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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
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We all know even the very best confections don’t stay fresh forever, but did you know your choice of packaging could either be helping or hindering your fight for freshness? While packaging is often selected for visual appeal, it can impact the shelf life of your products.
Understanding how packaging affects shelf life can help you better serve your customers and your bottom line. As the final post of this series, we’ll continue to share insight from RCI member Randy Hofberger of R&D Consultants on how to prolong the shelf life of your confections with the right packaging.
Missed the first two posts? Read Part 1, followed by Part 2.
This week we’re exploring the effects of moisture on confections and what to look for when sourcing barrier packaging that can keep crunchy products crisp and soft items from becoming dry
—plus, tips for avoided unwanted moisture when shipping products.
Managing Moisture
Like with light and oxygen, moisture can wreak havoc on confections. No consumer wants soggy brittles and toffee or dry truffles and creams. Even worse, the presence of excessive moisture can create a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
A good moisture-barrier film can play double-duty by retaining existing moisture while also keeping unwanted moisture out. Ask your packaging supplier to share the oxygen and moisture permeability values for their products. According to Randy, foil is an excellent barrier for both oxygen and moisture; cellophane is fairly good; polyethylene is fairly good for moisture, but it is poor for oxygen. Watch out when packaging products in shrink wrap or a cardboard stock box, as these materials are basically providing dust covers and not a lot of protection from moisture and oxygen.
Many films have layers to give the best protection and visual appeal. This is often seen in flow-wrapped items. The bars can be cohesively sealed (cold flow) or heat sealed. If heat sealed is used, be mindful that excess heat is not used to de-temper the chocolate. Metalized wrap offers great protection, but has the disadvantage of not being metal detector friendly.
Shipping Considerations
When shipping or distributing items, acknowledge that conditions may be different than on your premises and are out of your control. It is always good to specify the target temperatures and relative humidity to your distributor. If shipping items with ice packs, it is best to wrap both the ice packs and the confections to prevent damage due to condensation.
We want our customers to enjoy the wonderful candies that we have created. This requires a candy that is tasty to begin with; it is formulated to have a good shelf life for texture, flavor and micro stability; it is sold and consumed within its shelf life and finally the candies and the packaging are appealing to all. This will result in having satisfied customers and continued strong sales.
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Tags:
Packaging
Shelf Life
Shipping
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Are you using the correct size of gel pack?
What are you doing to prevent condensation from turning your shipping box into a soggy mess?
Shipping chocolate in the summer is tricky, but not impossible with the right supplies. With summer around the corner, we're sharing a list of must-have supplies and important considerations to ensure your precious cargo is properly packaged--thanks to the shipping experts at InsulTote by Innovative Energy, Inc.
SUMMER SHIPPING TOOLBOX
When shipping temperature-sensitive products, like chocolate, frozen gel packs are a given. Maximize the life of your gel packs by equipping yourself with the following summer shipping tools.
- Insulated box liners
- Large frozen gel pack(s)
- Dry ice (for shipping frozen items)
- Shrink wrap
- Absorbent pads
- Packing tape
CHOOSING YOUR GEL PACK
When choosing gel packs, look for the largest size you can afford to ship. One large gel pack will provide better performance than several smaller ones. For example, if you place four ice cubes next to one big block of ice both at room temperature, the ice cubes will melt faster than the block of ice. The larger the mass, the longer it will take to thaw.
WITH AIR COMES HEAT
It is equally as important to fill your box as full as possible, allowing the energy from the gel pack to focus on keeping the enclosed products cold and not the surrounding air. If using an insulated box liner, press down on it to release air before sealing. For added protection, taping the outside of the box at every seam will also slow down the infiltration of air.
LINER STORAGE
Extend the life of your gel packs by storing insulated liners, in a cool place prior to use. Starting with cool air inside each bubble means the gel pack doesn't have to work overtime to cool down the air inside the liners.
SHIPPING WITH DRY ICE
To save on shipping cost, you may want to use dry ice for frozen items that will be in transit for more than 24 hours. A combination of dry ice and gel packs is the best insurance. Dry ice will keep the gel pack frozen the first day and after the dry ice evaporates, the frozen gel pack will keep the contents of the package cool for the second day. The amount of dry ice depends on the size of package, freight carrier requirements and transit times. If using dry ice, do not tape the outside seams of your boxes to allow the carbon dioxide gas to escape as it evaporates.
