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Our takeaway packaging case studies show you how we’ve helped major brands and retailers customise their branded packaging to suit their offerings and company image.
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A business that outsources its design needs can often be the difference between flourishing and flopping.
With so much competition and access to great services around the globe, differentiating yourself is a tall order. Continue reading “4 Reasons to Outsource Your Design Needs”
You can’t fail to notice the huge surge in demand for vegan food over the last 3 years.
Whether it’s popup food markets, big-chain supermarkets or local cafés, vegan food and substitutes can be found everywhere.
This surging market is still extremely buoyant, and, arguably, the demand is still higher than the supply.
This is great news for food retailers as it means they can diversify their offerings if they’re not already catering to vegan customers.
In many cases, the food outlet doesn’t need to be specifically vegan or even vegetarian.
Most vegan dishes can be served up by subbing in tofu and subbing out meat.
The key message of this article is that vegans too can enjoy fast food to go, hangover food, comforting stodge, carb day, cheat day, whatever you want to call it!
If you’re considering of offering some vegan dishes but aren’t quite sure where to start, here’s 5 spots that we think are nailing it.
Check out the following list of scrummy vegan takeaway dishes.
We seriously encourage you to try them and use them to inspire your own dishes!
Vegan Seitan Gyros – The Athenian – Bristol, London
If you’re in London or Bristol you must make time to grab yourself a Vegan Gyros from The Athenian.
A gyros (pronounced ‘yeer-ross’) is a traditional Greek street food item.
Carefully wrapped inside a soft Greek pita, seitan, a chewy protein-rich meat substitute is marinated with herbs, lemon juice and olive oil and served with vegan mayo, paprika-dusted fries.
It will change your life and leave you wondering how it’s not meat – try it with a bottle of stout!
Mexican “Fish” Tacos – Club Mexicana at Pamela – London
As claimed on their website, Club Mexicana “make 100% vegan and totally banging Mexican-inspired street food”.
Club Mexicana are no strangers to the vegan street food scene.
Check out their tofu “fish” tacos and also expect heavily ‘guaced’ nachos, sweet bbq sauces, “cheesey” fries, crispy chipotle potatoes and so much more!
Banging!
Vegan Pizza – Picky Wops – London
So you follow a plant-based diet and you’re craving that stringy mozzarella cheese pizza scenario that you just know nothing else can satisfy…
A real dilemma? No! Why?
Because Picky Wops!
Picky Wops, your new best friend, is a vegan pizza joint based out of Fulham.
What makes them special is that they have a whopping menu featuring no less than 8 different kinds of vegan cheese!
Whether it’s coconut mozzarella or cashew nut camembert you can expect a pizza with plenty of meat substitute, like seitan, and all the veg!
Two words: go there!
Fresh Falafels – GoFalafel – Manchester
For the freshest tasting lunch ever, be sure to check out GoFalafel when you’re next in Manchester.
Serving super-fresh and seasonal salads with their falafel using generations-old Middle Eastern recipes, GoFalafel have been dubbed as Manchester’s best for falafel.
Everything on the premises is entirely vegan, couple your order with one of their freshly juiced fruit and veg smoothies and you will be smiling and glowing the whole day!
Vegan Sushi Burritos – Happy Maki – Brighton
Heading to the coast for the weekend? Fancy a trip to a pier?
Well, make sure it’s Brighton that you go to and while you’re there, head to Happy Maki for what is probably one of the most original takeaway ideas we’ve come across: vegan sushi burritos!
Freshly prepared, these beauties are extremely popular.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, Happy Maki combine avocado with raw and cooked vegetables to create a multitude of different textures along with herbs, spicy coconut and teriyaki sauces.
You simply have to check this place out and devour something totally different that’s totally 100% vegan.
Happy Maki make being vegan an absolute breeze!
Examples of great design are all around us and many form the backbone of our day-to-day living.
As keen enthusiasts for creative and functional design we’ve been exploring the very greatest examples, that is, the ingenious designs that have shaped the world, transformed onerous tasks into doddles, and those that are simply great in their own way!
