A Buyer’s Guide to Premium Spring Food & Drink Packaging

The guide explores the core packaging formats that, as a buyer, you should consider for Spring. This included bottle boxes, hamper trays, and lidded hamper baskets. It also highlights how a combination of stock packaging and bespoke solutions can create a flexible, commercially effective offer.

Why premium packaging matters for Spring gifting

Spring gifting sits slightly apart from peak festive seasons. Occasions such as Easter, bank holidays, and early tourist trade demand packaging that feels premium without being overly seasonal. Clean designs, natural materials, and versatile formats allow packaging to work across multiple product types and price points, reducing the risk of over-specification.

For buyers, premium packaging isn’t just decorative, it drives sales. Well-chosen formats help products stand out on the shelf, encourage add-on purchases, and make it easier for customers to assemble gifts themselves, increasing transaction value and repeat business.

Bottle boxes that add value

Bottle boxes remain a cornerstone of food and drink gifting, whether for wine, spirits, craft sort drinks or gourmet oils and vinegars. Our well-designed bottle boxes communicate quality right away to the customers, taking the simplest product into gift-ready items.

Structural strength is essential in trade environments, where packaging must withstand handling, storage, and customer transport. Rigid or reinforced board constructions provide durability while delivering a premium feel. Neutral colours and understated finished complement a wide range of labels and branding. Our stock bottle boxes come in natural wood and black, with multiple sizes options to help buyers create their own curated packaging ranges that look premium and deliver strong margin.

While stock bottle boxes suit most businesses, branding can further enhance value. Take one of our readily available bottle boxes and we can customise them using laser engraving to add logos, messaging or brand names - combining the convenience of stock packaging with the impact of bespoke design.

Hamper trays as a flexible gifting solution

Hamper trays are one of the most adaptable packaging solutions for Spring collections. They form the foundation of both pre-assembled hampers and build-your-own gift offerings, allowing retailers to respond to changing customer preferences quickly.

Trays in natural Kraft or rigid board finishes align perfectly with artisanal food products and can be dressed with tissue paper, shredded paper, or wood wool for a polished, premium appearance. Shallow trays are ideal for table-top or impulse gifting, while deeper trays accommodate larger collections with bottles or multiple food items. Many trays can also be repurposed by the customer, extending their value and enhancing the sustainability message.

From a customer perspective, these trays can then be repurposed throughout their home once they’ve been used for their initial purpose.

Lidded hamper baskets: presentation & protection

While hamper trays offer flexibility and ease of use, lidded hamper baskets bring an even more high-end, gift-ready feel to Spring collections. Typically crafted from wicker, rattan, or high-quality cardboard with wood or wicker-effect. Handmade from natural willow strands in a light brown colour that’s perfect for Springtime, our wicker hamper baskets provide a lovely reusable keepsake for the recipient.

Lidded hampers are particularly valuable for premium hampers containing delicate or luxury items, such as artisanal cheeses, boutique wines, or handmade confectionery. They also enable retailers to offer pre-assembled gifts with strong ‘wow’ factor, supporting impulse purchases and seasonal promotions. Like hamper trays and boxes, pair your hampers with tissue paper, shredded paper or wood wool strike the ideal balance between premium presentation, protection, and practicality.

Sustainability & premium perception

Sustainability remains a key consideration for Spring ranges, particularly for customers shopping in farm shops and delis. Increasingly, buyers are looking for packaging that balances environmental responsibility with a premium look and feel.

FSC-certified boards, recyclable materials and plastic-free formats are widely available for gift packaging. When specified carefully, sustainable packaging enhances rather than detracts from perceived value. Products that can be reused or repurposed also align with modern gifting expectations, reinforcing both quality and eco-conscious credentials.

Stock packaging and bespoke sourcing

For most retailers, the most effective approach is a combination of high-quality stock packaging and selective bespoke solutions. Stock ranges provide flexibility, speed, and cost control, while bespoke packaging can be introduced where it delivers clear commercial or branding benefits.

Whilst the lead times are longer and the MOQs are higher, the pay off can be greater. We offer our clients opting for something more bespoke a full end to end service that starts with initial concepts and ends when you’re happy with the products you’ve received. Get in touch with our team to start discussions about your new bespoke range for Spring 2027 and beyond.

Planning ahead for Spring success

Early planning allows you to secure the right packaging, manage costs, and ensure consistency across your new Spring collection. Reviewing existing packaging performance, identifying gaps in bottle and hamper formats help to streamline decision-making closer to launch. 

Premium packaging is not simply a finishing touch. It's an integral part of the product and retail experience, influencing how customers perceive quality and value, so it's always important to get it right.