Food packaging boxes serve three important purposes. They need to protect the product, keep it warm or cold, and present it to the customer in an attractive way. Having the proper supplies for food packaging boxes can help you easily accomplish all three of these goals.

When you order food packaging boxes and cardboard food containers, you'll likely get a simple food packaging container, without any extras. So to ensure your food packaging design is as attractive and functional as possible, consider purchasing the following extras:

1. Self-stick labels for plastic, foam and cardboard food packaging;

2. Trays and inserts for a commercial food packaging box;

3. And hot and cold packs for food boxes.

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

Purchase labels for food cartons

Advertising is one of the most important functions of cardboard packaging for food. The food carton should be attractive and prominently feature your brand name. But custom-printed cartons can be expensive and often are only available with large minimum orders. One solution is to purchase custom made self-stick labels for food boxes that can easily be applied prior to the point of sale.

I recommend: For vibrant, colorful and memorable food labels, contact Etiquette Systems. The company is an industry leader in creating custom food labels for clients. Century Marketing can quickly make professional food packaging labels in a variety of styles. The company specializes in logo stickers, gourmet food labels and product labels.

Purchase trays and inserts for food packaging boxes and food shipping boxes

Trays and inserts are critical to protecting your food product and ensuring it arrives at its destination in perfect condition. Trays and inserts should also be aesthetically pleasing, as they are part of the overall food packaging design.

I recommend: For plastic food inserts that protect and enhance your product, check out Buckell Plastic. The company's 50,000-square-foot facility is ideal for creating custom food packaging. Cake pads from Nashville Wraps will make it easy to move your cakes, pastries and other treats. The pads are grease proof and meet FDA requirements for direct food contact.

Purchase hot and cold packs for food shipping boxes

If you plan on packing food in a food shipping box, you may need to use a hot or cold pack to preserve it or keep it ready to eat. These packs are sold in a variety of sizes and will keep food hot or cold for different lengths of time, so be sure to purchase the one that best meets your needs.

I recommend: BioScan Screening Systems sells a product called Techni-Ice that can be applied directly to food to keep it hot or cold. Cold Ice claims to be the nation's leader in thermal packaging systems. The company sells dozens of shipping refrigerants that can be custom labeled and sized.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you purchase a large quantity of supplies for food packaging boxes, order a few samples. Often these samples are provided for free to potential customers. Just contact a sales rep at the distributor.

Food packaging boxes are vital components for successful product selling. While an attractive presentation is important, food cartons need to be functional to deliver the quality perishables to the consumer.

Perishable items -- whether they are fresh produce, seafood or floral arrangements -- require special packaging to maintain freshness and ensure the integrity of the product upon delivery. Although food packing boxes vary in design and material, all food boxes need to meet certain criteria for successful product delivery.

Specialty food packaging containers should:

1. Protect the product during the delivery process.

2. Be environmentally friendly.

3. Promote the product using an attractive packaging design.

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

Use appropriate food packaging cartons

Different perishables require special packaging that offers protection during the shipping process.

I recommend: Place reusable gel packs in the commercial food packaging box to keep perishables cold. The consumer can use the gel packs again, a perk that could influence repeat business. Choose corrugated food boxes appropriate for the size package you need to ship. ULINE offers corrugated food packing boxes in an array of sizes and at a competitive price. If you need a specialty size for unique perishable items and want to advertise your brand, design your own food shipping box. Houston Carton offers custom designs for food boxes to fit your needs.

Choose environmentally-friendly food packaging boxes and materials

Picking recyclable food cartons and packing materials benefits the environment and boosts the image of your company.

I recommend: Support manufacturers of cardboard food packaging who recycle. Check the Recyclable Transfer Packaging Directory for partner companies. Recycle or reuse expanded polystyrene (EPS) packing material. Print a message of your company's environmental friendliness on your food shipping boxes to attract customers who are environmentally conscious.

Use food shipping boxes and packing materials that are efficient and cost-effective

Easy-to-use food packaging boxes coupled with affordability lead to a smooth shipping transaction.

I recommend: Buy corrugated food packaging containers in bulk to save money. Use an Ice Wrap from Maxwell Chase to ensure your perishable items maintain an optimal temperature. The lightweight Ice Wrap lowers costs while it protects the products in the food shipping boxes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose wax-coated food packaging cartons to protect the shipment from moisture damage.

