To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way people live would be an understatement. In daily matters, from work to play, most Americans have dramatically restructured their lives around socially isolated life; what’s more, it looks like these changes are here to stay.
When it comes to packaging and retail business, many experts believe that many of those changes are permanent for operations going forward. The complexities of living through COVID-19 reshaped customers’ shopping habits, and since many of these practices have longer-term benefits, it’s not unreasonable to believe these changes are going to stick around.
That said, what are some of these changes, and how will they impact how you do business?
According to Steven Williams, CEO of PepsiCo Foods, speaking at the 2022 National Retail Federation Big Show, here are the most noteworthy changes to food retail you should know.
More consumers are shopping local.
It turns out that local charm is more of a draw than you might initially think, as more Americans are shopping at local establishments. Williams observes, “People are falling in love with their local stores again.” Of course, customers shopping locally means that you have one more audience to consider when you’re selling your product, so look at increasing (or possibly adding) targeted, segmented packaging to engage with niche and local audiences.
Food e-commerce is here to stay.
From Shipt to Walmart Delivery, people stuck at home rely on digital food services more now than ever before. Many people who started food shopping online during the pandemic made it part of their norm, and even now, more consumers are joining them in socially isolated food shopping. This means that the more you can do to design for digital sales, the better. Maximize the appearance and utility of your packaging for the screen. If you use QR Codes to engage audiences with nutrition information, how-to’s, and recipes, consider making those codes visible on the front of your packaging so they can be scanned from a computer screen, as well as in-store. The easier it is for customers to integrate your products with their digital devices, the more sales you’ll see.
In-home meals are on the rise.
Convenience is king when it comes to food retail in the age of COVID-19, with more people cooking than going out to restaurants. If you haven’t already, consider launching an at-home meal or food prep line to appeal to consumers stuck in their homes. Alternately, you might think about using QR Codes to lead consumers to easy recipes, sparking potential buyers’ creativity and consequentially tapping into this trend.
The new name of the game is value, value, value.
While COVID-19 presented consumers with many complications to daily life, many are feeling more financial strain than ever. With inflation making it harder to stretch a budget, value packaging and pricing are more important than ever. If you haven’t been mailing printed coupons, this might be a great time to start. Similarly, consider setting up a customer rewards program, so that loyal customers feel financially rewarded for their recurring purchases.
Expect growth in multipack sales.
While they aren’t necessarily environmentally friendly, consumers love the ease that multipacks offer. According to Williams, customers choose multipacks for ease of carrying, health and safety, and portion control. If you haven’t already, consider developing a line of multipack products to tap into this burgeoning market.
Times are changing in packaging and retail, and if you’re looking to update your packaging design, you should look no further than PMI. With our team of design-driven experts and over twenty years of experience, we provide quality creative marketing solutions to businesses, and our team of professional experts is ready to help you find new ways to adapt to this post-COVID-19 marketplace. Reach out to us today, and let us help you find new ways to reach your customers.
