We all know that the 2020 holiday season is going to look a lot different than previous years. Work Christmas parties will require packaged meals, if the parties take place at all. Of course, the amount of holiday shoppers will be much lower than years past, and that means fewer diners stopping in for a meal.

None of that is to say you should be underprepared, especially when it comes to food packaging. We’ve all seen the food industry pivot this year as a way to keep their doors open while still complying with local law. But there’s no denying that the demand for takeout, delivery, and curbside pickup has sky rocketed. So, do yourself a favor and be prepared with enough of the appropriate packaging to help your customers enjoy the holiday season, and help you continue to send food out the door.

We put together a list of the most helpful items to get you and your business through the holidays.

Festive Meal Prep Containers

The classic black base and clear lid container that everyone loves gets seasonal makeover. Use red or green Cube containers to pack all your food. Great food hot food, but since they are microwave safe, they’re also ideal for meals that your customers can heat up later.

64oz Paper Containers

Call them containers, call them tubs, or buckets. Either way you slice it, these large cups are a lifesaver. Use them to pack up Thanksgiving side dishes like mashed potatoes and stuffing, especially if you are offering takeout or catered holiday dinners. And for bakeries, these make a perfect vessel for holiday cookie orders.

Boxes for Individual Prepared Meals

We spoke to a lot of caterers this year who told us all the events they put on will require food to be pre-packed for the safety of their clients. For them that means no more buffet lines, no more trays and Sternos. Instead it, parties will include meals that are boxed up and ready to grab and eat. And in some cases, these meals will need to be packed in tamper evident packaging.

Mailers

Whether you are filling subscription boxes or custom gift box orders, corrugated shipping boxes are a must. If you want a clean, professional look when shipping, opt for one of these black or natural brown kraft options. Or turn up the dial on your seasonal look by opting for gold or snowflake print.

Seasonal Coffee Bags

Selling coffee or tea this year? Or perhaps some artisan potpourri? Maybe it’s handmade snacks, like pretzels. If that’s the case, consider a festive tin tie bag. Not only are there holiday solid colors available, there is also a snowflake printed bag as well.

Ask a Packaging Advisor for help!

Of course, no one knows your business or supply needs as well as you, but our experts are here to help you get an accurate read of what’s needed. Just give them a call at 888-321-2248 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. They will be more than happy to assist you!

The Disappearing Cup Caper

It was a hot day in southern Florida. The sun was scorching, so people were heading to their local restaurants and cafes for a cold beverage. A number of restaurants in the area were using PLA cold drink cups. They are made from plant material and they’re biodegradable. The restaurants sold cup after cup of cold drinks to their parched customers. But some of those customers would never be able to enjoy their frosty treats because they left the cold drink in their car’s drink holder while they ran into a store or bank. When they came out, there was nothing left but a melted cup and a flooded cup carrier. To this very day, if you leave a plant-based PLA cold cup in a drink holder on a hot day, you might return to a melted, dripping MESS!

The Soggy Bottom Saga

There’s a local legend in our town about a farmers’ market tragedy that will give you chills. It centers around a man who went to the market, and left with far less than he had expected. One fine autumn morning, a man was enjoying the brisk fall air, and the sights and sounds of the farmers’ market, which was set on the green fairgrounds. The grass was still wet from the preceding night’s dew. He strode past stands  stacked high with fruits and vegetables. Turning into an aisle, he found a stand selling locally distilled whiskey. He purchased two bottles of the elixir. The clerk at the stand dutifully packed the bottles into a paper bag, and handed the bag back to the man.

Off the man walked, carrying the bag that held his whiskey, and checking out several more stands along the way. Shortly, the man came upon a stand selling beautiful red apples. He stopped at the stand and put his bag down in the grass while he sampled the apples. He bought a small basket full of the delicious fruit. And that’s when it happened! He picked up the bag. But before he could get a good grasp, the dew-soaked bag’s bottom gave way and both of his whiskey bottles fell, smashing on the edge of the wooden produce stand, and pouring their precious contents all over the ground. Let this be a lesson to you! A paper shopping bag isn’t the best choice for use in places where the bag might get wet and weakened.

Now You Bag It, Now You Don’t

There once was a farmer who decided that he’d like to be able to sell his ears of corn in plastic bags. He wanted to make sure that the bags were biodegradable so that the bags would decompose, and they wouldn’t end up in a landfill, or blowing around through his fields. He bought enough of the biodegradable bags to last him for two harvests. And, for the first year, the bags worked well for him. He sold scads of ears of corn. And had a great year. At the end of the harvest, he still had enough cases of bags leftover for the following harvest season. So, he loaded the cases of bags into his old, damp barn to be stored until he would need them again. The next year he harvested another fine crop of corn. And when it came time to sell his corn, he went back to the barn to retrieve his biodegradable bags. But, when he opened the cases, all he found were scraps of the bags in piles of white powder! Don’t be a sad farmer! Store your biodegradable food packaging in a cool, dry spot.

The Soggy Story of Sally Smish

There once was a girl named Sally Smish whose fritters were quite famously delish.

She’d whip them out with a spoon, leaving the town folk to swoon.

But left Sally holding an empty dirty dish.

Sally decided to sell fritters for take home, but was HORRIFIED by soggy fritters in Styrofoam

She finally relented to buying trays with lids that were vented

Now her crispy fritters are enjoyed wherever they roam.

Moral of the story: Don’t be a Smish. Use vented lids to keep your crispy food from getting soggy.

Have you survived your own packaging nightmare? Email us the story, or tag @MrTakeOutBags on Facebook and Instagram.

As always, our Packaging Advisors are here to help. They want to make sure you never have to live through terrifying tales likes these. Call them today at 888-321-2248.