutter

Because consumers race through shops at break-neck speeds, they just take a moment to look at each individual product. Marketing pros know this, so they simplify labels and retain purely the most important information. This helps to ensure that a shopper will see all the vital details at a glance. Marks & Spencer does this beautifully with their line of cleaners. The front labels of their line are very crisp and hold only the information a shopper needs right away.

2) Choose a Single Message
Again, this goes back to speed and easy identification. Whether the product is reformulated, new, or the brand endorsed by doctors, only one message is displayed. Great care and consideration go into choosing the most influential message for each product. Cadbury does this very well. As a well-known brand, their main message is almost always the company name on a familiar purple background. This makes it very easy for a person to identify and decide to purchase their product instantly, whether it’s wrapped in foil or in laminate packaging.

3) Understand Shopper’s Eye

Studies have actually been done to track eye movement as people look at products. What the experts have learned is that people don’t read labels as they would nearly all other things. Rather, their eyes are generally pulled to the most dominant thing near the center of the package. In fact, about two-thirds of shoppers will miss information if it’s near the corner of the package instead. Campbell’s is a prime example of this. Their medallion logo is always centered on the can, with their name above it and product name below it. It’s very rare to see any additional information away from the center of the item.

4) Utilize Graphics

The active consumer is too busy to stop and read. The more information that can be shared with graphics, the larger amount the consumer will take in. Experts in marketing will also keep these images simple and will generally make sure the colors contrast the package so the consumer is more likely to see it. One of Iron Brew’s latest designs is a prime example of how this is done effectively. The silver graphic on an orange background jumps out from the blue text area and tells the shopper that it’s a powerful drink.

Effective marketing directly on your laminate packaging is essential for getting the product off the shelves and into the hands of shoppers. The pros have done research and use tried-and-true methods to ensure their products are noticed. However, even the smallest manufacturer can achieve similar results, provided they take note and develop a messaging strategy that’s based on consumer habits.

Innovative New Laminate Films

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bag-7MTL Packaging is offering an innovative new laminate film structured to prolong product freshness and extend shelf life. The shiny laminate material addresses several issues that food manufacturers may encounter while shipping, storing and presenting food products to consumers within a retail environment.

Food items run the risk of exposure to harsh temperatures and atmospheric changes during transportation. This new high barrier material provides maximum protection against the elements by keeping outside moisture and oxygen locked out. The shiny film is translucent and appeals to consumers on both an aesthetic and practical level.

“Consumers have a desire to engage with the product within the packaging and this material enables them to do so by viewing it directly. The buyer can then be satisfied by taking home a fresh, crisp product that won’t go stale,” said Ramnik Modi, Director at MTL Packaging

Clients are equally pleased with the new laminate. A leading Asian snacks manufacturer has employed MTL’s services and has contracted them to supply this material for use with their products. Differentiation in film clarity and appeal is a vital element in the image branding and marketing process and is what sets a product apart from its competitors.

The MTL Packaging team is constantly seeking new solutions and designing packaging that better satisfy the needs of food processors and retailers. Hence, the introduction of the new laminate material is just one exciting milestone in product development to look forward to.