Econo-Pak Contract Food Packaging Podcast

At Econo-Pak, interns don’t just watch from the sidelines, they help shape the business. In this episode, we sit down with Dylan Olson, who joined as an intern and quickly became a valuable part of the team. From building data dashboards executives use daily to sitting in on high-level meetings, Dylan shares what it’s really like to intern at a mid-sized company like Econo-Pak where your work truly makes an impact.

KEY TAKEAWAY...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak Contract Food Packaging Podcast, Sarah, Mike, and Tim break down Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), why it’s such an important part of supply chain management, and how this improvement in our process directly benefits businesses like yours. They explain how VMI ensures a reliable packaging supply at Econo-Pak, which translates into better pricing for customers, the ability to meet demand quickly withou...

In this episode, Sarah and Mike are joined by Tim Shay, Director of Procurement at Econo-Pak, to explore how Econo-Pak is helping food brands navigate the future of sustainable packaging and prepare for the growing wave of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.

Currently adopted in five states and with more on the horizon, these regulations shift the cost and responsibility of packaging waste back onto the manufacturers. Tim b...

Welcome to the very first episode of our newly improved podcast! In this kickoff, our hosts, Sarah Richter and Mike Mead, sit down to share behind-the-scenes updates on the exciting changes to the podcast setup—better equipment, a smoother production flow, and upgraded audio and video quality.

They also introduce a brand-new Learning Center, designed to provide valuable, centralized resources for anyone in the food packaging industr...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak Contract Food Packaging Podcast, Sarah sits down with Tim, our Director of Procurement, to explore how strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and packaging choices can impact your food brand's bottom line.

Learn how our procurement team supports high-volume food packaging projects, from sourcing film, cartons, and pallets to helping brands meet sustainability goals and retail requ...

Econo-Pak Maintenance Manager Jared Ellsworth joins us to talk about how flexible equipment setups, smart automation, and quick changeovers allow our team to help clients scale into new retail formats with ease.

Timestamps
0:00 - 0:25 Introduction: Equipment flexibility in contract packaging  
0:26 - 1:10 What makes packaging equipment flexible?  
1:11 - 2:05 Starting manual and scaling into automation  
2:...

How do food brands choose the right packaging equipment? In this episode, we break down the difference between universal and dedicated equipment and how Econo-Pak’s flexible approach helps brands test, scale, and optimize their packaging.

With over 200 types of packaging equipment, Econo-Pak provides food brands the ability to explore different packaging formats without massive upfront investments. Learn how universal equi...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak Contract Food Packaging Podcast, Sarah Richter sits down with Project Manager Johnny Montana and GM Mike Mead to discuss the importance of SOP3 (Standard Operating Procedure Form 3) in ensuring food safety, quality, and seamless production.

Discover how SOP3:

- Captures essential details for new and existing projects.
- Supports quality assurance, customer service, and producti...

In this episode, John Mellage, CFO of Econo-Pak, shares his transition from a 25-year career in public accounting to joining one of the leading family-owned co-packers in the industry. Discover how Econo-Pak’s dynamic work culture, strategic planning, and fixed-cost pricing model have made a difference for both employees and clients. John discusses the importance of building lasting client relationships, fostering team collaboratio...

In this episode, Sarah Richter talks with Rohail Khan about Econo-Pak's recent success in passing the Sedex audit. Rohail explains what Sedex is, why it matters to global supply chains, and how it ties into ethical business practices, employee safety, and sustainability initiatives. Learn how Econo-Pak maintains high standards across all areas of its business, from ensuring the humane treatment of workers to reducing its envir...

Join Mike Mead and Sarah Richter as they take you behind the scenes of how they produce their podcast. From syncing audio and video to setting up a dedicated studio space, they share valuable insights into the technical and creative process.

Learn how their podcast has evolved to cover industry trends, brand-building strategies, and how they foster trust with their clients. Watch the full video to discover how their setup ...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak podcast, CEO PJ Wiebel joins host and General Manager Mike Mead to discuss the benefits of using a fixed-cost pricing model in co-packing contracts.

PJ explains how this pricing approach provides stability and predictability for food companies by locking in a set price for packaging services over a 12-month period. This eliminates the unpredictability of variable costs that many manufactur...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak Contract Food Packaging podcast, we sit down with Brooke Willis, our dedicated Inventory Manager. With six years of experience, Brooke shares her journey from starting in the shipping and receiving department to becoming the go-to resource for managing inventory and coordinating projects across multiple departments.

Brooke provides valuable insights into how she uses spreadsheets, Outlook c...

Noah Harrington is a bright and motivated young man with a passion for entrepreneurship. As the nephew of PJ and Bob Wiebel, our CEO and Director of Operations, he has worked as an intern for the past two summers. Listen as Noah shares his experience working on the production floor and helping clients with trialing.

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
0:10 New podcast room
0:30 Family relationship
0:47 Interning e...

Join us for an insightful episode of the Econo-Pak Podcast, where we dive deep into the operations that keep our shipping and receiving departments running smoothly. Hosts Sarah and Mike sit down with Rich and Milly, seasoned professionals from the shipping and receiving team, to discuss the dynamics of our distribution processes and our strategies for efficient logistics management.

Rich, with over 13 years at Econo-Pak, ...

Join the Econo-Pak team as we discuss procurement solutions with Tyler Sisco, the experienced Purchasing Supervisor at Econo-Pak. Explore the critical aspects of fostering strong client relationships, navigating the challenges of fixed-cost solutions in procurement, and the innovative approach towards sustainable packaging in the co-packing industry.

Key Topics Explored:
- The complexities of maintaining relationships ...

Join us in the latest episode of the Econo-Pak Food Packaging Podcast, featuring an engaging interview with Ed Horn, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Econo-Pak. With over 17 years at the helm, Ed shares his deep insights into the co-packing industry, discussing the evolution of the field, the importance of efficient processes, and the role of a COO in driving a company's success. He also discusses the importance of the req...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak Food Packaging Podcast, our Plant Manager, Patrick Sullivan, discusses:
- His career growth from a general line worker to Plant Manager
- How he creates the production schedule for our clients' products
- His experience working with different departments to manage the schedule
- The flexibility of the workforce and the ability to adapt to changing resources and capacity
- Th...

In this episode of the Econo-Pak Food Packaging Podcast, our Director of Quality, Rohail Khan, shares his extensive knowledge and experience in maintaining the highest standards of food safety at Econo-Pak. We delve into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in food packaging and safety, exploring how Econo-Pak stays ahead in ensuring quality and compliance.

Rohail also discusses the importance of continuous educa...