In the packaging world, we know how important it is for food and drink companies to use protective pouches that keep products safe from harmful bacteria.

Now, some brands are looking for containers that actually lock bacteria in. It may sound odd; as the last thing a company would want is for consumers to get sick from microorganisms thriving in its products. However, for fermented food companies, certain types of bacteria are the key ingredients in their healthful products. Yogurt, pickles, and even kimchi are thriving in the food industry thanks to probiotics found in these goods. Probiotics are revered for their gut-healthy properties, and new research has uncovered additional benefits that are exciting consumers and food producers alike.

More of today’s leading brands are making the switch to flexible retail packaging, like stand up pouches, to keep up with consumer and retailer demand.

A new study by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, shows 68 percent of interviewed companies will purchase or modify manufacturing equipment to produce flexible retail packaging. Many brands are already moving away from rigid packaging, with many projected to do the same in the next five years. Brand managers are looking for custom packaging solutions to offer to major retailers, like WalMart, that are seeking out innovative, lightweight, and cost-effective packaging solutions that look great on store shelves, attract consumers, and prompt more impulse purchases.

Frozen food has come a long way over the years. From the early days of flash freezing meats to the introduction of bland TV dinners to complete, convenient meals, these prepared dishes are conducive to the increasingly active consumer’s lifestyle.

Many large food brands are investing in frozen meals to appeal to customers who may be novice cooks or simply seek out quick and easy ways to curb their hunger. However, Nielsen data shows frozen food sales in the United States easing to a slow crawl, growing at a rate of less than one percent over the last four years. In this time, sales of frozen foods have only increased two percent, resulting in a loss of revenue for major brands in the food industry. If frozen food consumption continues along this path toward stagnation, we could soon see barren aisles in supermarkets as brands discontinue these product lines.

While it’s certainly true that today’s consumer by and large prefers to shop for healthier products with pure ingredients, many shoppers grow skeptical of large chains and big businesses carrying these goods.

A number of health-conscious consumers prefer to shop small and support their neighborhood businesses, understanding that the food is more likely to be made from locally sourced ingredients. People want transparency to be an important value in the companies they purchase from, and they have to prove their commitment to providing customers high-quality, healthy products through every step of the process.

Ahh chocolate. The sweet, creamy, decadent candy that stimulates the pleasure centers in our brain.

There’s a reason lovers treat their special someone with heart-shaped boxes of the chocolatey goodness on Valentine’s Day or an anniversary. When we consume chocolate, our body releases chemicals like serotonin, tryptophan, and stimulants that get our blood flowing. Cocoa-based candies truly have an effect on our brain, both relaxing and exciting us, and we make connections to certain moments in our lives based on the taste of the treats.

Almost everyone loves a piece of chocolate or something sweet now and then.

If you’ve recently gotten your chocolate fix from Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Honey Grahams with Sea Salt, you might want to check the packaging. A recent recall was established due to missing information on the labels that may cause alarming allergic reactions in some customers.

Think about your favorite food for a second.

The experience of either cooking or ordering the meal or snack is full of built-up excitement and anticipation. When the entrée arrives in your hands, you take in the intoxicating scent for a moment before sinking your teeth into that first, delicious bite. Maybe you’re eating with friends and loved ones, or perhaps it’s part of that much-needed break in the day where you can get away from the hustle and bustle to enjoy a tasty treat.

The food and beverage industry is undergoing a huge transformation right before our very eyes.

Big brands are retooling their recipes to meet consumer demand, incorporating fresher, more natural ingredients and eliminating harmful additives. Brands are introducing new versions of classic products that are speaking to new generations of consumers. Food and beverage packaging, too, is changing at a rapid pace, and successful companies know embracing new innovations is key to meeting consumer demand. Glass, metal, and paper containers are quickly falling out of fashion as more customers prefer the ease and flexibility of modern forms of food and beverage packaging.

Kraft Heinz Co. is not only one of the leading food and beverage companies in the world, it is also disrupting the industry through use of flexible retail packaging.  

After its high-profile merger was completed last month, the brand is poised to become bigger than ever, and its rebranding strategies are currently in effect. Based on Kraft Food’s history of using stand up bags for its coffee, cereal, and other snack and drink offerings, we think introducing this type of flexible retail packaging into Heinz’ product line will only help the company stay ahead in a crowded market and change the way packaging is perceived now and in the future. 

Think about your favorite flavor of candy. Is it strawberry or cherry? Is it sweet and fruity, rather than sour or tangy? Is it usually pink or red? For most, the answer to the questions above is a resounding “yes.”