The Ultimate Packaging Zine - LeKAC Sourcing (Fall 2022)

THE PACKAGING ZINE FALL 2022

Editor in Chief Gabrielle Ho Art Direction Samneet Mann Taylor Tran Editors Gabrielle Ho Taylor Tran Graphic Designers Samneet Mann Writers Gabrielle Ho Taylor Tran Cover Photo Samneet Mann

FALL 2022 EDITION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from the Team

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Client Spotlight: Mochi Doh

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Client Spotlight: Aida’s Pine Valley

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Featured Product: Chocolate Bar Envelope Box

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Countries Going Plastic Free: How Canada Measures Up 14 6 Ways to Create Luxury with Packaging

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5 Plastic Packaging Alternatives

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Learn with Lenny: Packaging Dictionary

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Packaging Q&A

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MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM

As we slip into fall, we’re back with

times are slowly returning to

another edition of our seasonal

normal, but sometimes delays

packaging zine! As always, we

do still happen! If you’re curious

want to thank you for reading our

about the status of your order, your

zine. Our team has been hard at

consultant can give you an update.

work meeting with clients and

As a reminder, our showrooms

learning about the upcoming plastic

are open by appointment only!

ban (but more on that later).

This ensures that our small but

If it’s your first time reading, allow

mighty team is able to help you

us to introduce ourselves. We’re a

to the best of their ability.

Canadian-based custom packaging

Not yet comfortable meeting

and sourcing company providing

in person? No worries! Our

our services across North America!

consultants are available via video

Our newest branding and graphic

and phone to assist you as well.

design services have also taken flight since our last edition.

Sincerely,

Next, we’d like to take the time to

Everyone from

thank our clients for their constant

LeKAC Sourcing Ltd.

support and patience. Our shipping

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Learn with Lenny!

Check out pages 20–21 to f ind Lenny teaching you about packaging terms you’ll f ind useful the next time you order custom packaging!

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ABOUT MOCHI DOH In the middle of quarantine, Diana wanted

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

donuts, and took it upon herself to make

MOCHI DOH

Japanese mochi donuts she saw online and

CHOOSING PACKAGING TO GROW WITH YOUR BUSINESS

At first, she and her husband were making

them. She took inspiration from the gave it a try!

the donuts for family and friends. The demand for the donuts from their friends got so high that they made the decision to

Based out of Scarborough, Ontario, Mochi Doh

start selling them from their home! They set

creates chewy, soft mochi donuts. Making the

up an Instagram account and began to

jump from their home kitchen to a storefront,

introduce new Asian-inspired flavours every

their goal was to make packaging that would

week. Originally, they took orders via a

grow with their new business.

JotForm and scheduled pick ups. Their

We had the chance to sit down with Diana

business began to outgrow the capabilities

Nguyen (and their mascot, Mochi!) to ask her

of their home kitchen, which led them to

about Mochi Doh’s custom packaging journey. open their physical store!

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THE ISSUE

She wanted the new design to be something people of all ages and genders could enjoy!

Since starting their mochi donut bakery, Mochi Doh was using unbranded white

As a result, we completely redesigned their

Kraft boxes with a custom sticker to keep

packaging to be more muted and simple

the boxes closed. Though these boxes

based on their new inspiration! The result

were functional, they didn’t match the

was a dreamy half-dozen donut box with a

vision Diana had for the company.

soft gradient. We were able to save some Toronto iconography from the original design,

As the company grew, the plain boxes they

but incorporated it in a more subtle way.

were using no longer made sense for their needs. They sought packaging that could

One thing we added in this new design was

grow with them as they began to expand

a section to write customer names! Since

their offerings and their business.

Mochi Doh takes pre-orders, this is helpful to make sure customers are getting exactly

After finding us on Instagram and checking

what they wanted.

out our products, Diana sent us a DM to get started!

CONCEPT TO FINAL PRODUCT Diana’s original vision included a collage of references to Toronto. Originally, she wanted a collage of fun, colourful and bright icons that would draw customers’ eyes.