Food packaging containers come in a large variety of sizes, shapes and materials, so the search for food boxes can be a bit overwhelming. But essentially, all food packaging cartons do the same thing. They protect the product, keep it fresh and provide an attractive way for your customers to take it home.

The pricing and costs of food packaging boxes can vary greatly depending on what types of food cartons you purchase. So before you begin your search for food packing boxes, decide if you want to buy:

1. General cardboard food containers;

2. Custom-printed food packing boxes;

3. Or environmentally friendly cardboard packaging for food.

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

Purchase food boxes

Prices for food cartons, food shipping boxes and cardboard food containers vary greatly. But generally, you can expect to pay less for smaller boxes and less if you buy an entire case. For example, individual white cake and pastry boxes sell for between 20 cents and $2, depending on the size of the box. Unprinted pizza boxes sell for between 40 cents and 90 cents each.

I recommend: Paper Mart is a family-run business that has an excellent selection of cake, bakery, pizza, wine and candy boxes. The company also has a good selection of unprinted flat and Chinese-style take-out boxes. The Brenmar Company sells donut, pizza, pie, cake, deli and take-out boxes.

Order custom-printed food cartons

For a little bit more money, you can custom print your food packaging containers and help market your business. Exact prices depend on the size of the box, the size of the printed area and the number of colors used in the printing. But generally, you can expect to pay about 50% more for a custom-printed food packaging container.

I recommend: Check out Blue Technologies for a good selection of custom food packaging. The company prints in full color on durable, water-resistant containers. Live support is offered online 24 hours a day. Absorbent, Ink. prints on several types of carry-out containers. Just give the company's sales rep a call for an exact quote.

Buy food packaging boxes that are made from recycled materials

These days, customers love doing business with companies that are environmentally friendly. So show your commitment to the environment by using recycled cardboard food boxes. You won't see much of a price difference, however. Individual recycled bakery, candy and take-out boxes sell for between 20 cents and 80 cents, depending on the size.

I recommend: MrTakeOutBags sells a line of environmentally friendly take-out containers that are made from 100% recycled paperboard. Nashville Wraps is a wholesale packaging distributor that offers more than 100 types of recycled containers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An easy way to save money when purchasing food packaging boxes is to buy in bulk. If you don't need to make a large purchase, try teaming up with other businesses in the area and purchasing all your cardboard food packaging together.

If you own a company that utilizes food packaging boxes, it's vital to learn the key terms to help you learn the basics and sound like a professional to your customers or other businesses. While you're most likely aware of the essentials, there may be certain words or phrases that are foreign to you. These are key terms that can help you educate yourself about food packaging boxes so that you can provide the safest product and the highest quality to your distribution areas.

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

Custom food labels

Custom food labels are labels that you can have placed on your items that are to be distributed. They can include your company name or logo and will help identify your product to consumers or distribution companies.

I recommend: Etiquette Systems shows the importance of having custom food labels on your product.

Logo stickers

Logo stickers are similar to custom food labels. These will showcase your own company logo and allow you to showcase your business on the products you are distributing. These are invaluable in branding your business name on the food packaging boxes.

I recommend: Websticker showcases how the logos get your name out to the public and show off your company logo.

Hot and cold packs

Hot and cold packs keep your food items hot or cold, usually cold is needed when shipping prepackaged food items. These will ensure that the food you distribute is kept safe and does not spoil or defrost in shipment.

I recommend: Keep Your Cooler displays what hot and cold packs do and how to use them.

Trays

Trays are used in food packaging boxes to keep items in place and ensure that they are not damaged in the shipping and distribution process. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes that you can use depending on your individual needs.

I recommend: Buckell Plastic is a source of explaining how food packaging trays work and their use to your business.

Thermal packaging

Thermal packaging works similar to hot and cold packs but is closer to a cooler instead of something you place inside your packaging. These are insulated to keep food products cool during the distribution and shipping process.

I recommend: ThermoSafe is an excellent resource for thermal packaging information with their explanation on how it works.

Cake pads

Cake pads are there to make it easier to ship cakes and pastries without damaging the product. These pads have the ability to resist grease and are approved by the FDA for use with food items.

I recommend: Nashville Wraps has a simple explanation on what cake pads are and what they can do for you.