In the dairy industry, printing, labeling and shrink wrapping are essential for product safety, regulatory compliance and brand presentation. These processes support a wide variety of dairy products, each of which have their own packaging requirements. Printing ranges from simple date codes to complex variable data like nutritional panels. Accuracy is critical to avoid costly errors.

Labeling approaches are evolving as producers look for options that are easier to handle in production and better suited to cold, high-moisture environments. Wraparound labels made from plastic or coated paper are becoming more common because they can replace bulkier packaging elements while still providing a large, colorful surface for branding and product information. These labels not only improve durability but create a polished look that can help products stand out in the dairy aisle.

Sustainability is also driving changes in packaging materials. More producers are reducing material use by transitioning from rigid to flexible packaging. Innovations in shrink wrapping, such as form-fitting films that minimize excess material, provide a clean, tight appearance while protecting the product. When paired with effective labeling, these advancements help dairy products stand out in a crowded marketplace while meeting the industry’s high standards for quality and efficiency.

Recently, Dairy Foods discussed the latest solutions with Ryan Spencer, product marketing manager, MULTIVAC, a global supplier in the dairy packaging space with vast experience in printing, labeling and shrink wrapping. Read the full Q&A with Ryan below.

Dairy Foods (DF): Can you give us an overview of MULTIVAC's role in the dairy packaging space, especially in relation to labeling and shrink-wrapping technologies?

Ryan Spencer (RS): MULTIVAC is a preferred supplier of packaging for a wide variety of dairy products, including cheese blocks, wedges and sticks, sliced cheese, spreadable cheese, and more. Many of our packaging solutions include labeling capabilities, whether on-board with our thermoforming packaging equipment with a cross-web labeler or offline with a belted labeler.

DF: What are the current trends you're seeing in dairy product labeling and packaging, and how is MULTIVAC adapting?

RS: We’re seeing folks that use tray packaging starting to show interest in moving away from cardboard sleeves or bands. These are hard to deal with in production, do not handle moisture well, and can be costly. MULTIVAC offers labeling options that can replace cardboard sleeves or bands with plastic or coated paper labels that wrap around the package. These are much easier to handle in production, are water resistant and are much less expensive. They also look great.

DF: When it comes to printing for dairy packaging, what does MULTIVAC offer that makes its services unique or valuable to potential customers? What is the top priority for customers in this space?

RS: MULTIVAC and its partners have incredible expertise and capabilities to offer our customers who need solutions for printing on their package. Whether it is something as simple as a date code or as complex as variable printing of a full nutritional panel, we have solutions that will fit their needs.

DF: What stands out about dairy products when it comes to printing/labeling/shrink wrapping as compared to other food and beverage products?

RS: To me, it’s the variety. In the beverage space, you have bottles and cans. In other food sectors, there are certain package types that make up the majority of the products. In dairy, we are dealing with rigid tubs, compartmented trays, zippered bags and vacuum shrink packs. It’s challenging, but MULTIVAC really relishes the opportunity to engineer custom solutions that fit the exact needs of our customers.

DF: What innovations in sustainability have you seen in this space?

RS: We have seen some strides in sustainability, particularly in material reduction. I think this is a smart move until the recycling infrastructure for plastics is further developed in the United States. Moving from rigid tubs and trays to flexible packaging can add up to a huge reduction in landfilled plastic.  

DF: What do you see as the next big trend in printing/labeling/shrink wrapping for dairy?

RS: We see a lot of opportunity in FormShrink packaging technology for packaging cheese wheels, blocks and wedges. It produces a beautiful, tight film around the cheese with little to no excess film around the edges like you get with standard shrink wrapping. Pair this with an attractive label and you have a package that really makes your product stand out on a retail shelf. DF