The Juicy Salif
In case you weren’t aware, The Juicy Salif is the actual name for the transformative and wondrous groovy metal lemon squeezer found in homes across the globe.
Phillipe Starck’s famous 1990 design, is one of the best in its class for industrial design and has even been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Modeled on the shape of a squid and cast in polished aluminium, this device is a dream for anyone wanting to extract the soury goodness from citrus fruits.
Function and form standing and excelling together – if you haven’t used one, you haven’t lived.
Dyson Cool Fan
James Dyson is undoubtedly a pioneer.
Tucked away in his top secret location which is constantly under threat from undercover employees (moles) planted by competitors, he can’t stop coming up with amazing inventions.
Of course, the bagless, cyclone vacuum cleaner was an absolute game-changer, but what we really want to celebrate is his bladeless fans!
The Dyson Cool Fan is a sensational device that does exactly what it proposes while looking great, blowing our minds (and hair) and keeping fingers and cats safer than ever!
Rotate, speed up, slow down, this piece of tech is as revolutionary in function as its beautiful zen-like circular design (or elongated if you get the larger model).
What’s more, the latest models claim to be 75% quieter than their previous versions.
Coca-Cola Glass Bottle
In the pursuit of creating something of great recognition, the iconic Coca-Cola glass contour bottle was created.
It dates back all the way to 1915 when designer Earl R. Dean attempted to design something which could be recognised even in the dark as well as paying homage to the product inside.
The resulting shape that we’re so fond of today – influenced by the ingredients – stems from the shape a cocoa pod which Dean discovered in his encyclopedia, having first ruled out images of the cocoa leaf and Kola nut.
iPod, iPhone, iPad
Game. Changed.
Apple have been rocking the world for decades now.
Thanks to Sir Jonathan Ive – the quite-rightly exalted industrial designer behind these products – Apple have soared to become one of the largest (and wealthiest) companies on the planet.
The products are graceful in both design and user experience.
The touch-screen interface makes for a multi-sensory approach with softly gliding screens and pinching motions that serve to enhance the simple, understated elegance of the hardware.
Apple are almost guaranteed to make any list in the modern age relating to great design.
Thermos Vacuum Flask
Sir James Dewar, chemist and physicist, invented the vacuum flask in 1892.
As many of us will have learned in school science classes, the flask consists of two walls that have air vacuumed out from between them to keep liquids either hot or cold, for longer.
Unfortunately, the tale turns a little cold…
You see, Dewar never patented his invention, leaving it wide open to the German company, Thermos GmbH, who snapped up the idea and began manufacturing it themselves in 1904.
Once in production, they patented the design and left Dewar with no rights to the product.
Weber Barbecue Grill
George A. Stephen’s 1950 design can still be found in gardens and garden centres today.
Weber Brothers Metal Works was metal fabricator that primarily made buoys.
While working there, Stephen – being a dab hand in the kitchen – was frustrated with his open-brick grill, because he felt that it produced uneven heat and too much smoke.
Moreover, the open top allowed too much wind to blow ashes into his food!
Not one to be easily defeated, and being the metal works bright spark that he was, Stephen took half a buoy and welded three steel legs onto it.
Unbeknownst to Stephen, he’d just revolutionised garden parties, forever!
Weber-Stephen Products Co. was born, and with it, one of the most iconic cooking objects to date!
The Bicylce
There is nothing more efficient than a man, or woman, on a bicycle.
S.S. Wilson, an engineering lecturer at Oxford University, took it upon himself to carry out an efficiency study.
The study was published in Scientific American in 1973.
Wilson found that a person on a bicycle was more efficient than any other animal or machine. Ever.
Now, without trying to blind anyone with science, according to Wilson, a cycling human uses a fifth of the energy as one walking; 0.15 calories per gram of bodyweight per km for cycling, versus 0.75 for walking.
Casual cyclists travel about 9-12 mph while a person walking travels about 3 mph, resulting in cyclists being 15-20 times more efficient than a person walking (per hour) and about 5 times more efficient than the most efficient animal, which is the American Condor.
