A shift in consumer preference toward premium products is transforming the packaging industry. Demand for high-quality, artisanal, organic and more healthful foods has risen in recent years, illustrating that consumers are not afraid to pay more for premium, quality enhancements that support a healthier lifestyle. Examples abound across all product categories—from organic foods, gluten-free snacks, fortified nutritional cereals, premium pet foods and treats, vitamins and nutritional supplements, to over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
 
However, with higher price points come greater needs and expectations of packaging in order for high-end goods to reinforce the brand promise of quality from the first bite to the last. To deliver on this promise, a package must not only be convenient in its ease of use, but also keep the product fresher longer to support the higher costs of a premium product.
 
Standing Out
One significant aspect of consumers’ gravitation toward healthy living—or fitness—is the use of protein and other supplemental powders. Health supplements have become a booming industry in recent years. According to Forbes, nutritional supplements alone produced around $32 billion in revenue just in 2012, and that total is projected to double by 2021. Types of nutraceutical powders that are popular in today’s marketplace include whey casein and hemp proteins, as well fruit powders and plant-based supplements designed to enrich one’s diet.
 
Protein powders and the like can be costly and purchasing the products in large quantities is often the most feasible way to factor this auxiliary health item into one’s lifestyle. However, in their present form, most nutraceutical powder containers are rigid, bulky and generally an eyesore that sits atop the fridge with no alteration in size as the quantity decreases. Flexible packaging in this realm is a beneficial alternative simply because the more you utilize the product, the smaller the package gets. Thus, from a storage standpoint, flexible pouches and stand-up pouches (SUP’s) are more advantageous. Opting for flexible, re-sealable packaging formats also serves a compactness benefit to manufacturers as well as consumers, as it reduces the overall weight of product shipment, ultimately lowering costs.
 
Companies that produce nutraceutical beverage products, such as protein powders, can also benefit from re-sealable packaging with a re-closable zipper that locks in and preserves freshness. Certain value added features, such as Presto’s Particle Plow Slider, are designed specifically for powdered and granulated products to keep particles out of the track and ensure that the package will close properly. This allows consumers to secure and preserve these pricy, multi-serve products. Moreover, re-sealable pouches with enhanced protective properties are modern in their appearance, portable and have custom-printability properties.

Packaging That Supports Premium Goods
In order to preserve premium product integrity in today’s marketplace, packaging must have the appropriate closures that will guarantee both freshness and convenience. For example, press-to-close closures with double-zippers deliver pronounced audible and tactile cues that can be heard and felt when sealing a package for a multi-sensory user experience. To prevent a product from being accessed by children or other unintended consumers, Presto Products Company offers a child resistant closure named CHILD-GUARD. The recently launched slider, when incorporated with an appropriate film structure meets the standards required by the PPPA for child-resistant packaging. This new technology leverages flexible packaging in an industry previously dominated by more rigid alternatives.
 
Aside from keeping children out of products that can be harmful if they wind up in the wrong hands, sliders are also intuitive, hassle-free closures that offer ease-of-use for products targeted toward the elderly—or in other cases, even children.
 
In all, packaging has an important role in the modern-day premium product marketplace. Re-closable packaging, in particular, is increasingly in demand among consumers who prioritize product freshness and convenience. As this demand rises and more brand owners across different categories adopt re-sealable features, it will be critical to market these convenience-enhancing attributes that stand up to their premium products at the point of purchase.

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Presto Products Company is a supplier of products ranging from private label food and disposer bags to packaging closures. Presto, a business of Reynolds Packaging Group, operates six manufacturing plants and supports customers in North America, Europe and Asia.