Amélie is the power behind GR’EAT granola. She started out on her adventure making homemade granola in 2015. Sustainability is very important to her, so she only uses organic ingredients. And she has found packaging that is a perfect fit for her philosophy! Here is her story:
So tell me, what kind of packaging were you looking for?
Amélie: At the start, I had a standard bag which I put a sticker on each time. That was very labour-intensive and didn’t always look too attractive. I was looking for an environmentally friendly alternative which was more aesthetic and could enhance our brand.
And I also wanted packaging that was not oversized for the product. Sometimes you get bags which are only half full, and we certainly didn’t want that. Not least because it is inefficient for transport.
Finally, the environment is very important to us. So we were looking for a local partner who works with industrial compostable films. I am happy that we have found organic packaging which is made in Belgium for the Belgian market.
What kind of bag did it become?
Amélie: We ended up choosing a printed bag with a thicker white paper, an organic film and a custom window.
The printed bags are a better fit with our identity. They look more professional, they reflect what we stand for and they are very clearly organic. Now our product and its packaging really go together.
I also love the way it comes across as so colourful on the shelves while the bags have a cool, artisanal look.
What response have you had from your customers?
Amélie: We get a lot of positive feedback from customers. They say that our packaging looks beautiful and natural and suits our brand perfectly.
Our product also stands out better in Delhaize supermarkets, which is good for our branding. This has already created many new opportunities ;-).
What advice do you have for others? What have you learned in the process?
Amélie: I would say, pay attention to your inventory. Our organic packaging has a two-year lifetime. So do not order too large a quantity in the early stages. Ordering smaller quantities keeps your cash flow under control and limits potential risks.
Also find out about the different materials. There is a lot of conflicting or incorrect information going round. There is a tremendous amount of product innovation in areas like paper, ink and film. Make sure you keep right up to date with it.
I would also suggest making sure you allow enough time for the launch of your product. Produce a good reverse schedule and allow enough buffer time. I had taken account of delivery times and possible delays so everything went smoothly.
Finally, invest in your packaging. If you have a beautiful high quality product, make sure you have packaging that comes up to the same standard. Consumers care about this too and are comfortable paying for it. So be sure to invest in your brand!
How did you find working with Baginco? You can be very honest 😉
Amélie: I didn’t have much experience with packaging and design and I learned a lot about legislation, colours, paper types, and so on!
The seal didn’t go so smoothly for us at first. Sometimes it wasn’t hard enough or just sealed too hard. At Baginco’s recommendation we went to a sealing machine supplier to do a whole range of testing. In the end, we found the right method which suits the thickness of our paper and film.
I have to say that Baginco helped me a great deal through the whole process. With beautiful packaging as a result!
Bags in the spotlight
- Specifications: 110gsm white kraft paper + 23µ organic film
- Custom cut window
- Various designs
- 2 formats
- Only 2 colours per bag
