Wholesalers and retailers should become acquainted with bags for food packaging key terms so that they will be able to identify their packaging needs. Commercial packaging for food and beverages fits the product. There are bags made especially for breads, bakery items, coffee, snacks and even wines.

Not only are commercial bags designed with a particular kind of food in mind, they are also designed to promote brand recognition. Alternatively, some food storage bags can encourage sales even when consumers are not yet familiar with the brand, as in the case of bread bags with windows. Consider what is meant by the following bags for food packaging key terms:

1. Learn why some commercial food packing bags are referred to as bread or bakery bags.

2. Discover food packaging bags for prepared foods.

3. Find out what beverage packaging bags are for.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know what suppliers consider to be a commercial food storage bag for bread and bakery items

Bread and bakery bags refer to the plain white bags that bakeries give to customers who buy éclairs, donuts, cookies and muffins. These bags also refer to the clear plastic packaging that is usually made of polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon, and which bread companies use to wrap their products that sit on supermarket shelves.

I recommend: Plus Packaging sells clear plastic or custom printed polypropylene bread bags in your choice of six different colors. These air tight packages help to extend the shelf life of breads and bakery items. View images of bread bags at Mac Paper Supply to get an idea of the kind of paper packaging you can use for your bakery's loaves. Some bread bags, like those from Hubert, come with a window that extends down the length of the loaf.

Find out what retailers consider to be food packaging bags for prepared foods

Food bags for prepared foods usually refers to clear yet highly durable plastic bags that can safely store hot prepared foods. Bags for prepared foods are made of special material that maintains the heat of the food without making its exterior soggy. These bags resist leaks. Other food packaging bags for prepared foods are flavorseal pouches that don't require removal during cooking.

I recommend: Read more about the special chicken keeper food packaging bags that Flexotransparent sells. Find out about the Flavorseal cook in shrink bags that Carroll Manufacturing & Sales offers. Polypak Corporation's website explains in more detail the term, "food packaging for prepared foods."

See what beverage packaging bags can be used for wine and liquors

When retailers speak of 'beverage packaging bags,' they are mostly referring to the packages and wraps used for wine and liquors that can be quite ornate. The best way to understand what wine packaging bags are is to view the various kinds of wine wrappings.

I recommend: View the wide selection of decorative wine bags and wrappings at Bella Vita Bags. Read more about a truly unique beverage packaging bag at Wine Mummy.

Consider whether custom food bags would suit your needs

Manufacturers refer to special orders of food service bags as 'custom food bags.' The term refers to any commercial food packaging bag that bears your company's name or logo. Custom food bags are for products with high brand recognition.

I recommend: View the different kinds of custom food packaging available at American Container Concepts. Find out why many of these custom food bags are made of polypropylene, a packaging material preferred by the FDA. Consider the custom printed meat bags made by Chicago-based Harbro Packaging.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're dealing directly with food bag manufacturers, ask about their thermal insulated bags or bags that can contain specific bar codes.

People eat with their eyes first, so to speak, so attractive food packaging bags are an essential item for businesses. There are a myriad of food storage bags available to companies, including custom food bags, beverage packing bags and poly food bags. Each type of food storage bag is designed for a specific sector of the food and beverage industry.

Many food bag manufacturers offer custom printing, labeling and bar codes as part of their services. Commercial food packaging bags are used by many different businesses, from restaurants to grocery stores. Here are just a few of the different types of items that food packing bags are available for:

1. Bakery bread

2. Frozen foods

3. Gourmet foods

4. Snack foods

Action Steps
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Send a message with custom food bags

One of the most powerful marketing tools any food or beverage business has is its packaging. Not only does a food storage bag keep your product fresh and protected, it also acts as instant advertising for your business. Find a food bag manufacturer that does custom labels for your food service bags or beverage packaging bags. They can incorporate your business logo, slogan and other pertinent information right on the bag.

I recommend: Paper Mart caries a large variety of custom bags, from cello candy bags to bakery bread bags. Read more about the power of persuasive food packaging designs at Work.com.

Choose durable, as well as attractive, food packaging bags

It doesn't matter how good your food bags look if they aren't durable. Small food packaging bags will hold up pretty well under most circumstances, because of their size. However, larger bags, such as grocery bags at shopping centers or gourmet stores, often need to carry large loads. A bag that rips or tears easily will not impress a customer.

I recommend: Crown Poly is a leader in eco-friendly plastic food service bags. They work continuously to reduce waste to the environment while still providing top quality food bags. Packaging Supersource carries a line of heavy-duty beverage packaging bags to keep drinks from spilling.

Contract your food packaging needs

If you are planning on a large-scale food packaging operation, then you may want to hire a company who specializes in food packaging. These companies can take care of all your packaging needs, freeing you up to work on other parts of your business.

I recommend: Automated Packaging Systems provides high-speed bagging systems, ideal for both low- and high-volume needs.

Keep track of inventory and sales with food packing bags

Using a Point of Sale (POS) System to track your inventory and sales will help you to track growth within your business. Tracking sales is easy with a simple bar code added to your food packaging bags, in conjunction with your POS system.

I recommend: Read more on using bar codes in packaging at Work.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider hiring a professional to help design labels and logos for custom food bags.

Pricing and costs of bags for food packaging depend on the type of food or beverage you're looking to wrap and also on whether or not you'd like to custom wrap these products.

