Snack Packaging: A Definitive Guide

As the snack market expands continuously, are you going to add snack items to your business? 

A proper packaging for snack items like chips, biscuits, and candy is a must for branding. This way, you will ensure product quality, safety, and extended shelf life. And make the packaging appealing to consumers.

With my 20 years of experience in the packaging industry, I will guide you through each detail of the snack packaging here. Let’s get straight to the point- 

Introduction To Snack Packaging

Whether granola bars, nuts, chips, or any other snack items, you have to pack them well to keep their freshness and quality. There are several types of packaging options available for snacks, such as sachet, qual seal, and more. And you can make the packaging from different materials like paper, plastic, and more. 

In addition, the sank packaging is ideal for on-the-go consumption, parties, or corporate events. Therefore, it can enhance the consumer experience by promoting convenience and portion control at the same time.

Importance Of Snack Packaging

There are many advantages of packaged snacks, from making user-friendly packaging to keeping the product quality. Let’s see some of the common pros here-

• Ease in Convenience

Snacks with easy packaging options like resealable make it convenient for customers to carry and open. Therefore, anyone can take them while they are traveling or going from one place to another. 

• Product Freshness

The packaging keeps the snack fresh for a long time. This saves the products against moisture, lights, and other contamination elements. For this reason, consumers can enjoy the products’ original taste. 

• Environment Friendly

Often, snack packaging is made from eco-friendly materials. They do not contain harmful gasses, and they are recyclable. So you can use the pack without harming the earth. 

• Easy Transportation

Packaging makes the snack simple to transport for manufacturers and buyers at the same time. This way, you can export products all over the country easily. 

Types Of Snacks That You Can Packaging

You can pack several snack items such as beef jerky, cheese balls, and more. Below, I have mentioned a few of them–

1. Jerky Products: Jerky are a protein-rich snack that is perfect for on-the-go munching. Jerky can be made in different types of food, such as beef, turkey, vegan, and fish. Besides, they are non-perishable food and come in various flavors. Through proper packaging, you can save these products from moisture and extend their shelf life. 

2. Daily Snacks: Cheese sticks, popcorn, biscuits, etc, are some kind of daily snacks. They need to be properly packaged to keep their crunchiness and quality. Also, the packaging increases their expiry date. 

3. Dried Fruits: They are a healthy snack packaging option filled with nutritional benefits. Some of the dried fruits are dates, figs, and many others. Although they can remain suitable for many days, for a longer time, you should package them. This way, fungi can’t attack them, and their taste remains good. 

Snack Packaging Types

From jars, cans, and sachets to pillows and quad seals, you can pack your snack in a wide range of packaging types. Therefore, you can choose a type based on your product and choice-

• Can or Jar Packaging: Cans or jars come in several shapes and sizes and are used to pack different types of snacks. The cans save the snack from contamination and moisture. Also, these are easy to use and convenient. 

• Sachets: They are small packaging options. It is widely used to pack candies and other small snack items. These are mainly small packets that are ideal for single servings of condiments. The best part of these packaging is that they are easy to carry and use. Also, sachets are cost-effective and minimize waste.

• Flat pouch (three-sided or four-sided seal): Flat pouches have three or four seals on the sides and are excellent for lightweight snacks. Also, they are best for offering protection from moisture and oxygen.

• Quad Seal Bag: Quad seal bags come with sealed vertical edges on all four sides. They can minimizes dead space and allow for a more compact packaging solution. Also, you can use quad-seal bags for cost savings in shipping and shelf display.

• Doy Pack / Stand-up Pouch: These pouches are versatile and used for snacks like potato chips, candies, and dried fruits. They have a bottom gusset that lets them stand upright on shelves. Generally, they made multi-layer structures that provide excellent barrier properties against moisture and oxygen.

• Zipper Bag: Zipper Bags comes with a resealable closure. They are simple to open and use and provide good protection from light and air. So, these bags are ideal for snacks that require frequent access, such as nuts or trail mixes. 

• Pillow bag: They are typically made with sealed by 3 sides and folded into a pillow shape. Therefore, you can use them to pack chips and cookies. Besides, pillow bags are lightweight and can be produced at a lower cost compared to other types of packaging.

Types Of Materials Used To Make Snack Packaging

You can use plastic, paper, etc, for your snack food packaging. If you want environmental material, choose paper. Other snack packaging materials are-

• Paper

Paper is a versatile and eco-friendly material that is widely used material in snack packaging. Also, it is famous for its accessible printing capacity, which allows you to showcase the product’s information. As paper is biodegradable, it can provide a sound barrier against moisture and light. At the same time, its lightweight nature helps to lower shipping costs. 

• Biodegradable Material

You can use biodegradable material to reduce your brand’s carbon footprint. Typically, biodegradable materialism comes from plant-based sources like cornstarch and sugarcane. From flow wrap to vacuum-sealed packaging, it is ideal for several options. 

• Plastic Film

Usually, plastic film can be made from different types of materials, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Each material comes with unique properties and benefits. The plastic film can offer great protection from moisture, oxygen, and contaminants, which helps extend the shelf life of snacks. In addition, you can print on plastic film with vibrant graphics. 

• Composite Material

The composite material combines plastic and paper in multiple layers to create effective snack packaging solutions. So, it can provide excellent barriers to air and light, which are critical for preserving snack freshness. 

• Glass

Often, glass is used to make containers to hold snack items. This is best for packaging dried fruits, candies, and nuts. As it is sealed with metal lids, it provides an airtight environment that extends shelf life. Also, glass can protect products from light, moisture, and air. Besides, the glass is recyclable and best for consumers who are looking for sustainable packaging options. 

