Grate machine
for your
operation
GreenToGo, a creative reusable pizza-packaging solution in Durham, North Carolina, aims to make one-time-use pizza boxes a thing of the past. GREENTOGO
PERSONAL TOUCHES
POUNDS OF CHEESE IN THREE MINUTES
You can also slice, Dice & Julienne
Robot Coupe USA, Inc. 264 South Perkins Ridgeland, MS 39157 1-800-824-1646 www.robot-coupe.com
The pandemic has changed the way pizzeria operators are approaching their packaging—and, in some cases, they’re making it a lot more fun and interactive. David Kranker, marketing manager at Budget Branders in Hudsonville, Michigan, works with pizzerias on custom packaging and has witnessed plenty of creativity from his clients. “Some shops added game elements to their boxes for families to play together after eating—things like tic-tac-toe on the box or a cutout hole on the top to use the box for cornhole,” Kranker explains. “I’ve also seen shops print beautiful abstract art on their boxes to essentially make them look like a painted canvas that can be hung up on the wall. Not everyone is going to hang up pizza boxes as fine art, but some die-hard pizza fans will—and that’s great brand recognition, if you can make yourself a permanent fixture in someone’s home.” Kranker has even noted pizzerias taking a crowdsourced approach, in which they’ll print customer-provided art or drawings onto their boxes—a great way to get customers further invested in the product, since they love seeing art from friends or family on the packaging. Other pizzerias will take customer requests for drawings on the inside of the boxes to brighten someone’s day. “It creates a special experience for customers, who are often going to post it on social media, which increases brand reach,” Kranker says. “If shops are willing to do this, I would suggest they promote that they do it on their website and on social media to get more requests—and, ultimately, more social shares.” MATERIAL WORLD
Lauren Olson, zero waste manager for World Centric in Rohnert Park, California, notes that food and packaging waste (including from foodservice) account for a staggering 45% of all materials that end up in U.S. landfills each year. Meanwhile, the boost in takeout and delivery business as a result of the pandemic has only increased single-use plastic packaging waste. However, using renewable and compostable materials for packaging go a long way toward helping reduce environmental impact—a factor that’s becoming more important to customers every year in the face of well-publicized concerns like climate change. Olson stresses that today’s consumers are looking to support restaurant operators who are making an effort to operate sustainably. “Look for foodservice ware that’s certified commercially compostable by ASTM D6400 standards,” she recommends. “Choose compostable packaging that’s made from renewable plantbased materials, like bagasse, sugarcane, wheatstraw or other plant fibers.”
60 PMQ PIZZA MAGAZINE | THE WORLD’S AUTHORITY ON PIZZA 43207_RC_PMQ_2.125x9.875.indd 1 1/29/21 2:19 PM
