Are you using microwave safe containers for your restaurant or food business? If your answer is no, you might want to consider these facts:

Fact #1: Consumers typically save and reuse them for their own food left-over’s at home. If the food containers are branded with your logo, your customers will be reminded of your business time and time again!

Fact #2: Microwave safe packaging is very durable and can withstand much higher temperatures then normal packaging.

Fact #3: People love the convenience of heating up their food in the microwave at home or work – container and all.

If you’re looking to purchase some of these products, consider using Genpak. Our products are lightweight (generally 20% lighter than the competition) and therefore, much more affordable, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This includes are unique ability to offer clear microwave safe packaging.

Genpak’s Smart Set Pro Series is one of our best sellers. Here’s why… Have you ever put something in the microwave, only to grab it when it’s done and burn your hand? Not happening here! Smart Set Pro Series containers are cooler to the touch after heated then most other packaging. They come in a number of shapes and sizes, and their look and durability make these the perfect takeout containers for restaurants and food caterers.

If you’re in the food business, we highly recommend microwave safe containers. For more information click here or contact Genpak at (800) 626-6695 today!

From time to time companies launch products that have the chance to make a real impact on the way we view things. For the food packaging industry, this is one of those times. Generations is the very first of its kind; foam food service packaging that is produced using 25% post consumer recycled content. What makes this so special you ask?  Well let’s cover the highlights.

• Purchasing products that contain post consumer recycled (PCR) content such as Generations, help divert millions of pounds of materials from landfills.
• Products manufactured with PCR content help keep jobs domestic.
• Generations foam food packaging products use less natural resources as a result of the PCR content.
• Patronizing products with PCR content will help support local recycling programs. Remember, if there is no after-market for the recycled material, recycling efforts will fail. Generations foodservice packaging fills that previously unmet market.
• Using Generations products helps sustain the environment for future generations.

And last but certainly not least…

• Generations foam food packaging provides an economical solutions for customers that want a greener packaging profile but can’t quite afford some of the expensive alternatives available today.

Now, I’m not a big fan of throwing stones at the competition, but I do feel compelled to make you aware of claims being made regarding “recycled content” in foam packaging. Here is the straight skinny on that. Most all foam food packaging companies, us included, have always used their own internal scrap back into the production of their products. That is just standard operating procedure. Nothing new or special about it. But some companies are making claims that mislead consumers to believe their products contain post consumer recycled content. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is the case. Look for the words “post consumer” and only then you’ll be certain of the source for the recycled content.

In case you didn’t click the link up top, I’ll tell you our Generations brand products will consist of large & medium hinged dinner containers, large sandwich container, large all purpose container and a 5 compartment school tray. We should have all these products in stock and ready for sale by mid June. If you are traveling to the National Restaurant show this weekend (5/5), stop by our booth (#4045) and you can see some of the products first hand.

The city leaders of Hermosa Beach, CA have voted to increase the cost of doing business on already struggling restaurant and grocery store operations in their community. They have done so by instituting a governmental ban on polystyrene food packaging. Now these businesses will be forced by the government, to source alternative packaging solutions that could be as much as 3 times as expensive as their current choice. As I’ve said a hundred times before, if food operators choose to go the route of compostable food packaging, we support that 100%. In fact our line of Harvest Fiber products would fit that need. What we oppose is the local government forcing companies who may not be ready to handle such a transition, to do so. All this ban will do is replace one type of litter for another, put undo pressure on already hurting businesses and outsource jobs to China. Yes, most polystyrene foam foodservice products are produced right here in the U.S., while nearly all compostable packaging comes from China.

Edible food packaging. Sounds like something right out of Willy Wonka. Wonder what the nutritional value is?

Is sustainable packaging starting to catch on? This particular article indicates sustainability plays a major roll in consumers minds when making purchases. We have an active survey on our web site right now asking what is most important when purchasing food packaging. Pop over and submit your answer to see the current results.

When purchasing food packaging for your business, it’s important to order from the right provider. You need a company that understands your business and can help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Genpak can do just that! Below are the Top 10 Reasons to do business with us. (There’s actually a lot more reasons than 10, but we dwindled it down a bit for your reading pleasure!) Here we go!..

1. Superior Customer Service – Our friendly staff is ready to help you with all your food packaging needs. Just pick up the phone and give them a call!

2. Environmentally Friendly – We our passionate about sustainability and proudly practice the 3R approach to reduce, reuse and recycle. We carry environmental friendly packaging including a number of disposable and biodegradable packaging products.

3. Experienced Leader In The Industry For Over 40 years – We’ve got history under our belt! We’ve been providing quality food packaging since 1969…that’s over 4 decades of offering superior products and excellent customer service!

4. Involved In Our Community – We care more than just about packaging needs – we enjoy being an active member in our community. Find out more about our Relay for Life fundraiser that benefits the American Cancer Society, our Doggie Walk fundraiser and more!

5. Variety of Products – Whether you’re looking for disposable plates, bakery containers  or microwave safe containers, you can pretty much bet Genpak has you covered. (No pun intended!)

