The right packaging is almost as important as the right product, especially when it comes to drink powders. How do you determine which packaging is right for your drink powder brand?

Packaging does more than protect a product; it’s an extension of that product. The consumer judges a book by its cover, so that cover not only needs to be high quality but also represent the product’s brand. Over 70% of consumers believe that packaging can influence and affect purchasing decisions, which means a product’s packaging could be just as important as what that packaging contains. That’s especially true when it comes to drink powder products.

Drink powders have been increasing in popularity for years. While flavors and nutrients impact consumer decisions, the packaging those drink powders come in also impacts those decisions.

Portability, durability, shelf life – these are all factors that will affect a consumer’s buying journey. That’s why manufacturers need to choose the kind of packaging that appeals to those consumers.

Choosing the right packaging format for your brand is a tough decision but an incredibly important one. Not only does it affect whether that product makes it to a consumer’s pantry shelf, but it also affects whether or not it even makes it to retail shelves. Choosing the drink powder packaging options that are right for the consumer is a big decision, but it’s not an easy one.

In this article, we break down what factors you need to consider when making packaging decisions, and which packaging options are right for your brand.

Key Factors to Consider For Retail Drink Powder Packaging

There are thousands of little details that could sway a consumer. To get into more consumer’s homes, consider these key factors when making packaging choices.

Shelf Appeal & Branding

Branding isn’t just about logos and catchphrases. Packaging can be just as important to a brand as its name, just look at Cadbury Eggs or Gatorade bottles. Those products are immediately recognizable by their packaging, which helps to boost both sales and branding.

Drink powder manufacturers need to choose a packaging option that not only delivers their product safely but also increases visibility and brand awareness. Appearances aren’t everything, but packaging is often the first introduction a consumer gets to your product. Choose the packaging that makes it a good one.

Portability & Convenience

The convenience of a drink powder is the ability to create a desired drink whenever and however the consumer wants it. That’s appealing to the over 140 million US citizens who commute to work every day. They want to be able to make their product in their way and their containers.

Drink powder packaging that’s portable is simply more convenient for those millions of consumers. They can avoid having to carry hefty bottles and can use whatever container they choose to make their drinks.

Durability and Freshness

Drink powders aren’t exactly fragile, but durability still needs to be a factor when choosing packaging. Not only is it going to have to withstand delivery to retailers, but the packaging has to withstand a consumer’s daily activities. While that could just be a drive to work, it could also be a day of hiking, running, or other strenuous activities.

Choose packaging that not only withstands a consumer’s daily routine, but that also maintains freshness throughout. Inferior packaging damages more easily and also has the potential to lower a product’s shelf life. Your drink powders, and their consumers, deserve better.

Retailer Requirements and Stocking Considerations

Shelf and product size are incredibly important to retailers. It quite literally determines how much product a shelf can have at a given time. Even a centimeter of extra width can impact how a retailer views a product. Choose a drink powder packaging solution that’s ideal for the consumer and the retailer.

The smaller the packaging the more convenient it is for a consumer to purchase and for a retailer to feature on their shelves. More available products translates to more sales.

Comparison of Popular Retail Drink Powder
Packaging Formats

Let’s break down all of the different drink powder packaging options and weigh them against each other.

Tubs and Cannisters

Pros

  • Can contain larger amounts of drink powder for bulk purchasing and storage
  • Can be re-sealed to ensure long-term freshness and storage
  • Relatively easy to use and open

Cons

  • That same bulky size takes up larger amounts of retail and consumer shelves
  • Decreases portability, which limits impulse buying opportunities and single-use serving sizes
  • This leads to messier processes with more spillage and waste

Flexible Pouches

Pros

  • Lightweight, portable, and more compact than larger tub options
  • Utilizes less harmful materials than large plastic containers
  • More cost-efficient when it comes to shipping and handling

Cons

  • Often requires spoons, scoops, or other implements to portion correctly
  • Limited resealing options which could impact freshness and shelf life
  • Difficult to stack and store on shelves or storage containers

Sachets

Pros

  • Affordable with more single-serving and smaller portion size options
  • Small sizes that increase portability and convenience for commuting consumers
  • Can be sold in bulk and in limited sizes that are ideal for impulse buying and checkout counters

Cons

  • Not durable and typically damage-prone which increases shipping and handling costs and potential product damage
  • Can be difficult to open or use easily when traveling
  • Creates large amounts of litter and trash, negatively impacting the environment

Stick Packs (Single-Serving Format)

Pros

  • Sleek and compact design that makes it ideal for travelers and commuters
  • Branding opportunities thanks to eye-catching design and shape
  • Pre-measured servings that eliminates the need for spoons or scoops
  • Small, lightweight, and durable which decreases shipping and handling costs and potential damage
  • Extremely popular for drink powders, energy boosters, and supplement drinks
  • Lowers the risk of contamination and increases freshness
  • Allows for sampling and bundling opportunities

Cons

  • Not ideal for bulk-use consumers who prefer larger containers

Why Stick Packs Are the Best Choice
for Retail Drink Powders

The answer is clear: stick packs are a high quality packaging option for drink powders. Here’s why.

Optimized for Shelf Space

Retailers can stock more stick pack units on their shelves and consumers can have more stick packs in their homes.

Consumer-Friendly & Impulse Buy Potential

Thanks to smaller sizes and cost, consumers are more likely to try out the product for the first time. The single-serving option encourages them to try the product and new flavors without having to incur major costs.

Versatility Across Retail Channels

Single-serving stick pack packaging makes drink powders ideal for not just supermarkets and grocery aisles, but for convenience stores, gym kiosks, online shopping carts, and more. The smaller the size the more likely different retailers are to carry it.

Ideal for Cross-Promotions & Bundles

As grocery store prices continue to increase, value is becoming increasingly appreciated by the consumer. Having single-serving stick packs for drink powders increases the consumer’s potential basket value as they’re able to try and use the product without making large purchases. They can also easily be paired with multiple flavors and complementary products.

How to Transition Your Drink Powder Brand
to Stick Pack Packaging

It takes more than just a inclination to switch to stick pack packaging. Cost and logistics are easy to factor, but only when there’s a reliable co-packager to partner with.

T.H.E.M. has decades of experience helping a variety of product manufacturers to move their products into more efficient and cost-effective stick packs. It’s helped to increase their branding as well as getting those products on more retailer shelves. Co-packaging isn’t just a minor effort, it’s practice we’ve worked to perfect.

The right packaging is the one that aligns with your brand and your retails needs. We’ve already written about the many business reasons to move to stick packs. Let us help you to envision the stick pack opportunities available to your drink powder product.

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