Product packaging is an integral component of product marketing and promotion. This is one expense where you can’t afford to cut corners. The goal is to stand out and make a good impression of your product while it’s displayed on physical or digital shelves. And yes, this rule applies even if your brand caters to pets.
Pet owners will surely have a strong opinion on matters concerning their furry companions. And that opinion will initially be based on what they see. For instance, when it comes to pet food products, fur parents will gravitate toward those they find appealing, at least visually. If what’s inside proves even better, then that’s even better.
Indeed, it pays to attract fur parents’ attention and win their hearts with good pet food packaging. To level up your game, here are pet food packaging trends you might want to get behind.
Sustainability
Gone are the days when consumers were more than happy to buy products that satisfy their wants and needs. Now they factor into their shopping habits their core values, too.
Given the precarious state of our planet due to global warming, more and more people are becoming attuned to their responsibility toward environmental preservation. That is where sustainable packaging comes in.
In a study conducted by McKinsey & Co., 66% of respondents shared that they consider sustainability when choosing products to purchase. That number is even higher among millennials at 75%. These statistics encapsulate a growing sentiment among shoppers where sustainability becomes a highlight of conversations instead of merely an afterthought.
In terms of sustainable packaging materials, paper is the most favored among shoppers. Meanwhile, plastic is largely frowned upon. Therefore, when designing pet food packaging, it’s best to stick with paper if you don’t want to turn off potential customers. If you can, commit to using recycled paper.
Premium Packaging
Pets are family. That’s a common sentiment among fur parents. It does not matter if we’re talking about cats or dogs or something less popular within households like a rabbit. Pet owners around the world have agreed that their fur companions are neither just guards nor accessories. They are an integral component of the family structure.
Aligned with those sentiments is the increasing popularity of premium pet food. It used to be that fur parents randomly picked pet food from shelves thinking the only requirement of their doggos or kitties is to get their tummies stuffed. However, nowadays, fur parents zero in on quality and healthy food sources. With premium pet food comes the need for premium packaging.
Now you might be wondering, what constitutes premium pet food packaging? Think durability. Or temperature resistance. It also won’t hurt if the packaging offers augmented barrier properties. That will allow the nutrients packed in the food to stay where they ought to stay.
Convenience
It’s not enough for pet food packaging to look pretty. It must be practical, as well. Take a cue from the go-to packaging of your favorite snacks.
For example, stand-up pouches make it easy for fur parents to vertically store pet food in cabinets. Resealable zippers eliminate the need for additional containers, without compromising the freshness of the product. Tear notches make it easy to open a product without ruining the packaging. These are just a few tricks that render pet food packaging convenient to fur parents.
There’s also pocket scoring. Its main goal is to augment the sensual highlights of handling a pet food package. For instance, the technology allows for audible zippers. Fur parents will hear if they’ve thoroughly sealed the package. Meanwhile, micro-scoring allows the smell of the food to come out when the package is picked up and the air inside pushed out.
Humanize
As already mentioned, fur parents don’t think of their pets as mere pets. They are family. They are friends.
With that said, it’s time to do away with food packaging aesthetics that depict a divide between humans and pets. Fur parents want pet food packaging that looks like something they can have themselves. That means packaging that humanizes the product. Be mindful of the pictures you include, for starters.
In Closing
It’s a competitive world out there for businesses. It’s not enough to have superb products. Those products should be expertly marketed, too. With countless brands catering to the same market, it pays to stand out. And one way to do that is via packaging.
When it comes to packaging, everything must be accounted for. From the color to the font, every detail matters. These elements have subliminal effects on consumers, after all. Then be ready to tap into your target market’s values, as well including sustainability, durability, and quality.
So when deciding on the packaging for your pet food products, be extra mindful. Yours should be enticing enough to captivate your target consumer’s attention, whether they’re shopping from a physical or digital store.
