QLM Label Makers on flexible, sustainable packaging solutions that help coffee brands navigate supply chain challenges, drive innovation, and scale efficiently.
Lindsay Nutley, Director of Business Enablement, says QLM Label Makers has mastered a range of packaging options, offering adaptive solutions to supply chain challenges such as instability, MOQ requirements, and quality control issues.
He adds that QLM goes beyond labels to provide a variety of flexible packaging solutions including box bottom, centre-seal, side-seal, and three-side seal bags, as well as stand up pouches and sachets.
The company’s adaptability extends to handling bulk runs, multi-SKU orders, and diverse designs, which is especially beneficial for roasters with a wide product range. Lindsay says this flexibility ensures packaging can scale effortlessly as businesses expand.
“Manually labelling products can be time-consuming and costly, that’s why we use a digital platform for our flexible packaging, specifically wide-format digital printing on HP Indigo. It gives brands more flexibility,” he says.
“QLM also works with contract packers, providing the ability to customise production runs, allowing them to create smaller batches for different customers or larger runs for their own brand without the setup fees of traditional printing. This enables more creative, market-driven packaging solutions.”
A key advantage, says Lindsay, is the ability for roasters to test different blends, designs, or packaging styles in smaller batches.
“You can create special editions for holidays or events such as Christmas, or even test new blends without committing to large, fixed quantities. Digital printing gives you the flexibility to tailor packaging to market demands, which is especially useful for roasters that are constantly testing new blends,” he says.
And in response to market uncertainty, QLM has identified key trends such as the rising demand for smaller bags and single-use products.
Lindsay says businesses are shifting focus from unit price to cash flow and are realising the benefits of only ordering what’s needed, when it’s needed. By adapting to this shift, QLM reduces the pressure of high-volume purchases in a challenging economic climate.
“For example, we recently did a customised box that contained eight different styles of beans, but instead of one large bag per type, each was in a small, individual pouch. This is another example of how brands are innovating in terms of packaging size and variety,” he says.
And in a competitive space such as coffee, Lindsay believes QLM thrives on helping brands stand out by developing flexible and creative solutions. This approach helps companies to increase visibility and engage their audience, often through smaller, more cost-effective packaging options that don’t require the commitment of larger runs.
“We work closely with brands to understand their values, target markets, and how they want to position themselves. Then, we help them develop creative strategies to penetrate those spaces and drive growth. It’s an exciting part of what we do,” he says.
QLM carefully selects high-quality packaging materials that balance sustainability with product protection to ensure freshness and resistance to moisture and oxygen.
By mid 2025, the company expects to transition its entire range to mono-materials that enhance recyclability and reduce environmental impact.
Traditionally, many in the coffee industry have relied on labels applied to base packaging.
However, Lindsay points out that the use of inferior materials for these labels and packaging can lead to a deterioration in product quality, ultimately affecting the integrity of the coffee beans.
“When it comes to paper options – biodegradable or what some people call ‘eco-friendly’ materials, as well as certain film materials – issues like moisture content and oxygen transfer are often overlooked,” he says.
According to Lindsay, these factors can lead to serious longevity issues for products in the marketplace, especially when base packaging lacks proper moisture barriers. While eco-friendly and paper-based materials may seem like a good option, if they can’t maintain the integrity of the beans, it can result in product deterioration and product recall in worst case scenarios.
“What we’ve observed is that if a company has rapid consumption times for their product, these issues are less problematic,” he says.
“But that’s not the case for everyone, such as smaller roasters that batch their coffee, and larger roasters that need to store massive batches.”
Lindsay adds that the company is not just a “shiny new thing” operation – behind every design or packaging solution, there’s a robust technical foundation.
“Our team work hard to understand the technical components that ensure packaging performs as it should,” he says. “This means the structural integrity, barrier properties, and freshness protection of our materials are as important to us as the branding and design.”
For more information, visit qlmgroup.com
This article appears in the February/March 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
