Customer Story: How a US Coffee Brand Boosted Sales 30% with Custom Packaging Bags?

As a packaging partner for coffee roasters around the world, I’ve seen many brands struggle with shelf presence¹ and customer perception². One of our long‑term customers in the US, a coffee bean distributor, boosted their sales by 30% within one month of launching custom packaging³ designed with us at IMIPAK. In this customer story, I share how coffee packaging⁴ plays a real role in marketing⁵, how it increased sales, current trends for 2025, and the core roles packaging must fulfill.

Our US customer had been using generic bags for coffee beans, with little distinction on shelf or online. After switching to eye‑catching 8‑side seal tear‑notch zipper bags, tailored to roast level and bean variety, their product stood out in both online photos and physical displays. Within a month of launch, orders surged. Based on experience, we tailor packaging types and materials to client needs: for coffee that will be used quickly, non‑foil materials work fine; for longer storage, we recommend materials with pure aluminum middle layers.

When this customer first showed us their sales reports, I realized how strategic packaging can change business outcomes, not just protect coffee.

What is the role of coffee packaging⁴ in marketing⁵?

Coffee packaging does much more than hold beans. It communicates brand values⁶, tells product stories, and influences buying decisions.

The role of coffee packaging⁴ in marketing⁵ is to attract attention, convey quality, differentiate products, and emotionally connect with customers. Thoughtful packaging design can make a brand story visible, build trust, and push customers to buy.

Dive Deeper — Packaging as a Marketing Tool

Packaging Attracts Attention

On physical shelves and online images, packaging is the first thing customers see. Our US customer’s switch to 8‑side seal bags⁷ with matte finish and clear labeling⁸ enabled their products to stand out among competitors. The structure and finish signaled quality and elevated perceived value.

Packaging Tells a Story

Good packaging goes beyond logo and colors. It tells customers about origin, roast level, tasting notes⁹, and brand personality. For our client, we designed panels based on coffee bean variety and roast degree. Customers looking for a specific roast level could quickly find what they wanted.

Packaging Builds Brand Recognition

Consistent use of color, typography, and material builds brand familiarity. The new custom packaging³ helped the brand build a strong identity that customers recognized across sales channels.

Packaging Influences Perceived Quality

When coffee is presented in premium packaging¹⁰, customers often assume premium quality. That shift alone can justify a higher price point and boost conversions.

Packaging is not just a container—it is a silent salesperson that works 24/7 on shelf and in photos.

How does packaging increase sales?

Good packaging increases sales by making products more appealing, easier to understand, and more memorable.

Packaging increases sales by improving shelf visibility, enhancing customer trust, clarifying product benefits, and ultimately reducing hesitation to buy. Our US client experienced a 30% sales increase within one month after introducing custom bags designed specifically for their market.

Dive Deeper — How Packaging Drives Purchase Decisions

H3 Improved Shelf Visibility

Eye‑catching visuals and premium bag structures like 8‑side seal bags⁷ help products jump out in crowded retail environments and online marketplaces.

Before custom packaging³, our client’s products looked similar to competitors. After redesign, customers started stopping, looking, and clicking.

H3 Clear Messaging Reduces Uncertainty

Customers want to know what they are buying. Packaging that clearly states roast level, tasting notes⁹, and origin reduces uncertainty and supports quick decisions.

H3 Emotional Connection Encourages Repeat Purchases

Well‑designed packaging can evoke emotions—comfort, excitement, nostalgia—which encourages repeat purchases. Our client’s new packaging created a sense of premium experience, and existing customers returned for more.

H3 Product Protection and Experience

Functional packaging that preserves freshness—through barrier materials¹¹, degassing valves¹², and reliable seals—ensures the product tastes as expected. Positive experiences lead to reviews and recommendations, which boost sales further.

In this project, the custom packaging³ wasn’t just about aesthetics. We recommended materials based on product use. For beans that would be used quickly after opening, we suggested non‑foil materials. For beans that might be stored longer, we advised using a pure aluminum middle layer for higher barrier.

