The global coffee market is expected to generate a revenue of more than $93 billion worldwide in 2024 with an annual growth rate of 4.41% through 2028. Coffee companies with growing revenue should prioritize operational efficiency to compete in this crowded market sector. Here are four strategies to help decision makers at coffee companies make smart choices at critical stages of brand development.
Choosing the Right Technology
As in most industries, the right technology can make any coffee company operate more efficiently. As most consumer coffee companies are not directly involved in the early stages of growing, harvesting, processing and exporting coffee, choosing the right suppliers is also key.
If your coffee company roasts beans, you should consider the most effective technology for this task. Consider solutions for ensuring that beans are properly roasted and cooled prior to packaging and storage. Inventory management solutions can help to minimize the time between roasting and sale for every batch.
Choosing the Right Packaging Solution
Roasted coffee off-gasses carbon dioxide, which can build up in sealed packaging. The accumulation of this gas can diminish the freshness and flavor of coffee products. Degassing valves on flexible packaging are the best way to preserve the optimal taste of coffee products.
A degassing valve on a stand up pouch releases carbon dioxide while keeping oxygen or moisture from entering the sealed package. These valves can be added to center seal packages or freestanding pouches with flat bottoms. Selecting packaging that keeps products fresh can promote operational efficiency by increasing the likelihood of customer satisfaction and the development of brand loyalty that leads to repeat purchases.
Preserving the Freshness of Products
Several factors contribute to the freshness of coffee products, including the life cycle of raw ingredients and the duration of time that elapses between harvesting, milling, roasting, sale and consumption. A growing number of conscious coffee consumers want to learn about the origins of coffee and the journey that beans take to arrive in their cups.
Connected flexible packaging solutions can provide general information about sourcing or enable companies and consumers to track the freshness of each batch of coffee. Use standardized Quick Response codes to direct customers to sourcing information on your company website or serialized QR codes to trace the journey of each package.
Increasing the Efficiency of Distribution
In addition to preserving freshness, food packaging companies recommend flexible packaging as the best choice for operational efficiency during distribution. Flexible packages with degassing valves weigh less and take up less space than rigid containers made of metal or plastic. A higher ratio of product to packaging and the ability to fit more products in less space can boost the efficiency of distribution and storage. Each of these strategies can optimize operational efficiency throughout the product life cycle. A flexible packaging partner can recommend barrier films for coffee products and suggest the best ways to present your products to customers. Growing coffee companies that need to keep pace with increasing demand can benefit from fast turnaround times for custom coffee packaging.
