Keep snacks and grains fresh and protected.
Custom pantry and snack packaging built to protect crunch, freshness, aroma, shelf visibility, and consumer convenience through rollstock, stand up pouches, box pouches, quad bags, barrier films, resealable closure, and recycle ready options.
Pantry and snack packaging protects shelf-stable foods from moisture, oxygen, aroma loss, grease migration, texture changes, and shelf damage.
Emmerson Packaging develops custom rollstock, stand up pouches, flat bottom pouches, box pouches, quad bags, zipper pouches, resealable pouches, barrier films, and Recycle Ready options for snack, grain, baking, dried food, confectionery, and specialty pantry brands.
Pantry Packaging Technology and Innovation Emmerson Can Support
Barrier films
Protects products from moisture, oxygen, aroma loss, grease migration, or texture changes depending on product requirements.
Resealable closures
Supports multi-serve convenience and repeat-use packaging for snacks, grains, and premium pantry products.
Venting/perforation
Supports air evacuation or package performance needs for specific products and equipment.
Sealing quality
Helps reduce line issues, leaks, failed seals, and product protection problems.
Custom flexible package printing
Supports brand visibility, retail shelf impact, versioning, and consistent print quality across SKUs.
Recycle Ready and sustainable films
Helps brands evaluate lower-impact structures without ignoring barrier and performance requirements.
Pantry Essentials Packaging Challenges We Solve
| Packaging Challenge | Product Example(s) | How Emmerson Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Powder, Crumbs or Product Interfering With the Seal | Flour, baking mixes, powdered ingredients, fine grains | Emmerson can evaluate film, sealing and package specifications around the way the product behaves during filling, helping reduce leaks or failed seals caused by product entering the seal area. |
| Light Exposure Affects Product Quality | Nuts, seeds, specialty ingredients | For products sensitive to light as well as oxygen or moisture, Emmerson can help determine whether transparent, metallized or other higher-barrier packaging materials are appropriate. |
| A Clear Window Is Wanted Without Sacrificing Protection | Granola, nuts, dried fruit, premium snacks | Emmerson can help brands balance product visibility with required barrier performance so a window or clear structure does not undermine the product’s protection needs. |
| The Pouch Tips or Does Not Sit Properly on Shelf | Granola, rice, grains, baking mixes, nuts | Emmerson can help select between stand-up, flat-bottom, box or quad-style packaging based on how the finished package needs to perform. |
| Too Much Empty Space Makes Packaging Look Oversized | Cereal, snacks, grains, dried fruit | Package dimensions can be optimized around realistic fill volume and product settling, creating a better product-to-package fit and helping avoid unnecessary material use. |
| Product Oils Lead to Quality Loss Over Time | Nuts, seeds, trail mix, high-fat snacks | Emmerson can help determine the oxygen, light and grease protection needed for oil-rich foods where oxidation or rancidity is a greater concern than simple moisture protection. |
| Packaging Taking Up More Space Than Necessary | Rice, grains, flour, snacks, baking ingredients | Format, gusset and package dimensions can be evaluated around product volume, case packing, retail presentation and distribution efficiency, not just appearance. |
| Moving to Recyclable Film Creates Seal or Line Issues | Snacks, grains, nuts, dried foods | Emmerson’s R&D team can evaluate Recycle Ready packaging against the actual packaging line, seal requirements and product protection needs rather than assuming a conventional film can simply be replaced one-for-one. |
Pantry Essentials Packaging by Product Need
| Product | Primary Challenge | Recommended Packaging |
|---|---|---|
| Chips & Crackers | Moisture can quickly affect crispness and texture. | Barrier rollstock helps control moisture while supporting high-volume production. |
| Nuts & Seeds | Oils are sensitive to oxygen, which can affect freshness and flavour. | High-barrier resealable pouches help manage oxygen exposure and support repeat use. |
| Rice & Grains | Heavier products need strong seals and durable packaging. | Quad bags or durable rollstock provide strength for filling, shipping, and storage. |
| Flour & Powders | Fine particles and trapped air can affect sealing and line efficiency. | Rollstock with air-evacuation features can help manage excess air and improve performance. |
| Granola & Cereal | Products need moisture protection and easy resealing after opening. | Zipper stand-up pouches combine barrier protection, convenience, and shelf appeal. |
| Dried Fruit | Moisture and oxygen can affect texture and product quality. | Barrier pouches or rollstock can be selected based on product protection needs. |
| Coffee, Tea & Spices | Aroma and flavour can decline with repeated air exposure. | High-barrier packaging with resealable closures helps preserve freshness between uses. |
| Baking Mixes & Dry Ingredients | Powders can create sealing and filling challenges. | Custom rollstock or pouches can be engineered around product flow and equipment needs. |
Preserve and protect with high-quality packaging. Explore our premade pouches, rollstock and added closures.
Looking to reduce your environmental impact?
We’re here to help. We’ve been a Sustainable Green Printer since 2011. As your eco-conscious packaging partner, we’ll make your transition seamless with cost-effective, greener materials that customers will truly appreciate.
Why Pantry and Snack Brands Work With Emmerson Packaging
Built for Brands With Multiple Flavours, Sizes & Seasonal SKUs
Brands often manage multiple flavours, pack sizes, retail channels, private-label programs, and seasonal promotions. Emmerson helps simplify SKU complexity, combine packaging structures where possible, and improve order planning through consistency and Vendor Managed Inventory.
100% Guaranteed Delivery
Packaging delays can affect production schedules, retail launches, and promotional timelines. Emmerson supports pantry and snack brands with 100% guaranteed delivery based on confirmed delivery dates, helping teams plan packaging supply with more confidence.