What is the coffee packaging⁴ trend for 2025?

Coffee packaging trends¹³ for 2025 reflect consumer expectations around sustainability¹⁴, aesthetics, functionality, and storytelling.

In 2025, the coffee packaging⁴ trend focuses on combining premium visual appeal with practical features such as degassing valves¹², resealable zippers¹⁵, minimalist design, matte finishes, and targeted storytelling. Brands are also experimenting with eco‑messaging while maintaining high barrier performance.

Dive Deeper — Key Trends Shaping Coffee Packaging

H3 Premium Structural Designs

Bags like flat bottom and 8‑side seal structures are becoming more popular for their upscale look. Our client’s choice of 8‑side seal tear‑notch zipper bags aligns with this trend, giving shelf presence¹ that ordinary stand up pouches can’t match.

H3 Matte and Soft Touch Finishes

Matte and soft touch surfaces enhance perceived quality. Customers associate matte finishes with crafted, artisanal products. This trend aligns well with specialty coffee positioning.

H3 Functional Features

• Resealable zippers encourage freshness between uses
• One‑way degassing valves¹² ensure CO₂ release while blocking oxygen
• Tear‑notches improve opening experience

All of these features add real value to end users, improving satisfaction and loyalty.

H3 Sustainability

Eco‑friendly messaging continues to grow, but barrier performance remains crucial. Many brands want recyclable or compostable options, but current biodegradable materials often lack the barrier protection required for coffee. Based on experience, many brands use paper/foil/PE composites that balance natural feel with functional performance.

H3 Story‑Driven Design

Packaging that communicates origin, tasting notes⁹, roasting philosophy, and bean profiles engages customers emotionally. As storytelling becomes essential to brand identity, packaging becomes the canvas.

What are the 4 roles of packaging?

Packaging must fulfill multiple roles to be effective—not just in holding product, but in enhancing the overall business value.

The four roles of packaging are protection, communication, convenience, and marketing⁵. Each role contributes to product success and brand growth.

Dive Deeper — The Four Core Roles of Packaging

1. Protection

This is the most fundamental role. Packaging must protect coffee from oxygen, moisture, light, and physical damage. Materials with good barrier properties—like foil composites with pure aluminum layers—keep coffee fresh longer. For coffee consumed quickly after opening, non‑foil options may suffice, but for longer storage, higher barrier is crucial.

Coffee beans release CO₂ after roasting. Without proper protection and a degassing valve, packaging can swell or fail. Our custom bags use sealed structures and valves that maintain freshness and integrity.

2. Communication

Packaging communicates product information: brand, roast level, origin, tasting notes⁹, weight, and certifications. Clear communication reduces customer hesitation and supports faster buying decisions.

Our client’s packaging featured distinct panels for roast degree and bean type, enabling customers to quickly identify the product they want.

3. Convenience

Convenience covers features that improve usability: resealable zippers¹⁵, tear‑notches, easy‑open features, flat bottoms for stable placement, and appropriate bag sizes for different use scenarios.

Customers appreciate packaging that is easy to open and reseal, especially when they want to keep coffee fresh between uses.

4. Marketing

Packaging is a marketing⁵g asset](https://meyers.com/meyers-blog/6-ways-use-product-packaging-marketing-tool/)[^16] that attracts attention, enhances brand perception, and drives sales. In our customer’s case, custom packaging³ acted like a new product launch. The new look and messaging boosted conversion online and in retail, leading to a 30% sales increase in one month.

Good packaging doesn’t just protect—it sells.

Conclusion

Coffee packaging is no longer an afterthought. It plays a strategic role in marketing⁵, drives sales, and reflects brand identity. Our US customer’s success shows that thoughtful, tailored packaging—especially eye‑catching structures like 8‑side seal tear‑notch zipper bags with targeted artwork—can make a real business impact. By choosing the right materials and designs based on use case and storage needs, brands can protect quality, connect with customers, and stand out in a crowded market. For packaging that both looks great and performs in real logistics conditions, consider materials and structures that balance barrier, sustainability¹⁴ message, and consumer experience.