Using dry ice is not always recommended for foods that are not frozen, as it may give off an odor that could be absorbed by foods, such as chocolate. To keep dry ice from effecting the flavor of your product, carefully cover your product with shrink wrap and only use dry ice when necessary. To ensure product meets your quality standards, taste test it after it's been packaged with dry ice for 48 hours.
CONTROLLING CONDENSATION
The space between the inside of a corrugated box and the outside of an insulated liner may condensate in warmer weather. Occasionally this may be enough to dampen a corrugated box and cause it to become soft. To avoid this, place an absorbent pad in the bottom of the corrugated box under the insulated liner. Absorbent meat pads can be found online and are an inexpensive way to abate excess moisture.
Shipping in warm weather is definitely a challenge, but when successful, it can surprise and delight your customers and create new sales opportunities.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
Tags:
Chocolate
Packaging
Shipping
Summer
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Give your products new life by grouping them together in an eye-catching gift basket. According to Gift Shop magazine, “gift baskets are a convenient way to improve store sales and even turn clearance items into fresh, full-priced, saleable items.”
Not only are gift baskets fun and interactive for the recipient, as they discover each different element carefully tucked inside, but for the retailer they encourage increased customer spending and create for beautiful merchandising displays.
Rebecca Craig of Marie's Candies, an RCI member and the Third Vice President of RCI’s board of directors, shared the following “recipe” for the perfect gift basket as an instructor for RCI’s past Merchandising Essentials course.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- Gift basket or container
- Various boxes or bags of your product (depending on size of basket)
- Themed gift item(s) (e.g., promotional items, plush animals, holiday ornaments, baby bottles, etc.)
- Filler (e.g., tissue paper or shredded paper)
- Cello wrap
- Shrink wrap (for shipping)
- Ribbons and bows
- Adornments and decorations
- Merchandising tag
DIRECTIONS: Place crumpled tissue paper and/or shredded paper in the bottom of the basket, so the contents are raised just below the edge of the basket for best visibility.
Method #1: Focal Point
Position the tallest item in the center of the basket. Arrange smaller items around the center, from the next tallest to the shortest. Contents should face the outer edge of the basket. This method should look balanced from every angle, making it a great focal point for your merchandising display.
Method #2: Back to Front
Position taller items in the back and shorter items in the front. All contents should face the front of the basket. This method will give the basket a front and back, but it may be assembled more quickly.
With either method, it is important to have plenty of filler to fill in gaps between items and provide stability to the contents of the gift basket. If items need additional support, consider using skewers or double-sided tape. A piece of Styrofoam can also be glued to the bottom or side of the basket to offer even more support.
Offering customers the opportunity to ship your gift baskets to friends, family and clients, will open up even more sales potential. Now that you know how to build the perfect gift basket, how do you ship them like a pro?! Click here to read our post “Ship Gift Baskets Like A Boss,” to pick up more of Rebecca’s pro-tips on shipping gift baskets.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
Tags:
Gift Baskets
Increase Sales
Merchandising
Shipping
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Are you using the right size gel pack?
What are you doing to prevent condensation from turning your shipping box into a soggy mess?
Shipping chocolate in the summer is tricky, but not impossible with the right supplies. Pulled from an article in RCI's Kettle Talk magazine, shipping experts from InsulTote by Innovative Energy, Inc. shared a list of must-have supplies and important considerations to ensure your precious cargo is properly packaged.
SUMMER SHIPPING TOOLBOX
When shipping temperature-sensitive products, like chocolate, frozen gel packs are a given. Maximize the life of your gel packs by equipping yourself with the following summer shipping tools.
- Insulated box liners
- Large frozen gel pack(s)
- Dry ice (for shipping frozen items)
- Shrink wrap
- Absorbent pads
- Packing tape
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GEL PACK
When choosing gel packs, look for the largest size you can afford to ship. One large gel pack will provide better performance than several smaller ones. For example, if you place four ice cubes next to one big block of ice both at room temperature, the ice cubes will melt faster than the block of ice. The larger the mass, the longer it will take to thaw.
WITH AIR COMES HEAT
It is equally as important to fill your box as full as possible, allowing the energy from the gel pack to focus on keeping the enclosed products cold and not the surrounding air. If using an insulated box liner, press down on it to release air before sealing. For added protection, taping the outside of the box at every seam will also slow down the infiltration of air.
LINER STORAGE
Extend the life of your gel packs by storing insulated liners, in a cool place prior to use. Starting with cool air inside each bubble means the gel pack doesn't have to work overtime to cool down the air inside the liners.