• Metal Material

Metal material, such as aluminum and steel, is commonly used in snack packaging. This material is recyclable, ensuring the preservation of product freshness. Therefore, you can use it to package snacks like nuts, popcorn, and chocolates. 

Factors That Should Be Considered Before Packaging Snacks

While packaging snacks, you should keep a few things in mind to make the best packaging. These are- 

• Consumers Preferences 

The main priority customer of snack packaging bags is convenience. They like easy-to-open packaging options. For this reason, you can use resealable or other simple options. As environmental pollution increases day by day, many consumers also prefer biodegradable snack packaging.

• Size And Weight Of Package

You have to consider the material type while packaging your snacks to balance the size and weight of the pack. For instance, paper packages can’t hold large amounts of products. Therefore, it’s best to put the snacks in a pack that can bear the weight. 

• Barrier Protection

Barrier protection is another important thing to consider while packaging your snacks. It can affect the product’s quality and longevity. So, take into consideration light, gas, and oxygen transmission rates while packaging certain snack types. 

• Warnings And Alerts

As a manufacturer, you should clearly list all warnings and alerts on the snack packaging. This helps the consumer get important information about the product. Including the expiry date on the packaging also allows the consumer to use the snacks within their shelf life.

How Does A Snack Packaging Machine Work?  

A snack packaging machine follows specific steps to run and pack your snack. I have included them in this section-

• Packaging material handling: Then the packaging process begins with the handling of materials like plastic films or pouches. Therefore, machines are equipped with rollers that feed these materials into the packaging line.

• Filling and loading:  In this step, the product is filled and loaded. Snack packaging machines use various filling methods depending on the machine type to load products into packages accurately. Some of the common filling systems include volumetric cup fillers, weigh fillers, and rotary fillers. 

• Sealing: This is a crucial step in snack packaging that ensures product freshness and prevents contamination. Therefore, snack packaging machines employ heat sealing or center sealing techniques to close packages securely. 

• Labeling and coding: This is optional; if you want, you can use this. Here, the machine applies labels that include product information, barcodes, and expiration dates. Also, you can print your brand information, such as your brand name or logo. 

• Quality control:  Automated check weighers and vision systems inspect products for weight accuracy and proper sealing. These systems help detect defects or inconsistencies in real time. It reduces waste and ensures that only compliant products reach consumers.

• Finished product discharge: Once packaged, finished products are discharged onto conveyors for distribution or storage. Then, you can use cartoning machine to pack snack boxes for storing snack packs, making further transportation easy.

Different Types Of Snack Packaging Machines

Let’s see some of the primary types of snack packaging machines here-

1. Premade Pouch Packing Machines

These machines operate with pre-made bags of snack packaging. First, you have to feed the pouches into a machine from a magazine. Then, this machine fills the pouches with snacks. After that, the bags are sealed, often using heat sealing methods.

2. Form Fill And Seal Machine

Typically, the form fill and seal (FFS) machine first creates pouches from a roll of film. Then, fill them with the snacks and seal them. This type can be operated in two different methods, such as-

• Vertical form fill and seal(VFFS) machines: These types of FFS machines run vertically. They are best at producing various bag styles and sizes. Also, VFFS machines are known for their high-speed production and can fill up to 220 bags each minute. With them, you can pack lightweight items like popcorn and candy.

• Horizontal form fill and seal(HFFS) machines: HFFS machines operate by horizontally feeding products into bags. First, they formed pouches from a roll of film. They are particularly effective for larger or bulkier snacks such as frozen foods or sandwiches. Also, HFFS machines can package items around 290 bags per minute while maintaining quality seals.

3. Tray Sealing Machines

Tray sealing machines are designed to seal food products in trays using a film lid. This method is standard for ready-to-eat meals and fresh produce. These machines ensure that each compartment is sealed individually. They provide the prevention of leakage and extend shelf life of the product. However, they can be manual or automatic; you can choose one depending on production needs.

4. Flow Wrap Machine

Flow wrap machines use a continuous roll of film to wrap products. Usually, they form the bag around the product, seal it on both ends and cut it to size. This way, these machines provide an efficient packaging solution that maintains product freshness. Hence, you can use this machine to pack candy or snack cakes. 

5. Vacuum Packaging Machines

These machines remove air from the packaging before sealing it. This helps preserve the freshness of snacks by preventing oxidation. If you want to pack jerky and dried fruits, you can use vacuum packaging. Also, they are ideal for both small-scale operations and large industrial processes.

6. Multi-Head Weigher

Multi-head weighers measure and fill bags with snacks using multiple heads for precise and efficient packaging. They operate by holding the product in a hopper and distributing it across weighing heads via a vibratory feeder. Also, these machines use load cells and algorithms to achieve the target weight before sealing the bags.

Conclusion

With the right snack packaging, you can keep the product fresh until customers eat it. This way, you will achieve consumer trust and get popular over time. Also, if you make snack packaging more appealing and designable, you can get customer attention and sell more.  

However, if you want a machine to pack your snack items, contact HonorPack. We have premium quality different types of snack packaging machines for you. Also, our customized option is popular if you have any specific requirements.

FAQs

How do you pack snacks?

You can pack snacks in different ways based on automatic, semiautomatic, and manual machines. The whole process involves three basic steps: forming a bag, filling it with products, and then sealing it. After that, the snacks are good to go for distribution.