Consider whether higher priced custom food bags are necessary. If the brand recognition for your product is high, the answer is probably no. Consider a number of sources for information on pricing and costs of bags for food packaging:

1. Get low prices on the most popular poly bags for packaging candy.

2. Find suppliers that offer discount prices on commercial food packaging bags for bread and bakery items.

3. Consider the cost of decorative beverage packaging bags for wine and liquors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find food bags for candy and snacks at affordable prices

Poly food bags for candy and snacks are common and highly preferred by retailers because these bags have received the FDA's safety stamp of approval. Perhaps the most instantly recognizable bag for packaging candy is the one made of clear cellophane.

I recommend: Nashville Wraps offers attractive tin tie bags for candy in mini and bulk sizes. Prices range from $17 to $25 for the mini sizes and $74 to $102 for the bulk sizes. The Box Depot sells poly food bags in sizes ranging from 2 x 3 to 7 x 8. At the lowest end, 1000 bags will cost about $11. The largest bags sell for $30 for a package of 1000. Attractive clear cellophane bags for candy are available from Candy Favorites. A set of 150 bags in sizes 3 x 10 or 6 x 11 cost $20.

Look for great prices on commercial food packaging bags for bread and bakery items

There is a great selection of food packing bags for bread and bakery items among food packaging wholesalers. Most of these bags are sold by the case and some are available with seasonal designs.

I recommend: Instawares sells French bread bakery bags for about $93 per case and plain bread bags at $63 for about 1000 items. The Brenmar Company allows you to choose among four different sizes of white bakery bags. A case of 4 lb. bags costs $70, a case of 6 lb. bags costs $87, a case of 8 lb. bags costs $100 and a case of the 12 lb. bags runs about $120. Shadow Plastics is known for discount prices on bakery bags in regular or heavy thickness. A case of heavy thickness 6 x 3 bags runs about $26 while a case of heavy 8 x 4 bags sells at $40.

See what beverage packaging bags for wine and other liquors are selling for

Beverage packing bags for wines and liquors are among the most creatively designed commercial food packages. Your cost will depend upon how exotic you want to go and the quantity that you order.

I recommend: True Fabrications sells patterned wine wraps between $5 and $8 a piece. Badlani offers tissue wine bags at prices between 60 cents and $3 per item, depending upon whether you order more than 10,000 or as few as 50 to 100 pieces. A set of three double-mesh wine carriers is available from Talon Development Corporation for $12. A decorative two-bottle tote from TheWineBag.com costs $19.

Cut costs when you purchase food packing bags for coffee by the case

The most common food storage bag for coffee is the paper tin tie bag.

I recommend: North Atlantic Bags sells paper tin tie bags for whole bean and ground coffee by the case. The most common 1 lb. size bags cost between $108 and $158 per case. Paper Mart sells the same size bags in packages of 100 that cost between $17 and $19.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask food bag manufacturers and suppliers for free samples of their products before making your final decision.

Believe it or not, a food packaging bag may be one of the most important products you need to buy for your business, especially if your focus lies in food services or hospitality. These bags help to keep food items fresh and sanitary, whether you are transporting them or simply storing them for later use.

When you look at food packing bags and beverage packaging bags, you will notice there are a lot of different types and styles. So how do you know which to choose? First of all, start by looking at the following three types and seeing if they will work for you.

1. Resealable plastic bags that will not spill in a bin, box or freezer.

2. Mylar bags that help keep food fresh over a long period.

3. Poly food bags that are inexpensive and can hold a large amount of food.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take a look at resealable food packaging plastic bags with locking seals

This type of food storage bag has several advantages. It's clear, so you can easily see what's inside it. The contents stay put, even if the bag is sideways or upside down. You can easily tell if it is closed tightly.

I recommend: Look at the large variety of Ziploc brand bags that S.C. Johnson & Son sells. What sets these bags apart is their colored seals, which give you extra assurance that the bag is closed. This is especially important when you're storing beverages, soups or uncooked batter that can easily leak out. There are even bags with double seals available. If you're looking to buy in bulk, ReStockIt sells Ziploc and Webster Industries resealable bags in packs of 100 or more, depending on bag size.

Consider mylar bags if you need to keep your food fresh for an extended period

Mylar food packaging bags could be perfect for you if your business deals in cereal or other grain products that are not perishable, but tend to go stale. They are constructed of a specially designed foil that works to keep the contents air tight. Some have zip seals like the resealable bags, while others can be heat sealed.

I recommend: Search through USA Emergency Supply's inventory of mylar bags. It has several sizes available of the heat sealing and zip type. It also sells oxygen absorbers you can place in the bags to further ensure freshness. If you want to use mylar for your actual product packaging that goes on store shelves, a good company to work with is SorbentSystems. You can get colored bags instead of the traditional silver and even purchase custom printed mini pouches.

Check out poly bags for food packaging types and styles

Consider poly food service bags if you want just a basic storage bag or packaging for a very small operation. These are simple bags that can be used to store almost any type of dry foodstuffs. You seal them with a ribbon or twist tie.

I recommend: Consider products from Country Clean Paper Supplies. You can get cases of poly bags at a good price and pick up the twist ties at the same time. If your goal is lightweight and product-specific bags, turn to Handgards. It has LDPE poly bags sized for everything from sandwiches to large turkeys and hams. They come in rolls so you can dispense them as needed.