Nearly 60% of food businesses struggle with packaging consistency as they scale beyond their kitchen or small facility. What starts as a manageable task quickly becomes a bottleneck that prevents growth and frustrates customers.
You’ve probably reached the point where packaging is taking too much of your time, or perhaps you’re losing sleep over whether orders will go out correctly. Maybe you’ve had complaints about damaged products or inconsistent presentation. These problems compound quickly in the food industry where reputation and quality standards are everything.
But did you know you could partner with services that can handle these headaches so you don’t have to? Here’s how to choose a packing and fulfilment partner that understands your needs and has the expertise to help you succeed.
Ask About Certifications and Compliance
When evaluating potential partners, you need to understand their certifications upfront. If you produce organic foods, does the packaging facility hold the proper organic handling certification? In the UK, this means Certificate of Compliance from an approved body. Without it, your organic status could be compromised.
Temperature control capabilities matter enormously for food products. Ask specific questions about their cold storage, ambient storage, and whether they can handle products requiring different temperature zones simultaneously.
Evaluate Their Technology and Reporting
You need real-time visibility into your inventory and orders. Ask to see their inventory management system and what reports they can generate. Can they provide automated restock alerts? Do they integrate with your ecommerce platform? Poor technology creates blind spots that cost money and customer satisfaction.
Assess Flexibility and Minimum Requirements
Many packaging companies impose minimum order quantities that don’t suit smaller food businesses. You need a partner who understands seasonal fluctuations – Christmas hampers, Easter gifts, summer BBQ products. Can they scale up quickly for peak seasons without compromising quality?
Review Their Quality Control Processes
Request details about their quality checks. How do they handle product recalls if needed? What happens if an order is incorrect? Food businesses can’t afford packaging errors that result in allergen cross-contamination or mislabelling issues.
Copper Beech Trading as an Example
One example in the Preston area is Copper Beech Trading, which holds organic certification (GB-Org-02) and offers flexible services without minimum orders. They serve food businesses across Preston, Lancaster, and Kendal with temperature-controlled facilities and sustainable packaging options. Their approach demonstrates what smaller food businesses should look for in a packaging partner.
Local Considerations
Working with a packaging partner in your region offers advantages beyond just reduced transport costs. Local partners understand your market, can accommodate same-day collections, and provide face-to-face support when issues arise. The North West has several options, but location matters for responsive service.
Ready to evaluate potential contract packaging partners? Start by listing your specific requirements – from temperature needs to seasonal volumes – then use these criteria to assess which partner can genuinely support your food business growth without compromising the quality your customers expect.
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