These included the mascots for the Raptors, Maple Leafs and Blue Jays, their dog Mochi, and a reference to the Toronto motorsport park.

Though this initial design was everything Diana wanted herself, she realized that this style might not appeal to their customers.

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In addition to the full-coverage, full-colour

Designer sit in on meetings with Phil was

print, we also added an oil finish to the

helpful so Diana could point to specific

box’s exterior to add a little shine!

changes and avoid a longer chain of communication! This was especially useful for when we completely changed the

FUN FACT Our oil finish doesn’t actually contain any oil. It’s water-based, making it

design of her box.

fully recyclable! Check with your Business

Overall, her favourite part of working with

Development Consultant to learn more!

LeKAC was our transparency, flexibility and our ‘yes’ mentality!

MOCHI DOH’S EXPERIENCE WORKING

Whatever I needed, everybody was just

WITH LEKAC

open to it. No just wasn’t an answer. I

Throughout the design process, Diana was

could change my design last minute

in contact with our Graphic Designer in

and [LeKAC] would be like: “let’s do it!”.

addition to her Business Development

Diana Nguyen, Owner of Mochi Doh

Consultant, Phil. Having our Graphic

With that being said, if you’re in need of unique custom packaging, contact us today for a free consultation! If you don’t have a design in mind, don’t worry! We also offer branding and graphic design services to accommodate your packaging needs from start to finish.

TO READ THE FULL BLOG POST VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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WWW.LEKAC.COM

If you’re in need of a sweet treat, check out Mochi Doh to satisfy your cravings. In addition to mochi donuts, they’ve added mochi waffles and Vietnamese coffee to their in-store menu!

Keep your eyes peeled for more delicious menu additions in the near future too.

WWW.MOCHIDOH.CA 3376 Kennedy Rd, #3 Scarborough, M1V 3S8 416-335-8838 Check them out on Instagram @mochi_doh!

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS CLIENT SPOTLIGHT BLOG POSTS!

AIDA’S PINE VALLEY

KOPI THYME

LIEN PHAT 9

HATTENDO

THE SOCIAL BLEND

TO READ THE FULL BLOG POST VISIT OUR WEBSITE

WWW.LEKAC.COM

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

AIDA’S PINE VALLEY YOUR DESIGNS EXECUTED ABOUT AIDA’S PINE VALLEY BAKERY

Nick’s goal with making packaging with LeKAC

The bakery was founded in 1970 by Giuseppe

was to keep the environment in mind while

Mastrandea, offering a wide variety of

making something even as simple as getting a

sweet and savory baked goods and coffee.

box of cookies feel special. This led Nick to our

In addition to these delicious treats, they

Kraft paper boxes, bags, and reusable bags!

also sell other imported Italian goods!

THE DESIGN

Their focus is on promoting “the love of

Originally, Nick would create the designs for

food, family and the company of good

the packaging himself. Now, a separate graphic

friends”. Over forty years later the traditions

designer helps him bring his packaging visions

Giuseppe started the bakery with are still going strong in the care of Nick! After hearing about LeKAC through a friend at Centro Quality Meats, Nick contacted us to start on Aida’s next packaging evolution.

WHY NEW PACKAGING? If Aida’s has been around for so long, why the change?

We’ve always been progressing and adapting. We’ve been around for fifty years, so not only did we up the quality of our products, but we also wanted to up the quality of our packaging as well.

Nick Mastrandea

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to life! The boxes feature a clear PET window,

a real product he said ”it feels great, really

gold foil, and white print on our brown Kraft

rewarding, and the feedback you get

base. Nick decided to keep the paper bags

from everybody makes it feel complete.”

a little more simple, with a white logo print

Some of Nick’s favourite parts of working

in the centre of both sides of the bag.

with LeKAC included our easy process,

Most recently, Nick and his graphic

wide range of products, and–most

designer gave us a call to us to create

importantly–his interaction with our

custom reusable bags! By providing

Business Development Consultant Jennifer!

them with the die line by email, they

Need some help getting started? Contact us

could adjust the design to their liking.

today to book a free consultation with one

They then sent the die line back to us

of our Business Development Consultants!

to make any final adjustments before

EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH LEKAC

On the hunt for something delicious? Need a place that prioritizes good food, friends, and family? Make sure you check out Aida’s Pine Valley Bakery for something for every craving!