6. Quality Products – It is the quality of our products that keep our long term customers coming back again and again.

7. Custom Packaging Services - We can custom decorate most all of our items including our foam hinged container, cups and dinnerware lids. Don’t have a logo? No need to worry. Our in house Art Department can help you design one!

8. Pioneer in Compostable Foodservice Packaging – We are the first major food service packaging provider to launch a full line of compostable food packaging products. We recently launched Harvest Fiber – a complete natural and BPI certified compostable line of food service products.

9. Cutting Edge Designs - We are continuously creating new prototypes for new food packaging designs. Hinged take out packaging is one of our single use food packaging that has been proven to be more sanitary than reusable china and glassware.

10. Convenience – Our website makes it easy to find what you need. Browses photos, videos, blog tips or simply give us a call and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Yes, it’s really that easy!

Flexible food packaging for processors is becoming all the rage. With good reason really. Lightweight, low cube, increased shelf life and great graphics to boot. The good news is, you don’t need to look far for good flexible packaging solutions.

Recycled content in food packaging plays a big role in consumer’s choices at the retail shelf. Packaging is playing a much more important role than in years past. Food safety, integrity and merchandising are all huge factors when choosing the correct packaging.

Panda Restaurant group is testing a brand new plate that allows consumer’s to choose three slightly smaller entree portions instead of two larger portions. I really like that design. That plate manufacturer is really on the ball

Campbell Soups decide to move away from BPA lining in soup cans. This is a case where a company was confident in the safety of its products, but still made the choice to make a change based on consumer demand. Who knows if there was a significant percentage of consumers that had strong opinions on this matter or not. My guess is probably not, but it still highlights the power consumers have in the products they choose to support.

So, you’ve mastered how to make the best chili in town. You’ve decided to take this talent and run with it and start your own food business. Congratulations! However, before you start your business it’s important not to overlook all the small things you need to purchase before you open your doors. One step that commonly gets overlooked is buying the correct food containers for your products.

Whether you’re starting up a cupcake business, stocking up your new coffee shop, cafe or catering services, it’s important that you invest in the correct food packaging. In this series, we’ll help you choose which and how much packaging is right for you. We’ll provide helpful tips on a regular basis not just for our veteran readers, but also for those who are just getting started in this market.

Deciding on what to order may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. You may be wondering a number of questions. What size packaging should I buy? Which packaging will withstand my food? Should I use environmentally friendly packaging? From deli containers, foam containers, to disposable food containers, we’ll walk you through exactly what you will need.

We’ll start this new series with a quick but effective tip.

Tip #1: Starting a small sandwich business? Our 22500 & SN227 products work perfect. Need to-go containers for subs? Our 21900 and 26600 foam hinged containers would probably be the best fit.

Remember, for all your food service packaging needs, Genpak is here make this process easy for you. Follow our basic food packaging series and your business might just be the next one we write about. Are you just starting out a food business? Let us know what type of business and we’ll provide you with helpful ideas to get you started. And if you have any other questions, your answers are only a click away. Send us a quick note and we’ll have you in the right direction in no time!

You know, it dawned on me that we have spent the last three years talking about all this great food packaging, but we really have not described or shown you how we actually make our products. I don’t know about you, but I find myself drawn into watching those cable shows on how various things are made, like a bug to a shiny light.  Somehow I always come away feeling better that I now know how glass Christmas tree ornaments are actually made.  Along that same vein, allow me to give you a crash course in how our products are made.

Although it is a highly sophisticated and complex transformation from resin pellets to finished parts, it can really be broken down into two main functions. Extrusion and thermoforming. In the extrusion process we take the raw material which we call resin (they look like little pellets), and melt them down to form smooth sheets of material. To do this the resin enters the extruder at one end where it is pushed forward via a screw. As it’s pushed forward a combination of heat and pressure produced from the screw, slowly melts the resin. When the molten material reaches the end of the extruder, it exits over the die which gives it its new shape…a sheet of plastic. Here are a couple of pictures that will help aide in the description. In this shot we see the actual extruder and the foamed polystyrene material exiting, being split into two sheets and heading toward the S-wrap.

Following that process further, here’s the end of the extrusion line as the sheet exits the S-wrap, which is a devise used to control the density of the sheet itself. This is one way we control the weight of a part. From the S-warp, the sheet heads into the winder where a large roll of material is ready for storage and use later during the thermoforming process.

Now that we have rolls of material (polystyrene, polypropylene, PET) we can move on to the thermoforming process. As its name implies we heat up the sheet and form it into the shapes you know as our product offering. The large rolls are placed at the beginning of the thermoforming line where we feed the sheet through an oven that warms it up to a desired temperature which makes it easy to stretch and form. As the sheet exits the oven it heads into the former where the parts are formed into say a hinged take-out container. From there, the now formed parts which are still attached to the sheet head into the trim press where they are cut away from the sheet and pushed out to a packing table where, you guessed it, they are packed up for sale. Here’s a quick video showing this process from the former to the packing table.

Hopefully this brief glimpse into our production world will give you a better understanding of just how our products are made.

