Leading U.K. confectionery manufacturer IB Group has refreshed its Mega Marshmallows brand, with a new identity and packaging design created to drive more American nostalgia and warmth into the brand.

Executives with The Hershey Co. spoke to investors during the company’s Q4 2018 earnings call, with notification that the transformation of Hershey’s packaged candy portfolio is on track and will start to hit shelves after Easter.

Bob’s Red Mill is bringing its expertise in whole grain foods to the snack aisle with Bob’s Better Bars in whole rolled oats with peanut butter and ingredients like honey, chocolate, strawberry and banana.

I find myself looking at packaging, even if the item isn’t on my list. I do an overall look just to see if any new packaging has come out. This includes the packaging, the price, the product (especially food, meat, dairy) and most recently, the level of commitment a brand has to the environment. Can I recycle the packaging once the product is gone? 

As packaging lines have become more efficient, waste or problems on the line can become less visible and harder to identify. For example, lines might be slow due to multiple micro-stops, or overall line performance might falter due to lack of standard work or process for operators. We can miss what we don’t see.

Consumers are looking for convenience in poultry products due to smaller households and busy schedules. There is high demand for microwave-safe, flexible packaging options and designs with resealable closures, such as zippers, and small portions. As well, poultry packaging manufacturers are introducing innovative products that now include intelligent technologies.

Your packaging may be more important to your company’s success than you know. In addition to attracting consumers’ attention and protecting your products, it also can have a significant impact on your operating costs.

Demand for digital printing in packaging was estimated to be valued at over U.S. $11 billion in 2016, and a new report by Future Market Insights estimates it to grow at 15.3 percent to surpass U.S. $52 billion in revenues by 2027.

Kar’s Nuts partnered with Seattle-based brand strategy firm Retail Voodoo to create a two-tiered strategy in order to expand the brand from its Midwest Michigan roots across the East and West coasts.