Overall, Nick was very satisfied with LeKAC’s

WWW.AIDASPINEVALLEYBAKERY.COM

approach! When we sent die lines to be

830 Rowntree Dairy Rd., Unit #8,

completed, the process was clear and

Woodbridge, ON, L4L 5V2

straightforward. When we asked Nick how it

(905) 851-8642

felt to see his designs go from the screen to

Check them out on Instagram!

sending it to the factory for production!

AIDA’S PINE VALLEY BAKERY’S

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FEATURED PRODUCT

CHOCOLATE BAR ENVELOPE BOXES STAY TUNED FOR OUR CHOCOLATE CATALOGUE COMING SOON! Our paper carton boxes come in a variety of structures, printing and lamination options! Get in touch with our team to learn more about what we can supply.

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• High Quality • Eco-Friendly • Affordable

COUNTRIES GOING PLASTIC FREE HOW CANADA MEASURES UP SWEDEN

Canada is one of many countries going plastic free. While we’ve covered the Canadian plastic

The EU’s plastic ban came into effect July 2,

ban in depth in our previous posts, other

2021, banning “certain single-use plastics for

countries have already made large strides

which alternatives are available.” In the original

towards eliminating single use plastics.

single use plastic proposition in 2019, plastic

Keep reading for an overview of how four other

cups were not in the list of banned items.

countries going plastic free, and how Canada’s

However, an updated proposition from 2021

regulations stack up.

adds plastic cups containing more than 10% plastic to the ban. According to a report by the

ARUBA

Rethink Plastic Alliance, only a handful of EU

In July 2020, Aruba banned the import, sale and

nations (including Norway) have fully adopted

production of all single-use plastics such as

the plastic ban regulations.

plastic bags, product bags, cutlery, straws, cups

By 2023, all beverage bottles are planned to be

and even balloons. For a tourism-heavy

recyclable through the pant system (including

country like Aruba, this plastic ban caused a

bottles for milk, by 2029). There are other

major shift in the way many businesses

special provisions in place to incorporate more

operate. The plastic ban for resorts meant

recycled plastic. PET bottles will need to

providing guests with reusable hard plastic

include 25% recycled plastic by 2025, and all

cups. Guests leave their cups at drop off

packaging will need to contain 30% recycled

stations around the resort, where an employee

plastic by 2030!

collects them for cleaning and reuse.

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COSTA RICA

RWANDA

In 2018, Costa Rica banned plastic straws and

In 2008, Rwanda banned all plastic bags.

bags. In February 2021, National System of

This includes any bags brought by

Conservation Areas (SINAC) started banning

travellers too! Officials search luggage for

single use plastics in Costa Rican national

any plastic bags, and confiscate them.

parks. The government has also banned public

Beginning in 2020, Rwanda also

institutions and companies from purchasing

implemented a ban on additional single

single use plastic items.

use plastic products like straws, stir sticks,

Costa Rica, alongside seven other neighbouring

cutlery, and food packaging.

nations that make up the Northeast Pacific

Enforcement of the plastic ban is so strict

subregions are implementing an action plan

that supermarkets packaging foods in

across all levels of government that will combat

plastic receive a fine. Additional

marine litter “while stimulating economic growth,

repercussions for violating the plastic ban

social development, and local prosperity”.

include closure of business and a written apology. Measures for retailers using single use plastics in 2020 are also steep.

HOW DOES CANADA MEASURE UP? Compared to the other countries going plastic free we mentioned in this post, Canada is far behind. While the plastic ban has been in the works, concrete timelines were only recently established. We’ve covered the Canadian plastic ban in our previous posts.

