Backed by over 20 years of industry know-how, GM Packaging has been delivering high-quality packaging solutions since 2001. Whether you're a local café or a national pizza chain, we’re here to serve up durable, reliable, and sustainable packaging - our well-stocked warehouse has your supplies ready and hot-to-go.
One of our recent clients is a real-world example of how we help brands grab a bigger pizza the action with our takeaway packaging solutions.
The Client: Papa Johns
Papa Johns is one of the UK’s leading pizza chains, known for its quality ingredients and extensive menu of sides and extras. With around 7 million side orders sold each year, streamlining the preparation process without compromising quality or safety is no small task.
The Challenge
Before partnering with GM Packaging in December 2022, Papa Johns faced a number of operational inefficiencies tied to their side order process:
- Labour-intensive prep: Frozen sides needed to be removed from the freezer, arranged on metal trays with greaseproof paper, passed through the oven, and then manually transferred into a cold 6" pizza box.
- Staffing issues: Peak times required extra staff to meet demand.
- Health and safety risks: Manual handling of hot trays and packaging presented burn risks to employees.
- Productivity delays: Each side order added precious seconds to the total prep time.
- Contamination potential: Multiple touchpoints in the process increased hygiene concerns.
Papa Johns needed a packaging partner who could think outside the (pizza) box, and that’s exactly what GM delivered.
The Solution
GM Packaging worked closely with Papa Johns to design a bespoke ovenable tray that could be used straight from freezer to oven, then into a final branded sleeve, eliminating the need for decanting. The result? A smarter, safer, and more efficient side order process.
Key features of this bespoke packaging solution included:
- Seamless prep: Goes straight from freezer to oven, then into a final branded sleeve, no decanting needed.
- Heat retention: Keeps food hotter by 3°C, improving product quality on delivery.
- Cool-touch safety: Outer packaging stays safe to handle post-bake, helping prevent staff burns.
- Time-saving design: Saves 60 seconds of labour per-order, significantly reducing prep times.
- Enables pre-rush prep: Allows for pre-rush prep, reducing the need for peak-time staffing.
With GM’s full-service approach, from identifying the pain points to prototype development, testing, commercial rollout, and fine-tuning, the transition was seamless.
The Results
This custom packaging solution didn’t just tick boxes, it delivered real, measurable impact. By transforming Papa Johns’ side order workflow, GM Packaging helped streamline operations, boost efficiency, and improve the customer experience from prep to delivery.
- Labour savings: Estimated £930,000 in potential annual savings, thanks to reduced prep time during peak hours.
- Faster service: 20–30 second reduction in order-to-delivery times, speeding up operations and improving customer satisfaction.
- Enhanced food quality: Hotter food on arrival, with a 3°C increase in delivered temperature.
- Improved safety: A safer, more efficient workflow for kitchen staff, with reduced burn risk and fewer touchpoints.
- Scalable solution: A commercial-ready format that can be rolled out to other pizza vendors with minimal adaptation.
A simple change in packaging led to a big difference in performance, proving how innovative design can deliver more than just a nice box. This project is a perfect example of how the right packaging innovation can add value across every layer of a foodservice business, from operational savings to a better slice for the end customer.
Want a Slice of the Smart-Packaging Pie?
If you're looking to save time, reduce labour costs, and serve up a better customer experience, GM Packaging is ready to deliver. Whether you're a fast-paced food chain or an independent business, we’ll help you find the packaging solution that fits your process like a glove (or a pizza in a box).
Let’s make your packaging work harder, so your team doesn’t have to.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you streamline your business with better packaging.