Fresh, Bold, and Ready to Munch: Jerky Packaging by ClearBags
Last Updated on March 21, 2025 by Kira Andrus
Written By: Megan Curtis
Jerky is one thing that keeps reinventing itself effortlessly while staying a recognized and beloved snack for each generation. Once marketed by mustachioed entertainment wrestlers and more recently by fabled forest dwellers, jerky is experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to its nutritional and economic value. Your company can stay at the forefront of this product growth by differentiating your packaging while preserving the freshness of your product. Packaging that highlights your jerky brand can be the difference between snagging those grab-and-go consumers and customers who go with a different product.
A great option for packaging your jerky to ensure freshness and showcase your brand is utilizing a hanging zipper bag. Hanging zipper bags are great for optimizing your retail space because they display beautifully on peg boards. Using a bold, eye-catching design on a clear bag such as ClearBags Hanging Zipper Barrier Bags with Tear Notches grabs the attention of customers and makes sure your jerky is the highlight. The front and back panels of these bags are completely clear for branding, labeling, and a full display of your product. ClearBags Hanging Zipper bags are constructed of a specially formulated, 4 mil thick material that seals in freshness. Once heat sealed, the tear notches make it easy for the consumer to open after purchase, and the zip closure makes resealing convenient. With strong 5 mm sides and a Euro hang hole, these bags can really hang in there above the competition.
Speaking of standing out, stand-up pouches are gaining popularity in the jerky world due to their versatility and sleek design. Stand-up pouches are convenient for stores and consumers alike, and they stand out from the crowd – literally. The bottom gusset expands to allow the bag to stand on its own once filled. Products like ClearBags Kraft Stand Up Zipper Pouch with Vertical Window showcase your product in a unique way. The vertical window on the side allows your product to be seen, while the heat seal keeps your product fresh and safe from outside elements. The resealable zipper with tear notches makes these pouches easy for consumers to open and convenient to close again. ClearBags Vertical Window Zipper Pouches come in both matte black and kraft, and they are available in a variety of sizes. The modern feel and look of these bags gives you an edge with competitors, and there is plenty of room to customize your bag or add your own branding and nutritional information.
The renewed popularity of jerky is mainly thanks to millennials who are looking for an on-the-go snack high in protein and low in fat (essentially, what has always made it popular). Unlike their predecessors, however, millennials want jerky that isn’t high in sodium and that is free of potential additives. This group of consumers is looking for natural, organic options that still taste great and stay fresh, and they are open to new possibilities like plant-based jerky made from soy or mushroom. In fact, many people are making their own jerky or supporting small businesses to get fresh jerky without all the preservatives.
ClearBags employee, Nicole Atkinson, makes jerky as a hobby with her husband. While they only make batches of jerky every couple of months, she says it’s something they enjoy doing together and has become a favorite of her family and friends. Nicole says she enjoys the process, but the greatest challenge is keeping her costs low so she can continue to share it with others. In keeping her costs down, Nicole uses the ClearBags Matte Black Stand Up Zipper Pouch with Vertical Window to heat seal and preserve her jerky before sending it out. “It’s a very small operation, so it’s easy to manage quality as long as we manage our time well so we don’t have to rush our marinating process,” Nicole says. “We use meat from a local butcher shop and constantly get feedback from others. We have an extended marinating time to allow flavors to be strong.” Nicole’s labor of love is made easier because her process and packaging are simple.
By prioritizing functionality, branding and freshness to deliver a memorable consumer experience, your jerky packaging can be a great, long-lasting travel snack – even if it’s eaten too quickly to really last long. Find the perfect packaging for your jerky business – whether big or small – at ClearBags.com.
For more blogs on packaging, be sure to check out www.blog.clearbags.com
