Wholesale meal prep containers will be some of the first investments you’ll make before launching a meal kit business. Even as you’re drafting a meal prep business plan, the way in which you’ll package and ship your products should be discussed in great detail. After all, packaging and shipping costs will contribute to a large portion of the brand’s recurring expenses. In fact, it can end up costing you far more than the meal prep business software solutions you choose to onboard!
In this blog post, we’re going to discuss several wholesale packaging solutions that you can utilize. Regardless of which ones you choose, properly storing food ingredients in the right containers will allow you to become one of the best meal prep services on the market. Now, let’s dive right into it!
5 Ways to Package Meal Kits
Whether you’re just learning how to start a meal prep business or are looking to improve an existing business model, you’re in the right place! See below to learn about five ways you can package meal prep kits:
1. Ready to Eat Kits
Some meal prep business models instruct the consumer to prepare the meals from scratch. The whole point of these subscription models is to simplify the cooking process. Plus, the customer won’t have to shop for a ton of different ingredients.
However, other meal prep businesses offer the unique selling proposition of ready-to-eat meals. For these businesses, packages that contain compartments for each food item are necessary. Just imagine if you have something like a pasta dish and a side of vegetables. Chances are, seasoned veggies might not pair well with the pasta sauce. So, you need to find an easy way to keep different food groups separate.
If your company invests in private label meal prep services, you should have the option to customize packaging materials. Then, the way in which you display meals in their containers can be totally up to the production team. As you can imagine, packaging the best meals for meal prep lovers has never been easier.
2. Limited and Sustainable Packaging
Many consumers who opt for sustainable restaurants are going to want eco-friendly meal kit subscriptions. So, it’s important to zero in on where you can purchase meal prep container wholesalers that have sustainable options. But they’re still food packaging solutions–so how can such items be sustainable?
First, look for packaging materials that are made from recycled materials. This way, it won't lead to new waste in the environment. Then, be mindful of the actual materials that the packaging options are made from. For example, there are compostable films that can be useful for insulating packages. There are also recyclable types of plastic. Some of them are made from ingredients like corn starch and plants!
It’s also vital to use cardboard whenever possible. Sure, that’s what the packing boxes will be made of. However, it will also be valuable to invest in cardboard pouches and envelopes for ingredients like spices and herbs.
3. Temperature-Controlled Packaging
If a lot of the meal prep kits you sell arrive frozen, you need to implement sufficient cold chain logistics. This means that the meal prep shipping methods might look a bit different than they would with cool to room-temperature ingredients.
For instance, the packing boxes you use must be sturdy enough to be insulated. Then, there needs to be enough ice packs to keep everything frozen. If the integrity of any frozen ingredients raises concerns regarding food safety, the use of dry ice may be your best bet.
Shipping frozen food can be a challenging and expensive process. While you want to keep shipping expenses to a minimum, you also need to dodge the risk of food spoilage entirely. So, finding a happy medium is key.
4. Individual Bags for Each Ingredient
If your business strives to give customers the restaurant experience in the comfort of their own home, package each ingredient in its own bag. Everything from fresh produce to different types of spices will arrive in their own pouch. Then, as the consumer prepares the recipe and assembles each serving, they’ll have exactly what they need.
To keep each item as fresh as possible, you’ll need to use vacuum-sealed bags. This way, they won’t spoil before reaching their destination.
For ingredients that are liquified, like sauces and milk, it’s best to use plastic or cardboard containers. They are lightweight yet sturdy, and don’t require as many protective materials. Therefore, they won’t cause the weight of the package to skyrocket, keeping shipping costs at a minimum.
5. Package Ingredients By Category
Similar to packaging individual ingredients, some meal prep companies choose to package ingredients by category. So, all the meat products might come in one package, while all the vegetables are in another. It’s a method that slightly lessens the amount of packaging that needs to be added to each box.
Sure, items like liquids and spices can’t be mixed, but consolidating as many ingredients as possible can allow for smaller packing boxes. Then, the company will be able to store and ship more packages at a time, lessening the environmental impact associated with transportation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wholesale Meal Prep Containers
Still have questions about purchasing meal prep containers wholesale? If so, we have an FAQ section that should help you out! See below:
Where Can I Buy Wholesale Meal Prep Containers?
You can purchase wholesale meal prep containers through a wholesale directory. For instance, platforms like BlueCart showcase the catalogs of thousands of vendors selling wholesale products. So, by accessing such a directory, you’ll likely have multiple options for containers, wrappers, shipping materials, and more.
How Many Wholesale Meal Prep Containers Should I Keep On Hand?
The number of wholesale meal prep containers that you’ll need for your business depends on your order volume each week. That’s one of many reasons why demand planning efforts are so important. If you order meal prep containers without having an idea of how many you need, you can either spend too much money on excessive quantities or not end up with sufficient inventory.
Are There Any Wholesale Meal Prep Containers That Are Eco-Friendly?
Yes, it’s possible to purchase eco-friendly meal prep containers wholesale. There are numerous suppliers that sell meal kit containers that are made from recycled materials. As a result, meal prep businesses can eliminate gas emissions and negative impacts on the environment.
Are Wholesale Meal Prep Containers Expensive?
Wholesale meal prep containers are not necessarily expensive. In fact, you can get them at a significantly lower price than if you didn’t purchase them in bulk. So, if you’re starting a meal prep business or are looking for ways to cut costs for an already-existing company, we encourage you to shop for wholesale meal prep containers.
How Big Are Wholesale Meal Prep Containers?
Wholesale meal prep containers are typically no larger than 8 by 10 inches. It’s also common for them to hold anywhere from 30 to 6 ounces of food. Bear in mind that for things like desserts and snacks, meal prep containers can be much smaller.
Purchase Wholesale Meal Prep Containers Through BlueCart
There are numerous wholesale distribution companies that supply packaging solutions to the food and beverage industry. Luckily, you can purchase such goods as well as wholesale paper products through a platform like BlueCart. If you’d like to learn more about order management and fulfillment software, schedule a demo with us today!