When pet wellness brand Bella & Duke embarked on a mission to update its pet food packaging, Reflex Labels and Ravenwood joined forces to create a solution designed to exceed the brand’s expectations, delivering a range of environmental and commercial benefits.

Bella & Duke was founded in 2017 by dog lovers Tony Ottley and Mark Scott after spotting a gap in the market for top quality, locally sourced and top-quality raw foods to help pets live longer and stay happier and healthier.

Since its launch, the business has gone from strength to strength, and it now delivers ranges of frozen and raw foods to homes all over the UK.

Bella & Duke’s recipes were originally being prepared and packaged into plastic ‘ice-cream’ style tubs with a lid and self-adhesive label by a third party, but as a result of their rapid growth needed a packaging option that would help meet supply demands, give them more control of the packaging process and reduce the amount of plastic used.

Their new packaging features a thermoform tray weighing 13g, replacing the 21g pre-formed plastic tubs. This has resulted in a significant saving in plastic packaging. Since making the move from a plastic “ice-cream tub” style of packaging with a self-adhesive top label, to a c-wrap linerless label over a fully sealed thermoform tray, Bella & Duke has enjoyed several advantages, including:

• 98% reduction in packaging shipping costs and reduced carbon footprint
• 80% increase in weekly labeling capacity
• 38% reduction in plastic packaging
• Full control of its food preparation and packaging process
• A more premium look and feel in keeping with the brand
• Double the label space for additional product information, marketing and promotions