Cereal and for that matter granola could be termed staples at breakfast.  Industry leaders continue to be excited about ready to eat cereals, of which granola falls into that category.  However, I'm going to write this post from the perspective of consumer walking into a Whole Foods or even a Trader Joe's with a clean slate in my noggin over what type of granola I'm going to take home with me...in the hopes of proving my point that granola packaging with stand up pouches does matter and will increase sales.

Granola packaging historically has tried to model its packaging after the natural look of granola itself.  Most likely this means that they'll buy paper packaging for their granola.  Or, another option is a bulk plastic bag, similar to what you would get in the produce aisle of a
supermarket with a twist tie and a label slapped on indicating the flavor.  I've also seen metal tins used with a plastic bag on the inside...here the manufacturer is paying for two types of packaging.

Then, there is granola packaging using stand up pouches.  Also known as stand bags or stand up bags, these pouches made from flexible film are available stock where you can apply a label or custom printed with vivid, bold, photographic images that hit the consumer right between the eyes...POW!  While stock stand bags for granola packaging is very acceptable, I'm going to imagine we are talking about custom printed stand up pouches.

I wander to the store, the sights and sounds and smells of Whole Foods or Trader Joes consumes me, past the produce and checkout lines, it's granola I'm in the mood for.  I see granola A in a paper bag with a clear window, similar to what the bakery gives me when I order a few cookies for our kids.  Sure looks good, very natural looking, not a whole lot of graphics but a nice label that says its cinnamon apple flavor but the label isn't straight and in fact there is an air bubble trapped under the sticker.  That's OK, I think, the granola looks tasty so I look at the clear window of the bag only to see that it's glued on the inside of the paper bag...that really thin cellophane plastic that is clear as a bell but very flimsy.  The twist tie at the top of the granola packaging looks handy.  Will it work? 

I grab another granola brand, this really looks good, much more expensive than all the others, the printed label says its the best but that's all there is, a printed label applied to a metal in.  I cannot see or touch and feel granola at all.  Hmmm, expensive doesn't always mean the best, but whoever made this is using very expensive granola packaging.

Then, I see granola packaging using a printed stand up pouch.  Bold, dynamic printing, lots of cool graphics and a clear window on the front and bottom of the pouch so I can see the clusters of granola, I can see the coating of honey and cinnamon, this looks really tasty.  Wow, this printed stand bag has the granola company story, I never knew it was made from an old family recipe from Vermont.  Plus, it has a ziplock so I don't have to eat the entire bag or use one of those silly chip clips to try to keep the contents fresh.  Its not the cheapest granola, but it's not the most expensive either...very interesting.  Plus, the pouch itself is made from layers of film, I can feel them, this is a very sturdy bag that will stand on my cupboard when I get home and even withstand a fall if my daughter drops it or it gets bumped off the table.  Yeah...I like the granola using a stand up pouch...I feel smarter for having looked at them all too.  I'm going to buy this brand in the stand up pouch.

See, granola packaging makes a difference.  Stand up pouches will protect granola, keep it fresher for longer, and help build not only your brand but your sales too!