TO READ THE FULL BLOG POST AND UPDATED ABOUT THE UPCOMING PLASTIC BANS IN CANADA, VISIT OUR WEBSITE

WWW.LEKAC.COM !

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6 WAYS TO CREATE LUXURY WITH PACKAGING The journey to create luxury with packaging can

These can elevate any simple design by

seem daunting. What makes packaging luxury?

adding visual depth. This technique can also

What can you do to make your packaging feel

help reinforce typographic hierarchy,

more luxurious? In this post, we’re showing you

highlighting what’s important.

6 ways to create luxury with packaging. Keep

FOIL STAMPING

reading to learn more!

This add-on is instantly recognizable for its metallic sheen. Foil colours can range from your classic metals to more colourful options.

Applying a metallic film can happen three different ways: Heat Transfer, Reactive Transfer and Adhesive Transfer.

EMBOSSING/DEBOSSING

While foil stamping is a great option to add a

Using embossing and debossing in your packaging

metallic shine to your packaging, it isn’t always the

can add a luxurious effect! How does it work?

most cost-efficient option. Using a metallic ink can

Embossing is raised above the height of the paper,

be a more cost-effective option, while providing

while debossing is imprinted into the paper.

much of the same effect!

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CONSISTENT BRANDING

more luxurious. Though it may seem simple to choose between a glossy or matte finish, the

Another way to create luxury with your packaging

impact can’t be understated.

can be to make sure your branding is consistent!

USE A PACKAGING FAMILY

Making sure that your packaging is harmonious across all products can create a luxurious

The final way to create luxury with packaging is to

packaging experience for your customers.

use a packaging family. Using a packaging family means going past a single branded item and making sure that all of your packaging is harmonious. From boxes, bags, stickers and business cards, making sure that everything is unified (like a family!) is one of the easiest ways to create luxury with packaging.

FANCY PAPER

CREATING LUXURY WITH YOUR PACKAGING MATERIALS

This next option is unique to our rigid boxes. Fancy paper comes in a wide variety of textures and

Some packaging materials feel more luxurious by

finishes. Popular options in fancy paper include

nature. For example, our rigid boxes, white

textured metallics, but did you know they can also

cardboard bags and high-density polyester bags

mimic fabric?

have a more luxe feel. This is in part because the thicker materials give the illusion of better quality.

However, thinner, more inexpensive materials can also be luxury offerings! Through design and different add-ons, these products can also create the atmosphere of luxury.

LAMINATION

Contact us today to connect with one of our

We’ve talked about lamination in several previous

knowledgeable Business Development

blog posts. Adding a tactile and visual finish to

Consultants. They can help make suggestions

your packaging can make your packaging feel

on what packaging would best suit your needs!

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5

PLASTIC PACKAGING ALTERNATIVES

With new timelines released by the Canadian government on the plastic ban, finding plastic packaging alternatives is more important than ever! The announcement also provides updates to what regulations will be in place, and when we can expect them to come into effect.

We’ve chosen five single use plastic items that the government will be banning at the end of 2022, are providing you some eco-friendly alternatives. Read on to find out more!

1. STRAWS When the plastic ban was first announced, many businesses were quick to switch away from plastic straws. Popular alternative materials include paper, sugarcane, PLA, and bamboo!

2. GROCERY BAGS While you may still be seeing plastic bags in your local grocery stores, they now come at a small price. The Canadian Government cites plastic check-out bags in the list of soon-to-be banned items.

There are a number of options that we recommend as alternatives to plastic grocery bags. These include paper bags, reusable bags and reusable net bags.

3. CUTLERY Especially with the rise of takeout due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to look for alternatives to single-use cutlery.

Common material alternatives include bamboo, wood, and even an edible option!

As for disposal, since all these options are made of natural materials, they’re compostable in some cities! Make sure 18

CANADA’S PLASTIC BAN: COMING SOON!

you check with your local waste disposal facility to see if they accept these materials!

