Why premium pet food packaging is essential for increasing retail sales

Animal feed, whether for pets or for feeding birds, foxes, or hedgehogs in the garden, is a product consumers will stick with even when times are hard.  When shopping for pet food, the average consumer will still find money for premium options, even when finances are stretched.

There is also a much wider choice for consumers than ever before.  Even previously commoditised categories such as bird food are now filled with brands vying for space on the supermarket shelf.  Building brand loyalty has never been more important for success.

In combination, these two factors mean your pet food needs premium packaging to ensure your product stands out and sells in a competitive category.  Venturepak’s range of pet food containers, buckets, tubs and pots features practicality, in conjunction with robust construction and in-mould labelling.

Our guide examines what’s needed from pet food packaging and how to choose the right container for your products.

Find the right packaging for your pet food products here

What are the important features to consider when sourcing pet food packaging?

Depending on the type of food you are manufacturing, the packaging will need to offer different benefits to ensure your food is presented in a premium way on the shelf, but remains practical for pet owners to use and store.  We’ve looked at the different features that might affect your choice.

Dry pet food for dogs and cats

Dry pet food is easy to store as long as the packaging is airtight and can be resealed easily.  Tubs and buckets work best for dog and cat food as they have a wide enough opening to allow scoops to easily pick up the food without spills.  They are also cost-effective and can be finished with in-mould labels to provide a premium finish.

From a manufacturer’s point of view, tubs and buckets are also very easy to stack on pallets and store on shelves, especially compared to bags or sacks, which often need to be piled on top of each other, covering the branding and reducing its impact.  A bucket is robust too, withstanding knocks and impacts much better than sacks and bags, which can be prone to splitting.

See our dry pet food tubs and buckets here.

Packaging for dog treats and multi-use foods

Pots and tubs used for treats, such as dog biscuits, need to be easy to access quickly over a longer period of time than dry or fresh pet food.  Treats are usually fed in very small amounts frequently during the day, and therefore the lids must be easy to access, but robust.  Brittle pots can chip or shatter over time, so manufacturers should look for premium-grade materials when sourcing treat pots.

Plastic pots also have a number of benefits compared to packets.  Resealable packets come close to pots in terms of practicality and lifespan, but are harder to store for a consumer and prone to fraying and damage in a much shorter time period.  Resealable pouches often find their opening damaged when the tear-off strip is removed, whereas a plastic pot with a resealable lid is much more robust.  A tub or pot can be stacked, kept on almost any shelf without further protection from rodents and won’t absorb moisture in the same way a packet will.

Source robust, multi-use treat pots and tubs here.

Frozen pet food packaging

Containers used for frozen pet food share many of the requirements of microwavable versions for human food.  They need to be made of food-grade materials, be robust and resistant to a wide range of temperatures, plus able to warm and freeze multiple times during manufacture, transport, sale and use.  The plastic should be resistant to cracking and shattering at low temperatures, and a container should be strong enough to avoid warping when temperatures have fluctuated.

Labelling during production should also be designed to resist the impact of freezing and defrosting, or stacking and delivery.  Stuck-on labels have a tendency to peel when frozen, or crack and chip during transport.  In-mould labelling ensures your brand will look as fresh and enticing when it’s pulled from the freezer as it did when it left your premises.

See our range of freezer-proof, food-grade containers here

Fresh and chilled pet food packaging

Containers designed for fresh pet food need to blend the requirements for frozen containers with the strong seal needed for dry food.  Often, fresh food is frozen after manufacture, ready for transport to the retailers, and then defrosts and remains chilled in cabinets ready for purchase.  Fresh food usually carries a much higher retail price than dry and frozen food too.  So you need a pot or container that will resist sub-zero temperatures, stay rigid and protect the food during transport and still look like a premium branded product on the shelf.

Packs need to remain clean and fresh-looking, including the labels, which can appear waterlogged if left defrosted in a fridge for a period of time.  Labels should look crisp, without sagging, so consider in-mould labelling alongside other printed options when sourcing your packaging.

View our range of plastic containers for fresh food here

Bird seed and bird food packaging

Choosing the correct products when packaging bird food depends on the type of food being stored.  The most popular bird feed includes seeds, nuts, mealworms and fat balls.  Seeds and nuts are susceptible to moisture, and if the tub or bucket doesn’t reseal effectively, then mould will develop, and the seeds or peanuts will need to be thrown away.  When selecting a tub, bucket or container for seed and nut storage, consider buckets with tamper-proof sealed lids that fit firmly to prevent air and moisture from spoiling the product.  Transparent packaging is very effective for seed products, and will look good on the supermarket shelf.

If you are manufacturing fat balls or mealworms, then solid plastic buckets with thick walls are an excellent option.  Depending on where the consumer stores the feed, rats and other vermin are particularly attracted to fat balls in particular, so a thick plastic bucket will protect the product from attack and prevent odours from attracting rodents in the first place.

As with our other tubs, buckets, pots and containers, we can provide in-mould labelling to help create a premium look and feel for your brand.

See our range of packaging specific for bird feed here.

What to look for in a new packaging supplier

Generating a return on investment from your packaging requires developing a partnership with your packaging manufacturer.  They should understand the specifications of your products and how to provide the right materials to protect them while promoting the brand on the retailer’s shelf.  You should look for the following when shortlisting suppliers:

• Minimum quantities and lead times: Venturepak provides orders in convenient pallet quantities, and we can work with your specification team to ensure our production runs fit with your processes and lead times.
• Samples: You can request samples of any of our products in the range, and we will also work with you around labelling requirements to ensure your brand retains its premium look at every stage in the sales cycle.
• Accreditations: What quality control level do you require for your pet food packaging? Venturepak manufactures to BRC global standards, and we can provide certification for your compliance records if needed.
• Account management and communication: Our dedicated account management team will help develop a partnership between us, including integrating into any systems you currently use. We will be on hand whenever you need to, to ensure you stay on schedule with your production runs.

Venturepak is a packaging specialist in sourcing and manufacturing products for frozen, fresh and dried pet food.  Whether it’s bird seed, fat balls, dog treats or fresh cat food, we have a product at a cost-effective price, supported by efficient and reliable manufacturing.

Call or contact us and ask for a quote.

Pet Food Packaging: Frequently Asked Questions

Can the same tub type be used for frozen and fresh pet food?

We have a range of tubs, pots and containers that can be used for both frozen and fresh food.  Often, fresh food is frozen for transit, so our products are manufactured to ensure robust longevity.

Can customers reuse bird seed tubs for storage?

Our tubs are very sturdy, which means they last a long time and keep food fresh.  Consumers often keep tubs and reuse them for different bird food products, reducing waste over time.

Does pet food packaging need to be food grade?

Your customers need confidence that their pets won’t be affected by contaminated food products; your brand relies on their repeat business.  We therefore always specify that pet food should be stored in containers that meet the same strict regulatory standards as human food packaging.

What are the legal requirements for pet food labelling in the UK?

In the UK, pet food is regulated as animal feed. The labelling must contain the type of feed, the name and address of the organisation that manufactured the feed, the net quantity or weight and the species the food is intended for. You should also include instructions on how to use the feed and a best before date for regulatory compliance. For a full checklist of everything required on your pet food label, please see the Government advice page on pet food.