Choosing the right food packaging format plays a major role in how a brand grows. Packaging impacts efficiency, shelf appeal, shipping costs, and how easily production can scale. Many food brands begin with traditional bag and box packaging, but as demand increases, stand up pouches often become the better long term solution.
So how do you know when it is time to move from bag and box packaging to stand up pouches?
What Is Bag and Box Packaging?
Bag and box packaging is commonly used for dry food products such as snacks, baked goods, and powdered foods. These formats can work well for small runs and early stage brands.
Benefits of bag and box packaging include:
Familiar packaging format for consumers
Simple setup for limited production volumes
Lower upfront complexity for new brands
As brands scale, however, bag and box packaging can limit efficiency and increase costs.
Why Stand Up Pouches Are Growing in Popularity
Stand up pouches are one of the most widely used packaging formats in the food industry today. They offer flexibility, efficiency, and strong shelf presence, especially for growing brands.
Key benefits of stand up pouch packaging include:
Improved shelf appeal and brand visibility
Better use of space for storage and shipping
Flexible sizing for single serve and multi serve packaging
Strong protection for dry food products
Compatibility with automated, high volume packaging lines
For brands expanding into grocery, club stores, airlines, and foodservice, stand up pouches often provide a competitive advantage.
Bag and Box vs Stand Up Pouches for Scaling Production
When production volumes increase, packaging efficiency becomes critical. Stand up pouches are designed to run efficiently at higher speeds and larger volumes.
At scale, stand up pouches can help brands:
Increase packaging speed and throughput
Reduce labor requirements
Improve consistency across large production runs
Lower shipping and storage costs
Support multiple SKUs and pack sizes
These advantages make stand up pouch packaging a strong choice for brands preparing for growth.
Signs It Is Time to Switch to Stand Up Pouches
Your brand may be ready to move from bag and box packaging to stand up pouches if:
Production volumes are increasing
Shipping and storage costs are rising
Shelf presence is becoming more important
New products or pack sizes are being added
Expansion into new markets or retail channels is planned
Packaging should support growth, efficiency, and long term success.
How Econo-Pak Supports Stand Up Pouch Packaging
Choosing the right contract food packaging partner is just as important as choosing the right packaging format. Econo-Pak specializes in stand up pouch packaging for dry food brands looking to scale.
With advanced automation, high volume packaging capabilities, and experience across a wide range of dry food products, Econo-Pak helps brands transition from bag and box packaging to stand up pouches with confidence. From optimizing packaging formats to ensuring consistent quality and efficiency, Econo-Pak provides the support brands need to grow.
When your packaging partner understands growth, scaling becomes easier.
Let's start scaling.
Is your demand outpacing your ability to package your own product? Then consider outsourcing with Econo-Pak.
With over 40 years of experience working with both small brands and Fortune 500 companies, we are capable of handling your specific dry food product.
Get in touch with our team for a fixed-price quote for your project.