The plastic ban begins to come into effect

4. TAKE OUT CONTAINERS

starting in December, 2022. By staggering the implementation of the regulations,

The government’s guidelines specify that any

the Canadian government is hoping to

“foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics that are hard to recycle” are included in their ban. This can range from take out boxes to disposable cups! As alternatives, we recommend options such as packaging made from paper, cornstarch, or sugarcane.

5. RING CARRIERS

ease businesses into the transition. To help you get a better idea of how long you have to search for plastic packaging alternatives, we’ve outlined the timelines set by the government (see below).

In preparation of these deadlines, we recommend starting to explore your options

Plastic ring carriers have been an environmental as soon as possible! Overall, LeKAC’s main issue for a long time. New innovations in goal is to provide eco-friendly packaging packaging have been introduced to replace

solutions. In addition to constantly

their plastic counterparts. For example, E6PR

researching and expanding our eco-friendly

makes drink rings made of natural fibre

options, we’re also able to help you source

byproducts and other compostable materials.

any items that we aren’t able to produce.

Paper drink rings have also become more popular as well! These come with the added benefit of being customizable with print.

If you need help finding plastic packaging alternatives, contact us today to find out how we can help you get started!

PACKAGING BAN TIMELINES

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LEARN WITH LENNY!

PACKAGING DICTIONARY Here are a few terms we’ve used these last few months when working with you to create your custom packaging!

PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM (PMS)

SHELF APPEAL

PMS has a wider range of colours when

How a product’s design looks on display,

compared to CMYK (4-Colour Printing).

especially compared to competitors on a

PMS organizes colours by numbers

shelf (in a grocery store). It’s important

followed by a letter C, U or M

that the design of your products stands

(respectively standing for “coated,”

out and draws in new customers.

“uncoated” and “matte,”).

PALLETS

FINISH A range of coatings or printing effects applied to packaging; this includes matte, glossy and food-safe finishes.

A flat transport structure that supports boxes of mass produced products, often in the form of wood. Packaging shipments from overseas come on cargo pallets!

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BLEED OR BLEEDING EDGE The space outside of the printing margins, between the printing image and the page.

The bleed area allows for movement and design inconsistencies in the printing process, and provides a safe clearance space for die-cutting!

BEVEL The edge of a box, window or design element which is not a sharp 90 degree angle. A bevel is used to soften edges for safety and durability. A rounded corner is more sturdy than a sharp corner!

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PACKAGING Q & A Q: Why are shipping rates increasing so much?

A: There are actually a few reasons rates have been increasing lately. Due to the pandemic, global supply chains have been disrupted and there’s a shortage of freight containers!

That, coupled with limited staff available to work and increasing fuel prices, lead to delayed shipments. While we’re optimistic that things will go back to normal in the near future, our team is dedicated to keeping costs down for clients.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do since this is a global issue, but if you’re in need of packaging soon, you may want to opt for premium or expedited shipping!

Q: When should I order my packaging?

A: Ideally, ASAP!!! Shipments normally take approx 4 months, but we recommened ordering it as far in advance as possible with current shipping delays.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.LEKAC.COM

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Q: I don’t see what I’m looking for...

Can you still help me?

A: Absolutely! We can source products that match your packaging such as stickers, business cards, POP displays, etc. Our designers will make sure the designs match your brand!

Q: Can I get a sample without placing an order?

A: Yes, you can! However, there is a shipping fee of $250 CAD for requesting samples without orders. Get in touch with one of our consultants to learn more!

Q: What if I can’t decide on products and measurements?

A: Simply book a consultation with one of our Business Development Consultants (it’s free!) and based on a couple of questions regarding your establishment, we can suggest products and sizes! We can also calculate measurements for specific product packaging to ensure that everything will fit!

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www.lekac.com 1 (866) 996-6818 TORONTO

MONTREAL

207-590 Alden Road Markham, ON L3R 8N2

7645 Rue Cordner LaSalle, QC H8N 2X2

@lekacsourcing