Custom Flexible Package Printing
Shelf differentiation matters in crowded snack and pantry aisles. Emmerson’s custom flexible package printing helps brands create high-quality packaging that supports visual impact, clear communication, and consistent branding across SKUs.
Recycle Ready Packaging Growth
For brands working toward more sustainable packaging, Emmerson supports brands exploring more sustainable packaging, with over 180 million Recycle Ready packages sold and continued growth.
Gain industry insights from our packaging experts.
Stay ahead of the market with helpful guidance from the Emmerson team. We cover all things packaging – from sustainability trends to design direction.
Frequently asked questions
-
What locations does Emmerson Packaging service?
We service all of Canada and the United States. We have warehouses strategically located throughout to ensure that from coast to coast, your product is always close.
-
What are your standard lead times?
Lead times are based on where the product is being shipped to, but typically on repeat orders, standard have-ready lead times are:
- Surface print rollstock – 4 weeks
- Lamination rollstock – 5 weeks
- Bottom gusset pouches – 6 weeks
- Box pouch and quad seals – 7 weeks
-
What is your minimum order quantity?
Our minimum order quantities per product type are typically (but may vary depending on the specifications of your item):
- Rollstock and Pouches – 25,000 PC per SKU
- Box Pouches – 30,000 pc per family, 10,000 PC per SKU
- Quad bags – 10,000 per SKU per order.
As we are strategically set up to manufacture large-scale orders, the more we understand about your annual impressions, the better we can find you ways to save money, but our experts can discuss this more with you.
-
What is your on-time delivery rate?
We boast a 98+% on-time delivery rate. We’re so confident in our ability to deliver your project on time, we offer a rock-solid New
Product Launch Guarantee. If you miss a launch date and it’s our fault, we’ll pay a penalty fee!
-
What sets Emmerson Packaging apart from other manufacturers in terms of sustainability?
- We have been producing sustainable, recycle-ready stand-up pouches since 2019
- We offer a team of dedicated sustainable packaging R&D experts to ensure that you can meet your packaging goals.
- Beyond packaging innovations, our manufacturing facilities have long concentrated on sustainability initiatives, and we are SQF level 2 Certified.
- We were the first flexographic printer in North America to adopt ISO 14001 in order to guide the creation of our environmental management system.
- We were also the first Sustainable Green Printer (SGP) in Canada and the 6th in the US.
- Our products are peanut free – and we have complete product traceability!
-
What do I need to know about PCR?
- PCR materials come from plastic products that have been recycled, collected, cleaned, reprocessed into PCR resin, and then made into something new. An example of products that are used to create PCR resin would be HDPE, milk jugs.
- PCR provides excellent packaging sustainability benefits, but they may impact print quality and/or film consistency. If the package is a lamination of two substrates, the PCR can be added to the substrate that is not being printed, and the print will not be compromised. However, if the specification is one substrate and not laminated, the PCR film may impact the graphics. One of the compromises of PCR is the presence of gels or unmelts which are areas that do not melt uniformly. They will show up as small hard spots. These gels will affect print as the ink will pool around the hard spots.
- Emmerson Packaging offers 15 – 25% content. Although 100% PCR packaging is available, the resin does not melt uniformly. As a result, there can be unmelts and gels present, which are small un-melted areas in the sealant film. To minimize this impact, we advise limiting the amount of PCR in the product.
-
Do you make your own film?
Yes, we make our own polyethylene films. You can choose from clear, white, or add visual impact from our line of matte finish PE films.
Our in-house Research and Development and Graphics teams can work with you to understand your goals and provide technical expertise, along with concept and design support to ensure that your goals are met. Complete our contact us form to coordinate a meeting today!
-
Do you make your own plates?
Yes, we make our own plates in-house using an ESKO HD workflow.
-
Do you do digital printing?
Emmerson Packaging does not currently offer digital printing. As a flexible packaging manufacturer focused on pantry essentials, frozen food, pet food, towel and tissue, personal care, and specialty product markets, we believe flexographic printing remains the best solution for many customers based on their volume, quality, and service requirements.
-
What are your in-house production capabilities?
Emmerson Packaging is a vertically-integrated manufacturing operation. We deliver consistent and high-quality services and products, with premium in-house production capabilities:
- HD Printing (4000 DPI resolution with 175 LPI for superior ink lay down and color control)
- High-speed flexographic presses with state-of-the-art robotic capabilities
- Print width ranges from 12” (minimum) to 65” (maximum)
- Print repeat ranges from 12 1/4” (minimum) to 49” (maximum)
- 10-colour maximum range plus combinations
- Surface or reverse sheeting or tubing
- Computer-controlled ink blending
- Graphics/Pre-Press Services
-
What is the best packaging for snacks and pantry foods?
The best packaging for snacks and pantry foods depends on moisture sensitivity, oxygen exposure, grease content, aroma profile, product weight, shelf-life goals, and retail format. Common options include rollstock, stand up pouches, flat bottom pouches, box pouches, quad bags, zipper pouches, resealable pouches, and high barrier films.
-
What packaging keeps snacks crisp?
Snack packaging that uses moisture barrier film can help protect crunch and texture by limiting exposure to humidity. Strong seals, the right film structure, and suitable packaging formats are also important for chips, crackers, cookies, baked snacks, cereals, granola, nuts, and other dry foods.
-
Can snack packaging be Recycle Ready?
Yes, some snack packaging can be designed with Recycle Ready structures where barrier requirements, product protection, and recycling infrastructure allow. Emmerson helps brands evaluate whether Recycle Ready packaging is suitable for the product’s shelf-life, freshness, grease resistance, and durability needs.
-
What is the difference between a quad bag and a stand up pouch?
A stand up pouch is often used for products that need shelf presence, resealability, and consumer convenience. A quad bag is typically used for larger or heavier products that need more structure, side-gusset stability, and strong shelf blocking.