Until next time…

Food trailers, food trucks, mobile kitchens. Whatever you call them, they seem to be all the rage right now. And why not? Innovative people have found ways to make quality food quickly in a confined space. And they can do so in a restaurant that goes to where the customers are. That’s brilliant! (Not to mention that the payments for the truck can be a fraction of what some people must pay in leasing space for a restaurant in major cities.)

Food trucks, more than a restaurant, must depend on recyclable, disposable or compostable food containers and packaging to serve their food and drink. It just doesn’t make sense for them to use reusable plates, bowls or utensils. Each food truck has different needs when it comes to containers as well. How much space do we have to store containers? What types of food will go in the containers? Does it need to keep the food at a certain temperature for a while? Should the container have a marketing message on it? How big is the budget for the containers? All these and more go into consideration when a food truck manager is looking to find a vendor for their containers.

A quality vendor can go along way in helping a mobile kitchen get the most from their containers. They will offer ideas on how to serve the food, what shape containers work best for their application, how to store them, how often to order and general guidance on how to get the most out of this part of their business.

The most popular types of containers for food trailers depend greatly on the types of foods served. For those serving sandwiches, our 22500 & SN227 works wonderfully. If subs are on the menu then our 21900 and 26600 foam hinged containers would probably fit the bill. If larger portion meals are being served it is best to jump up to our foam hinged dinner container line. Our most popular sizes are the SN240 medium container and SN200 large hinged container. Both come in either one or three compartments. Another great option for Asian foods is our 20500 or 20600 which can hold most any Asian dish with ease. Also keep in mind if you prefer a compostable option, most of the sizes mentioned here can be obtain from our Harvest Fiber line.

What containers a truck’s food is handed to the customer in very important. They need to keep the food neat (and possible separated from other food) and at the right temperature. They need to hold up to the heat or cold of both the food and environment where the food will be taken (whether it is being placed in a fridge or to a picnic on a 100 degree day). And since many times they are the first thing that a customer sees coming off a truck, they need to portray the appropriate image that the food truck wants to put out there.

But while food containers are very important, it is not something food truck entrepreneurs want to concentrate too much on. After all, they got in the food truck business to cook and serve great tasting food, not to worry about containers.

Tell us about your favorite food truck meal or experience. Was it something you couldn’t get anywhere else, or was it something that they just did better than anyone else?

Here we go again.  Another politician has decided to make it hard for local food service businesses to prosper and grow by imposing bans on the types of food packaging they may use.  This time in the state of Massachusetts.  It ironic because if you read this Senator’s biography, part of it says “…focusing on economic growth, expansion and initiatives…”.  If he really did the homework on this he’d realize by banning PS foam items, he’s forcing small businesses to choose alternative packaging that is sometimes 3 times as expensive.  Instead of me rambling on about the negatives of this awful and job killing bill that will do nothing but increase pressure on small businesses and trade one type of litter for another.  I’ll instead defer to the American Chemistry Council who have written a very well thought out and thorough opposition letter to this toxic legislation.

The other evening I was watching a little TV and noticed one of our foam hinged take out containers being used during one of the scenes.  I knew it was a Genpak foam hinged container because I’ve worked here long enough to recognize our stuff at a quick glance.  Drives my wife nutty when we are out and I spot a Genpak item.  I’m driven to tell her the item code by the same instinctual drive that makes salmon swim upstream to their place of birth to mate.  But I digress.  Anyway, I thought it would be fun to spend a few minutes to try an find actual shots of our stuff being used in TV.  Here’s what I came up with.

The Big Bang Theory has quickly become one of my favorite shows. Here we see Sheldon and Leonard during one of the many meal scenes with our BLK10 and what looks to be our 20500. If you look really close at the inset picture in the lower right, you can see our signature mustache design which is the give away here.

Since there are often take-out meal scenes in this show, it was easy to find several. Here is another scene where our SN203 large hinged container is being used.

 Moving on, this one is my favorites as you can even see the embossing decoration we do.  The Have A Nice Day is one of our more popular stock embossed jobs. Here it looks to be our SN223 sesame container. There’s also a 21900 hinged container on the table.

This one is from the same episode. I included it because I thought it was funny that they are actually using this container upside down. They placed the food in the lid. That big empty part of the 20500 is actually where the food is supposed to go. I guess they probably don’t actually use real take out food as most restaurants would know where the food is supposed to go. Oh well, we’ll give them a pass this time I suppose.

Switching away from this show, I remembered an episode of Seinfeld where one of our plates was in a shot. It was the episode where George tries to mix his lovin’ with food and television. Here we see George in action while reaching for a pastrami (the most sensual of the cured meats) served on a 71000.

Our stuff is seen regularly on the Food Network as well. Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives is one where we show up often. This was taken from a show focusing on Greek Gyros. The plate here is our LAM10.

I’ve also seen our stuff being used in movies as well. One I recall was Million Dollar Baby. The scene was where Clint’s character was bringing in lunch to Morgan Freeman’s character. For the life of me I could find any images to post though. The point here is take-out food packaging is part of the fabric of everyday life. So much so we see it in TV shows and movies that portray regular folks going about their business. We rely on it to keep our food fresh, safe and secure.