The Ultimate Packaging Zine - LeKAC Sourcing (Spring 2021)

THE PACKAGING ZINE

Editor in Chief

Gabby Ho

Art Direction

Muskan Kaur

Samneet Mann

Taylor Tran

Editor

Muskan Kaur

Taylor Tran

Graphic Designer

Samneet Mann

Writer

Muskan Kaur

Cover Photo

Samneet Mann

Contributers & Interviewees

LeKAC Sourcing Ltd.

Pâtisserie Liên Phát

Tapi Go!

The Social Blend

Unicorn Toys

MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM

First of all, we just wanted to thank each and everyone of you for subscribing to our packaging zine! We’re really excited to share updates and packaging news with you!

For those who may not know, we offer custom packaging and sourcing solutions across North America! Unfortunately, in the past couple of months, the uncertainty brought forward by the pandemic has completely changed our lives.

As a small business ourselves, we understand that this has been a stressful and difficult period for businesses everywhere.

With that being said, we’re really thankful for our clients and their continuous support! We hope to

pay this forward and support small businesses and hope you do the same!

At this time, if you’re considering custom packaging, we’re open by appointment only! Our in-office procedures include maintaining a distance of 6 feet at all times and regular sanitization of high traffic areas. In addition, masks must be worn at all times.

However, if you’re uncomfortable with coming in, you can opt for a video or phone call with a Business Development representative!

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Sincerely,

Everyone from LeKAC Sourcing Ltd.

Introducing

Lenny’s role at LeKAC is to help the marketing team showcase the world of eco-friendly custom packaging!

PACKAGING FOR THE TAKEOUT INDUSTRY

Given that COVID-19 has restricted in-restaurant dining, takeout orders have increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic. As a result, businesses have begun focusing a lot more on their takeout packaging!

However, despite this, many establishments continue to use stryofoam or plastic packaging! While these materials may be more readily available and affordable, they aren’t necessarily attractive and have adverse effects on physical health and the environment.

In particular, when styrofoam is heated, it releases toxic chemicals

into the food which causes harm to one’s health.

We also need to acknowledge that plastic doesn’t readily decompose (Plastic bottles, for instance, are estimated to require approximately 450 years to decompose in a landfill)!

Moreover, businesses must consider that buying plastic packaging isn’t really a sound investment. As of March 2020, the Canadian government announced it’s on its way to ban single-use plastics by the end of 2021!

With all these factors in mind, we’re proud to say that over the past few

months, we’ve successfully curated an eco-friendly takeout catalogue!

A majority of our takeout packaging is made with Kraft paper which is not only biodegradable, compostable, but also recyclable! Plus they check all the boxes of food protection, preservation and presentation!

We also offer reusable bags made from Non-Woven polypropylene, cotton, hemp and canvas!

All of our products are customized to meet the needs and brand aesthetic of our clients. In fact, for

those seeking more premium packaging, you must check out our latest sushi catalogue!

Our sushi catalogue features premium, high-end packaging that can be readily made -to-order for a variety of cuisines. It’s that simple!

FUN FACT

Did you know we offer water-based coating for takeout containers?

It’s a great alternative to traditional wax coatings because it’ll still maintain the quality and freshness of the food without compromising on compostability!

PÂTISSERIE LIÊN PH Á T

Located in Montréal, Pâtisserie Liên Phát is a family-run bakery which specializes in Asian sweets, breads and desserts! It’s well-known for its light tasting birthday and wedding cakes (pandan is a popular flavour!) and has been in business for more than 20 years!

FUN FACT

Liên Phát has been a client of LeKAC for 11+ years!

“My favourite part about working with LeKAC would be the personalized service! LeKAC assigns individual project managers, so it’s easier for us to explain what we need and the rest of the work is completed by them! We really appreciated our project manager because she would come over in person to speak about designs. We were offered very good pricing too!”

Karissa Huynh, Owner of Liên Phát

THE SOCIAL BLEND

Located in the heart of Toronto, the Social Blend is an up-and-coming coffee shop which provides high quality Korean-style macarons and dacquoises, along with premium roasted coffee! Out of all our clients, The Social Blend is one of the few which have shown immense growth by designing all of their packaging with their customers in mind! Their favourite part about working with us has been our ‘yes’ mentality!

In fact, if there ever was an idea the owner wanted to explore, our team would always step forward and help find him what he needed.

“I personally really liked LeKAC’s ‘yes’ mentality! A business which tries to help their customer is better than one who says, ’No, I don’t have it.”

Tom Wen, Owner of the Social Blend

UNICORN TOYS

Unicorn Toys is a Canadian importer and wholesaler of fun, unique, and high-quality educational toys and DIY kits! They predominantly ship their products to their customers.