Through form and function, the humble push bike is therefore an ingenious design which has remained as effective (and efficient!) as it has timeless and classic.
Something which comes up an awful lot in the packaging channels of this world, is how best to design packaging suited to a subscription service.
Given our love of all things design and packaging, we thought we’d share some core tips on the sorts of things you need to consider about your packaging designs.
Using the example of a box, this will range from the dimensions of the box to the type of box used.
We follow with some pointers around graphic design and also cover the often overlooked aspect of enhanced advertising.
Many businesses will tell you that it’s often very easy to get carried away with the design elements of a new packaging idea.
While it’s fundamental to the success of a brand’s image and perception, it’s not all about design – choosing the right style and size of the box can hugely impact your profitability.
Size Matters – Think Inside The Box
Make sure you’re clear on exactly what will be going in the box or packaging each time you send it and try to use as small a box as possible.
This will help you in a number of ways:
Lower costs on manufacturing and materials (namely cardboard).
A smaller box, and subsequently a reduction in the weight of the box, leaves more allowance for weight of the items themselves, resulting in lower overall shipping costs.
Client retention: customers will perceive the contents to be of greater value – the smaller the box, the fuller it seems
Whereas, if your box is too big and there’s too much space for your products, it will seem underfilled.
In cases where you need to send larger packaging to accommodate an anomaly item, go for two!
Even with two on the odd occasion, you’ll find that you still achieve a saving on your shipping costs – 11 months smaller box and 1 month two boxes.
What’s Your Style?
There are a lot of factors to consider here:
Is your box suitable to ship as it is, or will you need a secondary box to ship it in?
What about the style?
Keep in mind your budget here: 2-piece trays tend to give an impression of higher quality but this might mean you need to use a secondary shipping box – increasing your shipping costs.
On the other hand, tuck-fold closures are great for rapid production. You can cut down on labour and packing time by packing in advance.
One great tip is to use the shipping label as the securing tape.
Holding on to the pennies? Then the classic stock box aka one-piece folder cut-out might be the right option for you.
However, if you want a custom, non-stock shape then you may find you need to purchase the box-shape-cutter itself, once you’ve had it made.
Think Outside The Box
The best way to think of your box is as a piece of directly mailed advertising with a 100% engagement rate!
It’s like sending an email you know is going to be opened.
This is your opportunity to sell through your packaging.
It’s completely up to you what elements you include, whether calls to action, offers or incentives.
Think social media sharing prompts, upsell offers or refer a friend options as great ways to increase sales.
Whatever it is, remember to test and measure.
Graphic design & Artwork
Creating your own artwork is extremely rewarding but equally time consuming and difficult to do if you want a really professional finish.
If you don’t have an in-house graphic designer, then don’t despair!
We have a team dedicated to designing and producing fully bespoke, personal designs that are the perfect representation of your brand.
Generally speaking, on the graphic design and printing front, the more varied and full of colour your design, the more it’ll cost to print.
Using laminate coverings can create a very clean cut finish suited to more premium-styled packages.
Stay aware of the different features, forms and styles as these will either hurt or boost your bottom line in different ways!
Partner Up!
At Takeaway Packaging we provide a completely custom packaging service to suit any brand.
With our packaging and design expertise alongside our legendary joke-telling and enviable good looks, we make the perfect partner for your subscription packaging service.
To find out much more about the options available, drop us a line and let’s chat!
Along with a lot of things in life, like people and potatoes, takeaway packaging comes in many different shapes and sizes.
Sometimes weirdness and oddities are fun and exciting.
Other times, unusual designs can turn out to be ground-breaking and super practical.
Sadly, it is also true that some takeaway packaging is just bonkers and simply ugly.
If you haven’t already guessed, we’ve gathered some examples of the above, so what follows is a candid analysis of takeaway packaging: the good, the bad and the ugly!
McDonalds Stack Box 4/10
Not everything that’s inspired is a good idea and nor is it guaranteed to take off.
