Miller Graphics shares an interesting case study in packaging optimization. The French subsidiary of frozen food brand Findus wanted to optimize production costs by reducing the number of colors used to print some of its packaging.
The stakes were high. For a brand present in supermarkets, any change in the appearance of packaging can affect consumer perception. Findus therefore had to reduce the number of colors without altering the visual identity of its packs or the coherence of its range.
To meet this challenge, Miller Graphics, which specializes in the packaging graphics chain and employs 365 people in nine countries, carried out a feasibility study. This showed that a switch from six to four colors could be envisaged without any significant deterioration in visual rendering.
Twelve references have been progressively reworked, in the pommes dauphine, pommes rissolées and herb recipes ranges.
"The gamble paid off, we found good compromises so that the packs appeal to us from a marketing point of view and can meet the Group's cost-cutting directives." says Myriam Fantaccione, Product Manager at Findus.
The reduction in the number of colors mechanically reduces the number of flexographic printing plates required for production. This reduces printing costs.
Miller Graphics also coordinated the project with the five printers used by Findus, and supplied the new plates for flexographic printing.
The operation also had an impact on industrial organization. The reduction in the inking rate, the reduction in the number of inking units to be cleaned and the reduction in the number of printing plates to be produced means that certain technical operations involved in packaging manufacture can be reduced.
Jean-Hubert Archen, an expert in the packaging graphics chain at Miller Graphics, believes that this type of analysis is worth considering when a brand has a significant portfolio of references. In his opinion, "from 10 references, it's worth digging in this furrow to find ways to optimize" .
