Award-winning Farm Shop, Restaurant and Retailer – how ASC Direct supports Strawberry Fields

As we become aware of the benefits of a good diet on our health, so we want better options when it comes to the food we eat. It's good to know more about where our food comes from and how it's been produced. Over thirty years ago the family behind Strawberry Fields recognised this. Starting with a small holding and PYO strawberries, the company has now grown into an award-winning and popular Farm Shop, restaurant and food retailer.

Right from the beginning, the family produced the best quality food made in the most sustainable way – and that hasn’t changed. This includes fruit, veg and meat and has extended to baked goods like pies and pastries. Sustainability has always been the key - and, ahead of their time with energy projects, they have even set up their own wind turbine to power their ovens!

The Challenge:

The team at Strawberry Fields decided to extend their retail offering into online ordering and delivery. All of the items are carefully selected or baked using the finest ingredients and the team needed packaging that reflected the high quality of the Strawberry Fields brand. The packaging to be used had to be flexible to meet the need to hold one or more item and be robust enough to ensure the products were delivered in the same pristine condition they were packed in. They also wanted customers to be impressed and feel excited about receiving their delivery.

The Solution:

At ASC Direct, we work hard to ensure our customers get the best packaging possible. We always consider the full requirement, taking into account how the packaging will be used. For Strawberry Fields, we looked at the number of items and combinations of items ordered, how the items would be packed, the need to keep multiple items safe and how they would be sent through the post to the end customer. We suggested using a mixture of 0427s and 0201s in a range of sizes so the team could make the right choice when it came to packaging their produce.

Reinforcing the brand – Using Special Die-cuts

When we were looking at the requirements, we realised that some of the items could be displayed reinforcing the company brand, so we suggested die-cutting a strawberry shape in the lid instead of using the usual circle. This was warmly welcomed and elevates the boxes to make the packaging attractive and easily recognisable.

Impressing the customer - Printing on Boxes

But that wasn’t all. Given that the Strawberry Fields brand was integral to reassuring customers of the quality of their produce, it was essential to include this from the moment their items were delivered. All of the boxes are printed with the brand imagery along with messages from the team about the company’s journey showing how much they care about how the food items are produced and reinforcing the customer's great choice in buying the products.

The packaging also includes useful information to make sure the courier company know which way up the packages need to be carried.

The Result:

The team at Strawberry Fields are thrilled with their boxes. “We care about the food items we create – each item is lovingly packed for our customers - so we’re really happy with the excellent boxes from ASC Direct and that we can get them so quickly when we need them.”

The team also really appreciate the printing on the boxes and how it reflects their brand so strongly – they know their customers anticipate their order and the great packaging means they are impressed as soon as it is delivered.

Good feedback is really important for us and we’re thrilled our customer is pleased with their packaging and the service. For all of your custom packaging needs  get in touch with the team.

James Palfrey-Smith is the Commercial Manager at ASC Direct with extensive experience in both operations and sales. James is passionate about solving packaging problems, delivering fast customer support, and building lasting relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and skiing. A fan of real ale and business podcasts, he continuously seeks personal and professional growth. 

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