Speciality Food Jan/Feb 2026

temperature-controlled packaging opens the door to wider distribution, enabling businesses to reach new regions without compromising on quality. “By ensuring products arrive in perfect chilled condition, businesses can increase order volumes, support new sales channels such as e-commerce, and grow without the risk of logistical failures becoming a barrier to expansion.” The right packaging is more than a means to protect what you’re shipping, Suzy adds, it’s crucial for scalability, allowing you to extend your distribution cover with greater confidence – particularly on longer journeys, where even small changes in temperature can have a significant impact. Scalability, Suzy continues, also depends on operational efficiency, with space-saving, flat-packed designs simplifying storage and shipping, making themmore cost-effective. “This means that more products can be shipped simultaneously, and the likelihood of damage during transit is reduced, leading to smoother operations, fewer losses, andmore room to expand your business.” @specialityfood WHAT SHOULD BRANDS AND RETAILERS CONSIDER WHEN INVESTING IN TEMPERATURE- CONTROLLED PACKAGING? A good starting point is understanding a product’s specific temperature requirements and transit times, begins Alex. “From there, businesses should consider the full end-to-end journey variations in courier handling, seasonality, storage limitations, sustainability credentials, and ease of packing.” It’s also important, she continues, to evaluate performance through real testing, rather than assumptions. “The right solution should be proven in real-world conditions, not just on paper. We always provide free-of- charge samples to enable customers to do just that.” Suzy says Smurfit Westrock’s ISTA lab enables the team to recreate real-world scenarios within a temperature-controlled chamber, where they test every box to ensure they’re strong, reliable and ready to do their job effectively. Working with packagingmanufacturers which go through such rigorous processes gives the businesses that use thempeace of mind, she thinks. 30 materials, prioritising as much as possible those which are recyclable, resistant to moisture, insulated, and compliant with EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) regulations. Creating innovative solutions to keep ingredients fresh is what led Smurfit Westrock to work withMindful Chef, which is able to deliver its top-quality meals while cutting waste and reducing its carbon footprint. Ultimate, effective packaging in this sector strikes a balance between performance, reliability and responsiblity. “It keeps your products safe, boosts customer satisfaction, supports sustainability goals, and encourages consumers to have trust in your brand. Choosing the right solution leads to fewer damages – this is key, as 34% of packaging- related returns are due to product damage (Amcor) - less waste and more confident customers, “ says Suzy. HOWCAN TEMPERATURE- CONTROLLED PACKAGING HELP FOOD AND DRINK BUSINESSES TO SCALE UP? Brands need packaging that keeps perishable foods, drinks and other temperature-sensitive items fresh, especially as they try to break into newmarkets. “Proper temperature- controlled packaging ensures that everything, from fresh produce and dairy to meat and fresh sauces, arrives in perfect condition, all without the risk of spoilage or damage, even when being shipped internationally,” says Suzy. This peace of mindmeans you can focus on growth, rather than constantly worrying about damaged products. This is something Alex firmly aligns with, saying reliable T here was a time when having chilled or frozen food delivered to the door led, more often than not, to disappointment. That thrill of ordering a favourite ice cream or range of incredible cheeses from the other side of the country, and the anticipatory wait for its arrival, could be marred by poorly constructed packaging (crushing what’s inside), ineffective insulation (who wants half-melted gelato?), or the feeling of guilt when your order arrived in layer upon layer of unnecessary plastic or polystyrene in a bid to keep it safe, secure and, importantly, cold. Times have moved on, thankfully. A raft of improvements across the packaging sector, and especially within temperature-controlled packaging, have transformed the industry. The Covid lockdowns had a lot to do with ongoingmomentum here, and the shift up a gear, as consumers demandedmore doorstep deliveries, of anything and everything, from charcuterie boards and chef-made meal boxes, to recipe kits, ethical meat and fish boxes, andmore. Approximately 2.3 millionmeal delivery boxes alone are likely to have been delivered in the UK during 2025, according to Statista, with chilled food and drink delivery accounting, it adds, for around 10% of retail food value. These numbers are not to be sniffed at, demonstrating a superchargedmarketplace, and one that needs rapidly to listen to brands and their customers, who are more often putting the environment at the top of their demand list, alongside the expectation that goods will arrive in one piece, and safe to consume. Why is it so important to get temperature-controlled packaging right? “If packaging fails to hold temperature, so does the product within it,” says Alex Jackson, sales andmarketing director at Icertech. “Poor temperature control risks a variety of issues, including spoilage, safety concerns, and negative brand image. Getting it right protects product integrity and reduces waste, but just as importantly, it ensures a reliable, repeatable customer experience that brands can confidently stand behind.” These are sentiments shared by Smurfit Westrock’s UK head of marketing, Suzy Gedney, particularly the line around safeguarding a brand’s reputation and delighting customers. “From artisan cheeses to fresh readymeals, temperature- controlled packaging plays a crucial role in preserving quality, flavour, and safety,” she explains. “When done correctly, every shipment arrives exactly as expected, whilst also creating a more sustainable and efficient supply chain.” In a market where customers are willing to pay a premium for quality and freshness, Suzy continues, just one poor delivery experience can have a lasting effect on brand loyalty. In fact, she adds, approximately 80% of customers (according to data from Meteor Space) say they wouldn’t return to a brand if the packaging was poor. “It’s not something you can leave to chance.” As we’ve alreadymentioned, keeping an eye on the environmental impact of packaging is something both brands and shoppers are doing more regularly. For manufacturers this means taking accountability for HOWTO KEEP YOUR COOL Sustainability and technology go hand-in-hand in today’s packaging industry, reports Speciality Food SUZY GEDNEY SMURFIT WESTROCK BOB VINES TSC AUTO ID COMMENTATORS ALEX JACKSON ICERTECH BEN INGS INVISIBLE SYSTEMS WHAT’S NEW IN TEMPERATURE- CONTROLLED PACKAGING ? ● SMART AND SENSOR- DRIVEN PACKAGING Wireless sensors and smart labels with the ability to continuously record humidity, temperature and other factors are being more frequently used, allowing businesses to track conditions in real time. Advancements include autonomous packaging that can sense if a product is spoiling, with solutions in- box to prevent this happening. ● FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS Some packaging manufacturers are using hybrid insulating and cooling methods to allow multiple temperatures in different compartments within the same shipment, allowing for better flexibility, cutting waste, and reducing empty space. ● PCMS Phase change materials that melt or go solid depending on temperatures are being adopted more widely alongside VIPs (vacuum-insulated panels), which deliver high thermal resistance in thinner packaging – reducing weight and bulk. ● PRE-CONDITIONED AND FIBRE-BASED These options, such as insulated liners or boxes, are being designed with reuse in mind as part of closed-loop systems. ● NANOTECHNOLOGY ‘Intelligent’ packaging that helps protect food and drink against moisture, oxygen and light with bult in indicators for freshness and environmental exposure, is being advanced at pace.