In food production, packaging design is often treated as a matter of artwork and colour choices. For consumer-facing products, these are important considerations. However, for industrial food businesses supplying cafés, hotels, patisseries and other contract clients across the UK, effective packaging design centres on how effectively the containers you choose can protect pallets of delicate goods as they travel across the country on a daily basis.
In this blog, we look at what makes effective packaging for high-volume food businesses like industrial bakeries , and how an engineered approach to design can streamline dispatch, protect items from damage and improve client confidence.
For B2B food operations, effective packaging has to support the full product journey, from production area, to transport to the final venue. Delivery vehicles travel hundreds of miles, goods are handled multiple times and temperature changes and vibrations can affect structural integrity.
This means consideration must be made to the shape and dimensions of the packaging, as well as ease of build, material rigidity and stackability. A well-designed cake box , for example, works with the product, not against it. It protects delicate goods, reduces movement and maintains consistency across varying environments including refrigerated transport, pallet networks and multi-stop delivery routes.
The standard sizing offered by packaging such as kraft brown cake boxes and white corrugated cake boxes works well for many food products, particularly when items have consistent dimensions and follow predictable packing patterns. For many operations managers at firms that need to supply large volumes of product daily, having access to bulk volumes of these packaging items is vital for keeping the show running.
Standard-size boxes serve many food producers well and remain an efficient choice for products with consistent dimensions. However, growing bakeries and producers seeking to strengthen their competitive position often reach a point where packaging needs to work harder for them. As volumes rise, logistics expand and product ranges diversify, small inefficiencies can have a greater impact on presentation, workflow and delivery performance.
For business owners and product specialists looking to refine these areas, bespoke structural design offers a more precise solution. Even a few millimetres of additional space inside a box can introduce movement across long transit routes, especially when goods travel through pallet networks or multi-stop deliveries. For delicate cakes, pastries or plated items, this impacts food waste targets and potentially tarnishes brand reputation.
Working with a packaging supplier to design and produce bespoke packaging removes these variables by shaping each box around the exact dimensions, weight and handling requirements of your product. Assembly becomes more predictable on production lines, enabling staff to maintain pace during peak periods.
For teams working to strict fulfilment windows, engineered precision supports repeatable, reliable outcomes. Products arrive as intended, presentation remains consistent and the system becomes more resilient as the business grows.
La Creme Patisserie had grown from a small operation into a business supplying artisan cakes, fancies and desserts to venues including Kew Gardens, Cheltenham Racecourse and luxury hotels across the UK. As its contract list expanded, so did its logistics. Cakes were delivered through a pallet network on fleets travelling daily. The presentation needed to remain pristine.
Standard box sizes did not meet the company’s needs. Items moved in transit, stacks became unstable and assembly slowed production. There were concerns about protecting margins during national cardboard price increases. Food safety schemes such as SALSA also required demonstrable compliance from all packaging suppliers.
iKrafts worked with La Creme to measure each product and engineer specific box designs. Bespoke plates were produced to guarantee consistency at volume. Once the designs were in place, we held extra stock at our extensive UK warehouse, to provide rapid supply during peak periods. This gave La Creme the confidence that its contracts would not be disrupted by supply issues. Over ten years later, the partnership continues, with new bespoke sizes developed as the product range grows.
When packaging design is approached as an engineered solution, businesses gain stability across operations. Faster assembly, production efficiency and fewer damaged goods in transit reduce waste and protect margins. Bespoke packaging also protects your reputation for reliable delivery, and strengthens your position when it comes to contract renewals.
For teams scaling their product ranges, bespoke sizes provide a dependable foundation. New items slot into an existing logistics system without the delays that occur when searching for off-the-shelf options. Consistent supply also means your team can plan ahead, even across seasonal peaks and fluctuating demand.
Packaging may need revisiting if your business experiences:
These issues are common as businesses scale, and often indicate that packaging needs engineering adjustments rather than cosmetic changes.
iKrafts provides packaging built for real-world commercial demands that rely on consistent day-after-day delivery. We partner with industrial food producers to focus on structure, precision and supply continuity. We supply a wide range of regular-sized packaging for a range of catering supply needs , and will work directly with food producers to create bespoke packaging that meets exact specifications, supports daily logistics and maintains the presentation standards their clients demand.
We source through BRC-accredited suppliers, hold significant stock to prevent delays and offer flexibility as product lines grow. Clients benefit from durable materials, stable sizing and a partner who understands the pressures of high-volume food manufacturing and distribution.
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