Sydney chef Mike McEnearney’s award-winning popular canteen-style eatery KITCHEN by Mike has opened at the newly transformed T1 International City View precinct at Sydney Airport.
On offer are simple and delicious meals with seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. Plan to eat in before you fly or, for those on the go, they have created FLY by Mike carry on tray-packs, packed freshly to the customer’s choice. Select from classic KITCHEN by Mike salads and roast vegetables; light meat and fish dishes; homemade cakes and puddings; seasonal fruit; and a selection of health tonics such as kombucha or cold pressed juices.
Elevating the KITCHEN by Mike customer experience with packaging
The customer experience extends to every single customer touchpoint, especially at the moment of consuming, which in this case, could be on the plane.
There are two key areas where BioPak was able to add value in this regard.
Firstly, enhancing the sensory appeal of KITCHEN by Mike’s meals on the go. Product consumption and experience for KITCHEN by Mike is really a culmination of the five senses. Before even taste, the patron first experiences the product via look and touch represented by the packaging.
BioPak, together with food packaging stalwarts, Sydney Packaging, teamed up to help KITCHEN by Mike say a firm no to generic foil and paper takeaway containers ubiquitous in the fast food industry, developing instead a custom designed sugarcane pulp bento style tray.
The second area BioPak was able to add value at point of experience was leveraging off consumer commitment towards sustainable packaging – something that is becoming increasingly important to consumers Together they are forging ahead to develop a custom range of food service containers.
The innovations that BioPak delivers offered several advantages, among them sustainably-sourced and rapidly renewable plant-based raw materials, and the fact that all BioPak products are carbon neutral and 1% of profits from all sales are donated to Rainforest Rescue.
The need for speed: A fast and efficient process
From initial CAD designs, prototypes were produced within two weeks for an in-store trial. The resulting feedback was used to make adjustments in order to improve functional performance and optimise portion sizes prior to full production.
After final product approval, production began and inventory was ready to go for the launch in April 2017.
“The packaging was very important to us. Sydney Packaging has supported us since inception and choosing to use BioPak products gives our customers a quality dining experience and reduces the environmental impact of our operation. This is good for business but, more importantly, good for the planet.” Mike McEnearney, executive chef and owner of KITCHEN by Mike.