The snacks section of the food industry often flies under the radar when it comes to trends and best practices. If you are one of those who haven’t been paying attention to what obtains in the industry, this article will bring you up to date. We will explore why transparent packaging is gaining more ground as it boosts sales for snack companies.
Many snack companies are adopting transparent packaging for their products to appeal to consumer preferences. They realize that the trend has shifted to transparent packaging over colorful branding, which was previously trendy. Now, let’s examine the psychology behind transparent snack packaging before delving into the best practices for adopting it.
The Psychology Behind Transparent Packaging
Seeing clear food packaging trends gain ground should come as no surprise if you have been following the industry. The season of bold colors on snack packaging is gradually passing, and we are welcoming a new era of transparent packs. Firstly, let’s start with some of the reasons transparent packaging is boosting sales for snack companies.
Builds Trust
As a consumer, you are likely to buy something you can see and gauge its quality over what you have to guess about its content. Snack manufacturers understand this reasoning and use clear containers to show their products’ features, such as freshness and unique shapes. Getting a visual confirmation of the product’s quality enhances consumer trust, making them more likely to purchase such snacks.
Influences Purchasing Decisions
Any business that wants to excel must understand what its target market wants from it. In the case of snack packaging, manufacturers are realizing how seeing the content influences most buyers’ purchasing decisions. Therefore, they are leveraging this packaging design psychology to create unique looks for their products, finding a balance between meeting consumer preferences and maintaining brand identity.
Aligns with Industry Best Practices
The snack industry packaging is moving towards clear packaging mainly because it attracts consumers who like to know the content of what they are about to buy. However, many are finding other reasons to embrace these minimalistic designs. Notably, clear packaging is mostly made out of sustainable materials, which align with sustainability trends and appeal to most consumers these days.
Enhances Product Appeal
Popular snacks often struggle to retain market shares. Most face serious competition from similar products that consumers like. Therefore, there is usually a pressing need to stand out in the sea of products in stores. Designing a unique, transparent container gives a brand the opportunity to get creative and stand out among similarly designed packaging.
Aligns with Consumer Preferences
See-through packaging has gained ground in the snack industry primarily because it satisfies the desires of consumers. The reasoning behind these preferences ranges from health-consciousness to convenience and ease of identification. With that said some common reasons consumers prefer snacks with transparent packaging are:
- Freshness: A clear container allows you to see the quality of a product immediately. This prevents you from picking a snack that is not fresh enough, and the company can avoid the bad reputation that follows a bad product.
- Ingredient transparency: Clear packaging allows for ingredient transparency in snacks as consumers can confirm listed ingredients, especially for snacks with fillings.
- Minimal processing: Health-conscious consumers appreciate transparent packaging, which lets them know when a product has been overly processed. By seeing the signs, they can avoid such snacks and opt for healthier options.
Best Practices for Implementing Transparent Packaging
If you are running a snack business or thinking of starting one, it is not just enough to buy the first clear material you see to package your products. Here are some factors you should consider while adopting transparent packaging.
Choosing the Right Materials
Firstly, choose a material that is most suitable for your product. Consider factors like sustainability and whether you will need a barrier coating to protect the product from sunlight exposure. Most sustainable clear packaging fulfills these criteria.
Optimize for Branding
Since most snack brands are shifting to transparent packaging, it may seem hard to stand out. However, you can do this by incorporating unique brand elements such as colors, labels, and fonts in a clean look that does not compromise the packaging’s transparency.
Ensure Product Protection
Transparent packaging can expose contents to unfavorable conditions like sunlight and air. Some products are highly sensitive to these elements, so ensure you offer the best protection possible. Useful tips you can adopt include using a barrier coating and resealable or airtight packs.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance
You should ensure compliance with all necessary regulatory guidelines for food products while adopting transparent packaging. Essential regulations to note include those regarding labeling, providing ingredient lists, nutritional information, and expiration dates, among other important details.
Final Thoughts
Transparent packaging for snacks is giving manufacturers and consumers a new set of rules to follow. Businesses can leverage transparency to stimulate consumers into making impulse purchases, which is crucial in the snack industry. Meanwhile, consumers can see what they are buying and make informed decisions about the quality and quantity of the snacks before making their purchases.