This new Mcdonald’s concept meal packaging is one of those…
We can see where the designer is going with this one, but, really, it seems to be trying too hard.
The sachets balancing on top are stressful and precarious at best and, essentially, we feel that there is too much that can go wrong with the stacked up top-heavy design.
A commendable design, but we think: just stick to a recyclable paper bag!
Scottish Munchies Box 5/10
Let’s be honest, there’s a whole host of things to do in the world that are no good for us, but by Jove we’ll do ‘em!
This wonderfully artisanal creation from our Northern neighbours is no exception to the host of guilty pleasures and ill-advised pastimes that we all secretly love, and what’s more, the innovative use of takeaway packaging to accommodate such a dark masterpiece is, well, inspired…
May we present to you, The Munchies Box!
What’s in it? Everything.
One pizza box, filled with everything (including cheesy chips and kebab meat).
We were a little divided on scoring this one but concluded that Scotland’s Munchies Box gets 5/10; 10 points for being so brazen and unabashed but -5 points for the terribly ugly packaging.
Hand-held Pie Packaging 8/10
You can’t go far wrong with something that’s really simple.
What you see is what you get with this top-notch pie packaging.
It’s a cardboard sleeve that finishes in a nice semi-circle on each side to compliment the circular shape of the pie, but it doesn’t stop there!
Those very same semi-circle-shaped ends are actually flaps which fold right back on themselves to enable the eater to get stuck in straight away!
Of course, pies tend to be about a few degrees above scolding for roughly 3 hours, but once the wait is over, you’re away.
Recyclable, easy to serve in, easy to eat from, nice.
Pizza Plate 10/10
Now this we love!
And here’s 5 reasons why:
Top marks for Pizza Plate.
Tuna Burger Box 7/10
This next packaging design concept scores quite high on our list.
As mentioned previously, we’re fans of keeping it simple.
An honest, cardboard box is tricky to criticise and, particularly where burgers are concerned.
The box aspect is greatly suited to catching any falling debris and burger goodness which means you don’t have to worry about being shunned by your pals if you go in for the ‘5 second rule’, but they don’t!
What makes this design especially enjoyable is the decoy writing on the side.
Most people think they’re getting a jacket potato, when in fact, they open up the simple box and BOOM! It’s a tuna burger!
Paper Cup Tea Holder 3/10
This tea holder does not fill us with confidence.
It would be great if you wanted to look as British as possible while drinking from a takeaway cup, because you can hold it like a china cup with your pinky finger extended and sip away dandily.
However, as a heat guard, we can’t understand why the traditional sleeve needs changing.
It doesn’t look study and we’re not convinced that the dainty looking holder has that ‘grab a coffee and go’ feel to it.
Here’s another thing I bet you hadn’t thought of: whose cup holder can accommodate that shape!?
We think this design is ‘over egging the pudding’ somewhat and the humble, yet sturdy and effective, heat sleeve ought to be left to doing the fine job that it does.
If you’re considering standing out from the crowd or shaking up the packaging status quo in your town, then give our team a call about custom design.
There’s always an abundance of new fast foods to try. Whether it’s reborn again classics or healthy new concoctions from the latest hipster restaurant, fast food doesn’t just need to taste amazing; in the modern era it has to look amazing too.
Because fast food now has to satisfy another hunger: one for likes and comments on social media.
The importance of food aesthetics determines a large proportion of its popularity, but of course, there can be no sacrifice on taste.
Each year there are plenty of new food fads, here’s a rundown of some of our favourites you need to try in 2018.
Leon: Naturally Fast Food
Dubbed as the future of fast food, Leon is a rising star among fast food chains and the only feature in our list with a brick and mortar site.
Their founder wanted to move away from the realisation that conventional fast food “makes you fall asleep and wake up fat.”
Inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, think falafel wraps, mezzes, beautiful club salads and Sicilian chicken meatballs.
They cater for veggies, vegans, nut allergies, dairy and wheat intolerances, pescetarians, pregnant women, dieters, the adventurous and those who are really hungry.
Go to their website and be amazed at the future face of fast food outlets.