Given the fact that they originally didn’t know much about custom packaging, working with us made the whole process a lot easier! Within the first conversation, we’d already eliminated all of the unnecessary options and actually saved them time!

“The whole experience from brainstorming to product selection and production was smooth.”

Andy Chou, General Manager of Unicorn Toys

Moreover, they’re very content with how the custom mailers turned out as they’ve heard numerous positive reviews from customers! Overall, it made investing in custom packaging worth the money and time.

TAPI GO!

Tapi Go! is a newly opened takeout restaurant in Toronto which offers Brazilian street food. They specialize in tapioca crepes and offer sweet and savoury options in addition to coffee, cheese buns and more!

Generally speaking, many start-ups tend to choose generic packaging as a way to reduce their operating costs. However, in the case of Tapi Go!, the owner has a clear vision and wants to open more franchises in the future. With this in mind, they wanted to select packaging which would help them effectively market their products and build a strong brand identity.

Moreover, they preferred packaging which would be sustainable and functional.

With a special context towards opening a business during COVID, they feel, “Custom packaging offers a nice look. It’s very professional and makes people more inclined to take pictures.”

They were very happy knowing that LeKAC Sourcing could do exactly what they wanted and offered competitive pricing without compromising quality!

“The crepe sleeve is very nice and sleek and the quality of the bag is amazing.”

Clarissa Aguiar, the owner of Tapi Go!

OTHER NOTABLE CLIENTS’ WE LOVE WORKING WITH!

THE ART OF PACKAGING WINE

In addition to takeout, we’re so excited to tell you that we’ve launched a wine catalogue as well!

For those familiar with this industry, creating the perfect packaging for wine can be difficult… but it doesn’t have to be!

Generally, wine has accounted for roughly $30 billion revenue per year, and that’s not even accounting for the spike in alcohol purchases due to COVID-19!

At the same time, the industry has also boomed with creative packaging decisions! At LeKAC, we have always been

impressed by the innovative packaging that comes with wine brands, and our aim is to increase that innovation to something unseen by the market!

We’re dedicated to raising the amount of eco-friendly and sustainable packaging options that are available.

In fact, 2021 wine packaging trends indicate that eco-consumerism, coupled with busier lifestyles have a prevalent affect on the industry! This is because millennials and and younger generations largely contribute to the market.

Keeping this in mind, we offer multiple options for luxurious, creative, and high-end wine companies alike. Our products include:

• various paper bags

• folding cartons

• carriers

• rigid boxes

• wooden boxes ...and more!

In particular, our bag in box packaging, also known as boxed wines are the featured products of the season!!

For those not aware, boxed wine packaging has become increasingly popular over the years! Why you might ask?

Well for one, it’s a form of flexible and lightweight packaging which can help businesses cut down on transportation costs!

Since the wine is bagged and placed in sturdy corrugated boxes, it’s fully protected from light and oxygen.

As a result, your clients can still consume the wine upto 6 weeks after it’s been opened! With its compact size, and light weight, boxed wines can effortlessly fit into fridges too!

Thirdly, it’s a versatile, cheaper and highly sustainable form of packaging!

Boxed wines are customizable to cater different types of customers from 1,5L to 5L for consumption at home, and up to 20L for catering purposes.

Compared to glass bottles, boxed wine packaging has a lower carbon

footprint and both the outer box and the bag are 100% recyclable!

Most importantly, with this type of packaging, you can use the whole surface of the box to display your brand and its values. This can make your business more engaging, creative and allow you to differentiate and expose your brands in a more efficient manner!

FEATURED PRODUCT

CORRUGATED WINE DISPENSER

• High Quality

• Customizable

• Easy to Carry

We offer a lot of different types of corrugated packaging with the same level of quality and customization! Get in touch with our team to learn more about what we offer.

PACKAGING Q & A

Q: Why does the colour of my packaging look different in person than on my computer?

A: Honestly, it all comes down to the difference between CMYK and RGB colours! RGB is the primary colour mode used for all digital platforms so they’re a lot brighter. On the other hand, CMYK is the industry standard when it comes to printed materials. CMYK is limited to 4 colours: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key, which is they they look duller than RBG. But don’t worry! CMYK colours look much brighter in person!

Q: What file type should I send my logo and designs in?

A: Ideally, you should send your digital files in PNG or AI formats. If you send JPEGs, the logo or design will be compressed so the quality won’t be as sharp as PNG or AI files would be.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE:

Q: Can you create other marketing materials to work with my packaging?

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

Q: What if I don’t have a logo or a clear idea of what I want yet?

A: Don’t worry, our in-house graphic designers are at your service to help bring your packaging ideas and brand to life! (We can also design your logo for you!)

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

A: Simply book a call with one of our Business Development representatives (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’ll fit!