Like many industries, pet food manufacturers face more complexities than ever before in the marketplace. From changing consumer preferences to retailer sustainability initiatives, all brands must balance numerous factors to deliver quality products and reach more consumers.

The U.S. spirits industry has gained a lot of traction in recent years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), spirits market share reached over 42% of total alcoholic beverages in 2023, revealing steady growth for 14 straight years. The market has proven resilient to challenges such as COVID-19, high inflation and changing consumer buying habits, according to DISCUS. Further, U.S. spirits exports reached an all-time high in 2023, totaling $2.2 billion and driven by American whiskeys.

Sustainability has been on the minds of a growing number of consumers for several years now, with millennials helping spur the conversation. For the next generation of consumers, however, sustainability isn’t just nice to have — it’s a must. Environmentally conscious Gen Zers expect more from their favorite brands than products; they want ethical practices, sustainable processes and, when it comes to packaging, efforts to reduce waste.

As your business grows, so too do your packaging and label needs. Ordering, proofing, requesting changes, artwork approval and managing a growing number of packaging projects can easily become overwhelming and time-consuming — stressors that you don’t need as you build your business.

Pet industry trends present both challenges and opportunities for pet food manufacturers. For smaller or family-owned pet food manufacturers, higher rates of pet ownership and willingness to splurge on pet food mean the opportunity to grow. But, making a splash in an ever-growing sea of products is a struggle

Despite a drop in sales for the overall beer market in the last year, the craft beer segment continues to grow. However, as more and more products hit the shelves and the market becomes more saturated, craft brewers will need to ensure their product stands out from the rest.

A startup receives its first packaging order and the colors are off. A nutraceutical brand launches a new product and experiences a delay, missing a retailer’s deadline. A food manufacturer’s packaging fails to protect the product, resulting in shorter shelf life. These are just some of the experiences we hear all too often in the packaging industry. Whether it’s delays, inconsistencies in quality or design, minimal customer service or something else, these common frustrations can grow into much larger issues, including missed sales opportunities, lost revenue and an inconsistent brand image.

Barrier packaging protects a product from various elements, including air, light and moisture. As the main protector of your products (and sometimes, your consumers), barrier packaging is one of your biggest assets when it comes to product quality.

Investing the time and resources in developing a brand means drilling down and effectively explaining your brand’s “why.” And there’s no better vehicle to do so than the visual opportunities that packaging and labeling offer.

In a sea of mass-produced goods, gourmet food products offer consumers the opportunity to experience novelty, craftsmanship and rarity. Whether for the holidays, hosting a party or a “treat yourself” moment, consumers are willing to splurge on specialty food products because they know they will deliver a memorable experience.

With almost countless applications and benefits, flexible packaging has become a go-to format for brands across industries in recent years. The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) shares that flexible packaging is the second largest packaging segment in the U.S., garnering about 19% of the entire U.S. packaging market.

Packaging is a critical aspect of product marketing and consumer experience. It serves as the first point of contact between the consumer and the product and creates a visual and tactile experience that can impact consumer perceptions and buying decisions.

Sustainable packaging has long been a goal for many brands. However, brands looking to adopt a more sustainable format faced numerous barriers to doing so—from unclear definitions of “sustainable” to incompatible films and equipment.  Fortunately, the packaging industry has made strides in researching and engineering sustainable packaging options, particularly in the flexible packaging space. 

While exciting, launching a startup brand brings a high level of uncertainty. Whether it’s messaging, branding, hiring or the product itself, you have seemingly endless decisions to make. Packaging is one of those decisions, and an important, yet often overlooked one.

With its convenience and endless options for customization, flexible pouch packaging offers you an important advantage in the marketplace. However, as more and more brands adopt flexible pouch packaging to realize these benefits, it will be crucial to do what you can to further differentiate your packaging on the shelf.

Whether you’re an established brand continuously innovating new products or a startup working to bring your ideas to life, moving from concept to production can be exciting and challenging. At Belmark, we partner with you to anticipate and avoid common challenges and barriers to scaling and eliminate the guesswork of packaging so you can focus on your brand.

As the global population continues to grow, so too will the demand for food products. The United Nations estimates that the population will reach 9.5 billion by 2050. At the same time, consumers are becoming increasingly health-minded—in a recent survey, over 70% of respondents reported that they wanted to be healthier, with 50% citing healthy eating as a top priority.