“Indian” Street Food?
More than ever before there is a demand for new flavours, bold colours and exciting textures.
These days consumers want detail and specifics.
Simply saying “Indian” won’t cut it, foodies want to celebrate that their goat meat gosht dabal roti is from the Far-Western Indian Streets of Gujarat.
Globally there is an abundance of goat meat, and yet, in the UK it’s seldom found on our plates or in our takeaway curry boxes.
2018 will see a surge in UK-bred goat meat offerings which is erroneously referred to as mutton in India.
Keep your eyes peeled for curries, samosas, bajis and dahls all containing locally-farmed British billies.
Warming, spicy, and full of amazing flavours.
Many spots in London are serving spiced or mango-infused goat’s milk to wash down their spicy delights.
Celebrate Vegan
Doner kebabs have, for a long time, been a taboo in the UK, being mainly consumed as ‘drunk food’ for clubbers wanting to binge on greasy meat in pitta at 2am on a Sunday to soak up the night’s excesses.
How times haven’t changed.
Happily, while the not-so-authentically-Greek kebab vendors continue to serve their nocturnal market, vegans of London can have their kebab and eat it, even for lunch.
What The Pitta are based in Shoreditch (E1) and serve vegan doner kebabs crammed full with spicy soy meat, chilli, salad, hummus and tzatziki.
So popular is this animal-friendly street snack, that WTP are expanding and are due to pop up in two more popular London spots.
The best part? You don’t need to drink 10 jagerbombs before you eat one!
The Cholesterol Stroll
Let’s face it.
Healthy is good, but sometimes, it’s good to be bad.
If you like cheese, this one’s for you.
If you haven’t already been to South Bermondsey’s Maltby Street Market (SE1), then shame on you!
Set among the iconic railway arches and frequented by artistes, trendies and foodies, this market is a long alleyway which is, shockingly, unfamous.
Meander your way through the crowd and get in line for The Raclette Brothers.
Hailing from the Savoie region of alpine France, traditionally this cheese would have been melted over fires, but the guys at Raclette Brothers use special raclette grills that allow them to scrape waves of cheese onto herby potatoes and pickles.
Of course, you can opt for the sausage option which inevitably disappears under a sea of cheese.
Don’t worry, it’s aggressively-topped with maple-bacon crumb.
The key to this incredibly indulgent delight is to simply not think about it, just enjoy it.
You will not be dissapointed!
Pour-overs and lashings of melted Raclette cheese gives a whole new meaning to naughty but nice.
If you’re running a pop-up outlet or thinking about a street stall this summer, talk to us about our range of bespoke takeaway packaging options to serve up your hip bites quickly and in style.
We can all recall the logos of great brands and successful companies, but what makes them so good?
What makes Apple’s logo so distinctive?
How is it that Starbucks don’t need to write their name on their coffee cups?
For many companies, their logo is simply an extension of their brand and their message, directly correlating to the product or service they provide. Think Burger King; their logo is essentially just a burger.
For others, there’s a charming story behind the design. Apple picked their logo because they felt that apple is a friendly fruit.
Think about other associations with apples, Snow White for example: much like Apple hardware, she is beautiful, pure and a lover of apples. (Note, this example works if you ignore the poison).
Later, to make the logo unmistakably an apple and not say, a plum or a lemon, the ‘bite’ was added. Of course, this also allowed geeks take great pleasure in ‘byte’ puns.
So what about that strange-looking lady with the crown on Starbucks coffee cups?
This was actually conceived as a literary reference. Supposedly she was based on a Siren from Melville’s Moby-Dick and the name was taken from the Captain’s first mate, Starbuck.
There’s no doubt that although the Starbucks lady doesn’t scream ‘coffee’, its originality certainly makes it stand out from the crowd, not to mention the pleasing-green colouring. Instead, she screams ‘Starbucks’ (and possibly beautiful songs to lure sailors), and Starbucks screams coffee.
However a logo is initially conceived, it’s only through exploring the logos of brands such as Apple and Starbucks that we can learn from their success.
