When you visit the local grocery store, you are probably able to identify many similar types of foods. Even if you are looking for a specific single item, there are likely many brands and versions of that food. Your selection is likely based on brand loyalty, advertisement, and the specific ingredients and processes of that food product. Manufacturers are constantly making improvements and relying on new methods, such as vertical form fill seal machines, to advance their brands into the most purchased items at the local market.
Packaging methods
Packages matter to consumers. You have probably purchased a food item based on its convenience or ability to store. A product that is packaged poorly is unlikely to be purchased again. For this reason, this is a common area of improvement among food manufacturers. There are currently many different methods available for food and beverage packaging. The specific ingredients or materials used in packaging also can affect buying decisions. As there is an increase in environmental awareness, many manufacturers are moving toward recyclable packaging products.
Approximately 52% of people around the world make purchase decisions partially due to packaging that shows a brand making a positive social and environmental impact. Recyclability is one of the most important factors considered. Others include social responsibility, attention and care of employees, and world awareness. Packaging machines and vertical form fill seal machines can improve the way that products are packaged, in a more environmental friendly way.
Packaging contents
Consumers also care about what is in their food and beverage products. This refers to much more than the actual ingredients of the food items. When a food manufacturing company suffers from negative publicity surrounding problems with food, their business significantly declines. For example, a soda pouch filling machines that produces growth of mold can prevent buyers from purchasing that product again, even after the problem is taken care of. While regulations on vertical form fill seal machines and other filling machines usually prevent these types of problems from occurring, they do happen. When they happen, it can severely affect the success of a business. Food metal detectors may be used to ensure that traces of machines and machine parts do not make it into the packaging containers either.
Weight of products
Consumers learn to expect certain weights of certain products. For examples, they understand that a large case of soda will weight much more than a case of chips. However, when product weights become too high, the sales will reduce as traditional buyers have difficultly transporting them. Checkweigher machines help keep food and beverage weights consistent. Food and beverage manufacturers are also constantly looking for ways to improve packaging of heavier weighted items.
Just 2 pounds of plastic can deliver 1,300 ounces, roughly 10 gallons, of a beverage such as juice, soda, or water. You would need 2 pounds of aluminum to bring home the same amount of product, 8 pounds of steel, or over 40 pounds of glass. Finding better product packaging, along with the usage of vertical form fill seal machines is important in keeping packaging weights consistent. Since 1977, the 2 liter plastic soft drink bottle has gone from weighing 68 grams to just 47 grams today, representing a 31% reduction per bottle. That has saved more than 180 million pounds of packaging in 2006, just for 2 liter soft drink bottles. This also have a positive effect on recycling efforts.
There are a few characteristics that consumers expect of well known brands. These brands that follow these expectations, and continue to improve upon them, are the brands that succeed. These are the brands that have been around for many years, and will continue to find a place in consumer?s fridges and shelves. The biggest and most common expectations of food and beverage manufacturers include recyclability, consistent packaging, reduced weights, social awareness, and healthy and contaminant free packaging methods.