Both the packaging industry and consumers have gravitated toward flexible packaging for several years now, and it’s easy to see why. Flexible packaging has seemingly endless benefits—it requires less water and energy to produce, allows for attractive branding with digital printing and improves the consumer experience.

Packaging design has a stronger impact on purchasing decisions than you might think. In fact, the majority of Americans (72%) report that packaging design can make or break their decision to buy, according to Ipsos. Another 67% noted that the materials used in packaging also affect their decision.

Packaging and labeling have a lot of power to market your message, shape consumers’ buying decisions, and improve the customer experience. Moreover, packaging carries the weight of making a first impression, whether on buyers at the shelf or investors at the table. Whether you’re launching a new product, designing a new package, or even making small changes to an existing design, it’s crucial to get your package right the first time.

Packaging plays a multi-faceted role in consumer behavior. It can influence purchasing decisions, catch consumer attention, and cultivate brand awareness amidst a “sea of sameness” on the shelves. Equally important, though, is the role packaging plays in the experience of your brand and product—from the moment it’s noticed to how a consumer disposes of it. Like your product, packaging is about the consumer experience. And, a good experience with your packaging is just as crucial as it is for the product itself.

Sustainability has been increasingly top-of-mind for consumers, retailers, and CPG brands alike for several years. Now, with various sustainable packaging and carbon-neutral commitments, the push to adopt eco-friendly packages is stronger than ever. Fortunately, there are also more sustainable packaging options than ever, with numerous innovations for source reduction, recyclability, reusability, and formats that support the circular economy.

Sixty percent of Americans drink coffee daily (that’s more than the number of people who drink water). For some people, coffee is a ritual to get a little morning jolt. And for others, it’s an entirely immersive experience, which is why coffee brands are pulling out all the stops to offer the best coffee packaging bags that will grab consumers attention.

To say that first impressions matter is an understatement when 70% of shoppers form their opinion about a product based on its branding and packaging. Which means that strategically developing a product’s packaging and labeling not only tips a customer into trying your product for the first time, it can lead them to develop loyalty.

Sports nutrition, beauty, and health brands have adapted their products and packaging to fit more seamlessly into the active lifestyle of the consumer, supporting the shift to living a better, healthier life. Find out how powder pouch packaging is transforming health-focused companies.

Environmentally-conscious consumers were projected to spend around $150 billion on sustainable products last year. However, the steady growth of sustainability-friendly products and green packaging clearly indicates that going green isn’t a trend — it’s a business need.

Coffee connoisseurs go to extensive lengths to obtain and enjoy some of the most distinctive coffees in the world. For coffee manufacturers, packaging your beans and grounds requires a specialized design and production process that can significantly impact your brand experience.

While, on average, American households own more dogs than cats, there are some unique trends among cat owners that food and treat manufacturers can capitalize on. Find out how your packaging can help your cat food and treat products stand out.

For coffee lovers out there, the trend of choosing smaller, more artisanal coffee options may have been facilitated by supply chain issues and new, local companies emerging on the scene. Part of the influence in the boom of coffee companies has been the periodically empty grocery store shelves.

Holiday shopping last season was estimated to reach a record $207 billion in the US alone. Up 10% of prior year’s spending. Here are some valuable considerations to help you better plan and execute your holiday packaging and promotions to succeed during the holiday season.

60-70% of those surveyed said they are willing to pay for greener options and are searching for packaging partners who offer more recycled, recyclable, and fiber options available to them. We provide our customers with sustainable product solutions that help build their brands. By doing so, we make the biggest impact.

The craft beverage industry continues to pivot, with companies frequently revisiting their production decisions to adjust to the next “new normal.” Here are five trends in craft beverage packaging to help you evaluate where your brand sits today and where it can evolve tomorrow.

The best meals start with the freshest ingredients, when it comes to fruit and vegetable packaging, freshness is a black or white result for grocery store shoppers. The proper packaging solution can mean a customer putting your products in their cart or leaving your product in the produce aisle.

Choosing the right product packaging solution can make the difference between suffering preventable damages and losses or striking gold with consumers as they decide to pick up your product from the shelf.

When you think of some of your favorite companies and products, surely one of—if not the first—things that comes to mind is its brand color. Choosing the right printing and packaging solution to accurately convey your brand colors is a critical piece of your marketing and branding strategy.

Investing the time, effort, and resources to develop a product doesn’t abruptly end after being created. At the end of the production line, it has to be packaged and shipped in a way that makes it easily recognizable and desirable to your end customers.