Hidden Cost of Custom Burger Box Packaging
An average customer orders a takeout waits 20 minutes to be delivered and then opens his bag to see a wet bun in a pool of grease. It is all it takes to ruin weeks of positive opinions. Custom Burger Boxes are created to avoid this very scenario but most restaurants continue to think of packing as an addition rather than a component of the customer experience. This article dissects how exactly cheap packaging leads to failure, in what ways more responsible manufacturers come into the equation and how a restaurant can address the issue without having to change the entire menu.
Common Myths About Burger Boxes You Should Stop Believing
Many restaurants do not upgrade their packaging due to some assumptions that are not really sustainable.
Grease-resistant paper is the same.
The quality of the coating differs significantly among suppliers. Light or even coating allows the oil to percolate in a few minutes, particularly with the double-patty burgers.
Food cools down quicker through ventilation holes.
Correctly installed vents will be used to release steam, without sucking out a lot of heat. In their absence, the trapped steam will soften the bun much more quickly than a small percentage of the heat loss would.
Custom packaging is only important to large chains.
Independent restaurants tend to experience a greater increase in repeat orders of Custom Burger Boxes with distinct branding, as they are easy to remember as compared to a plain white container.
Where Do Kwick Packaging and Other US Manufacturers Fit In?
After a restaurant has decided to no longer use generic containers, the issue arises as to who makes the boxes. In the US market, there are a few manufacturers that are characterized by food safe production:
- Kwick Packaging: Designs custom food packaging, specializing in grease-resistant finishes and sizes, and volume flexibility on orders of any size for restaurants large or small.
- Anchor Packaging: This is a commonly used disposable foodservice container widely used throughout quick-service chains.
- Genpak: Known as a supplier of a wide variety of food packaging, with eco-friendly materials available.
Different manufacturers treat scale differently, and it is worth examining before investing in a supplier, as a business with one location has very different needs than a chain with branches spread across the country.
A Quick Case Example: Switching to Custom Printed Burger Boxes
A medium-sized burger restaurant was losing internet orders due to squashed buns and leaky sauce. Two things changed after changing a generic flat container to more accurately sized custom printed burger boxes. First, the increased internal height prevented the bun on the top to be smashed during transportation. Second, the printed exterior also provided free publicity to the restaurant each time a delivery bag was opened in a common office or an apartment building. Repeat online orders continued to rise within several months and the restaurant claimed that the number of requests related to damaged food decreased.
Grease-Resistant vs Standard Board:
| Feature | Standard Board | Grease-Resistant Board |
|---|---|---|
| Oil leakage risk | High within 15-20 minutes | Low, holds up through delivery |
| Best for | Dry or low-fat items | Burgers, fries, loaded sandwiches |
| Cost per unit | Lower | Slightly higher |
| Customer impression | Generic, forgettable | Clean, professional |
Burger Packaging Boxes constructed of the incorrect variety of board would cost more in refunds and lost repeat customers than the slight difference in price of the improved material could ever amount to.
Getting the Sizing Right for Your Menu
One of the most frequent packaging errors restaurants commit is size errors, and this is one of the simplest to rectify after the trend is evident.
Single-Patty vs Stacked Burgers
One burger requires less inside clearance than a two or three stack. When the entire menu is ordered to fit into a single standardized size, the tallest food item will be squashed, and the smaller ones will be in excess space.
Dine-In Pickup vs Delivery Orders
The distance covered by orders picked up in-store is shorter and the orders are more stable. Ordering of delivery is tossed in a bag or a car seat, and thus a slightly deeper box with a firmer lock helps minimize the possibility of the burger separating before making it to the table.
Answers to Common Questions
- What is the average time that a custom order would require?
Delivery time is determined by the supplier and the quantity of the order but by ordering a sample early in the process, a delay can be prevented when a complete manufacturing cycle is established.
- Should the packaging upgrade be done with a complete menu redesign?
No, the decision to change packaging but not to change the menu itself is common in most restaurants, as the decision to change packaging is independent of the development of a recipe.
- Would it be worth changing to one location rather than a chain?
Yes. Small restaurants can be the greatest beneficiaries as Custom Burger Boxes with vivid branding can ensure that one location is singled out in a sea of apps like Delivery App without having to spend much to do it.