We have provided some lessons and important considerations which you can employ to make your logo more distinctive and appealing on takeaway packaging.
Simple
Logos are used as a form of rapid identification. Keeping things simple will mean that your customers can identify with a particular brand in an instant.
Have a look at the Starbucks logo and consider how simple and low in detail it is without losing any impact or clarity.
Remember to avoid over-complication. Your logo should be as concise as your own verbal description of what your do, just like when you’re at a party or a networking event and someone asks you what you do. Keep it clean, clear and avoid fussiness.
Distinctive
Aim to stand out and be distinctive, set yourself apart from the crowd. What can you do to be a little different without losing the elements of your message?
For the same reasons as keeping your logo simple, rapid recognition of your brand is key and the success of your branding and marketing will be down to how quickly customers identify with your logo.
If your logo gets lost in busy visual environments, how might this affect your advertising?
Targeted
Don’t forget to continue asking yourself questions about the relevance of your logo. Is it relevant and to your industry?
Does it speak to your target audience? Lots of pastile colours and cartoon characters might suit a younger audience better than an older one.
Just don’t rush to use pound signs if you’re in a luxury market, subtlety ought to prevail sometimes!
Versatile
For versatility, consider the application of your logo.
Will your logo work in a video as well as it might printed on a letterhead? Will its impact be diluted by the use of different sizes or formats?
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but simplicity will serve you well here (again) and help to ensure that in the face of versatility, your logo’s message remains clear and consistent.
What if colour were to be removed from the equation, would that cause anything be lost? Or what if your logo were to be set against a dark background instead of a light one?
Speak to a graphic designer about drawing up your logo in a vector format, this will ensure that no detail or quality is lost upon resizing.
Appropriate
Making sure that your logo is appropriate to your business will ensure that it remains true to your brand and that the marketing you do is effective. Apple’s logo is simple and aesthetically pleasing which appropriately reflects the simplistic design and beauty of its products.
If your logo is too obscure it might detract from your brand message. If it’s too obvious it might seem unoriginal and blend in with other logos in your industry.
Another point worth thinking about is avoiding an over-reliance on a particular object or theme relating to your business. This is important in case you decide that further down the line you want to expand your service offering.
Memorable
How easily can your logo be recalled in someone’s mind? It doesn’t always require seeing something hundreds of times over in order to recall the picture in your mind. Again, think back to Starbucks, it’s easy to conjure the image of the pointed crown and long, flowing hair of the siren.
Because it’s so memorable, Starbucks don’t need to include their name on their coffee cups. The green lady is unmistakably Starbucks.
This certainly isn’t an easy thing to achieve but ensuring you follow the other tips will certainly help you on your way – think simplicity and target audience for this one.
Maybe a literary reference isn’t such a jump when you consider the number of people that read books in coffee shops…
Timeless
Beards and check shirts might not always be trendy.
The same is true for your logo. Try to incorporate a degree of timelessness. Consider how quickly things can change across 3 years and bear this in mind for your logo design.
Things to avoid here are on-trend typefaces and imagery.
Talk to us about how our bespoke branding and design service can help you to make the most of your company brand and logo.
Once you have the logo design it’s time to decide what you’re going to print it on and to show if off to the world.
We love an informative A-Board!
Shoal, a traditional British seafood restaurant nestled in Winchester, came to the team at Takeaway Packaging in search of bespoke twisted-handle paper bags and specialised fish and chips boxes.
The government banned single-use plastic packaging in October 2023. These changes directly impacted the food service industry — read on to find out if your business is affected. You’re no longer allowed to use polystyrene food packaging and plastic cutlery. Instead, you are required to use eco-friendly alternatives. Fortunately, plenty of sustainable options are available, like bagasse clamshell food containers and biodegradable cutlery.
Pubs have evolved to be more than just alehouses, and the time of the gastropub is well and truly upon us. Your locals are now award-winning Indian restaurants, stonebaked pizza joints and delicious fish and chip shops. Menus are diverse, and in some cases, rival even the fanciest Michelin-star restaurants.
