Gimme! Coffee

Gimme! Coffee, an Ithaca, NY-based coffee roaster/retailer, is launching a new look for the company’s retail coffee bags. Over a year of focused research, design, and customer feedback has been considered in the design of the new sustainable packaging. The new bags are initially scheduled to hit the shelves mid-October with a complete rollout expected by November 1, 2013.

Working closely with TekPak Solutions in Toronto, an innovator in compostable and biodegradable packaging materials, the new bags are now made of a more sustainable, omni-degradable, Kraft paper material. Unlike the old mylar bags, after the tin ties and one-way valves are removed, the material biodegrades or composts in the presence of active microbes in water, soil, or landfills.

Additionally, the new packaging includes simplified tasting notes on the front label and expanded information on the back label, allowing the consumer to make a more informed buying decision.

“We are fired up about the new custom-printed bags knowing that everywhere you can buy our coffee – it’s like being greeted in a whole new way by a familiar friend,” said David McKinley, Grocery Category Manager at Gimme! Coffee. “The big leap with this improvement is reducing waste while providing more substance. The new labeling delivers a better picture of the coffee inside the bag, and the biodegradable bag material both protects the freshness and – the future. It’s a deeply satisfying improvement for us and our conscientious customers.”

Gimme! Coffee’s wholesale and grocery divisions provide speciality coffee, equipment, training, and ongoing brand support to clients ranging from espresso bars to restaurants, small to mid-sized businesses, and grocers nationwide. The new packaging will be a bold and prominent feature in these wholesale and retail settings.

“The new bags feature an around-the-corner red circle with our trademark exclamation point at the center of the design. The same popularity we’ve experienced with our round stickers comes into play with this dynamic, powerful treatment,” said Eric C. Lindstrom, Director of Marketing and Communications for Gimme! Coffee. “When working on this design we wanted to achieve more transparency through added information, as well align our packaging choice with our principles.”

As the new packaging is rolled out and tested in the field, the company plans to make adjustments to optimize the materials to best accommodate their products.