SHIPPING WITH DRY ICE
To save on shipping cost, you may want to use dry ice for frozen items that will be in transit for more than 24 hours. A combination of dry ice and gel packs is the best insurance. Dry ice will keep the gel pack frozen the first day and after the dry ice evaporates, the frozen gel pack will keep the contents of the package cool for the second day. The amount of dry ice depends on the size of package, freight carrier requirements and transit times. If using dry ice, do not tape the outside seams of your boxes to allow the carbon dioxide gas to escape as it evaporates.
Using dry ice is not always recommended for foods that are not frozen, as it may give off an odor that could be absorbed by foods, such as chocolate. To keep dry ice from effecting the flavor of your product, carefully cover your product with shrink wrap and only use dry ice when necessary. To ensure product meets your quality standards, taste test it after it's been packaged with dry ice for 48 hours.
CONTROLLING CONDENSATION
The space between the inside of a corrugated box and the outside of an insulated liner may condensate in warmer weather. Occasionally this may be enough to dampen a corrugated box and cause it to become soft. To avoid this, place an absorbent pad in the bottom of the corrugated box under the insulated liner. Absorbent meat pads can be found online and are an inexpensive way to abate excess moisture.
Shipping in warm weather is definitely a challenge, but when successful, it can surprise and delight your customers and create new sales opportunities.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. Plus, review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
Tags:
Chocolate
Packaging
Shipping
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
|
Did you know Free Shipping Day is Friday, December 14? This commercial holiday was introduced in 2008 as a way to extend the online shopping season, that for many e-commerce retailers starts to diminish following Cyber Monday at the end of November.
Last December, Freeshipping.com attracted 500,000 consumers looking to save on holiday gifts. If you already have an e-commerce site, participating in Free Shipping Day could help your business gain exposure and entice new consumers to discover your products.
Before jumping on the bandwagon, we highly recommend doing your research to ensure you don’t get burned by low profit margins or unexpected demand. You will find that many companies require a minimum spend (or threshold) for shoppers to qualify for free shipping, while others restrict qualifying purchases to best-selling products with the highest profit margins. Another idea may be to limit your free shipping promo code to only new or loyal customers or create your own free shipping day at a time when sales are slower, and forget signing up with Freeshipping.com until you have a better grasp on what to expect for the holiday.
If you’re looking to increase your website’s conversion rate, this is almost guaranteed to do the trick, however, it is important that you also understand this kind of promotion comes with risks, especially during the busy holiday season. RCI member, Rheo Thompson Candies, had great past success generating early Easter orders with a free shipping promotion, however, they later concluded the promotion was conditioning their customers to wait for free shipping to place their holiday orders. If this is a route you wish to explore, consider limitations to help avoid customers abusing the promotion. Perhaps limit free shipping within a certain radius of your store to reduce shipping expenses.
A free shipping promotion can be a great way to attract new customers or thank loyal customers, but as with any successful promotion it requires careful preparation and planning to ensure the result is worth the investment. To learn more and get involved, visit freeshipping.com. Here, retailers are invited to fill out a form on their website to be listed as one of the over a thousand participating businesses. Have you participated in Free Shipping Day in the past? If so, tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. Look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox.
Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
Tags:
E-Commerce
Free Shipping Day
Holidays
Marketing
Shipping
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
|
Who doesn't love a great gift basket? Not only are they fun and interactive for the recipient, as they discover each different element carefully tucked inside, but for the retailer they encourage increased customer spending. Have you ever thought about shipping gift baskets? Follow these basic instructions, curated from RCI’s past Merchandising Essentials course and Rebecca Craig of Marie’s Candies, to ensure your gift basket arrives intact.
Directions
- First, shrink wrap the gift basket to keep items in place. For aesthetic purposes, wrap gift basket in cello next.
- Next, get a box appropriately sized for the basket, which should be approximately three to four inches larger than the basket to protect both the product and basket during shipping. Fold down any additional cello at the top of the basket to decrease the size of the box needed for shipping.
- Place the basket into the center of the box and begin filling with packing materials until the basket fits securely in the box. Fold the lid closed and secure with tape.
- If you are shipping chocolate during warm weather or to a warmer climate, include an ice pack of some sort. Always place ice packs in a resealable plastic bag to ensure nothing will leak onto your product if it would happen to break in the shipping process. Place ice pack as close to the product as possible. Secure the box with packaging tape box and it's ready for shipping.
An eye-catching gift basket may look great on a shelf or display table, but if you don't package your gift basket properly, it is likely to transform into a jumbled mess after it's been shipped across the country or even across town. Before offering this service to paying customers, try testing it out on a friend or family member first.
Tags:
Baskets
gifts
Shipping
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