WINSLOW, ME — After cutting the ribbon on a new production facility in October, Winslow, ME-based artisanal snack manufacturer Maine Crisp also debuted its packaging upgrade. The new design reflects the product’s core attributes, including its premium flavor and clean-label formula. The package also touts the benefits of buckwheat, a superfood ingredient at the foundation of Maine Crisp’s product lineup.
The new packaging employs whimsical illustrations of buckwheat, a soft color palette, and a window to convey approachability and transparency. Studio Linear, a creative firm founded in Maine, led the project.
“My mission is to create better products for people, and our new package design really highlights the sense of naturalness that I strive for,” said Karen Getz, founder and president of Maine Crisp.
Grown along Maine’s Canadian border, the naturally gluten-free buckwheat inspired Getz to create a snack with purposeful ingredients that would satisfy both gluten-free and gluten-loving consumers. Getz launched the company in 2014 with one flavor: Cranberry Almond. Today, Maine Crisp offers four flavors, including the vegan bestseller, Savory Fig & Thyme.
The packaging upgrade is just one benefit that has come with the increased production capacity afforded by the new facility, which will accelerate the company’s national growth.
In 2021, as national distribution deals with UNFI and KeHE drove substantial increases in demand, Maine Crisp planned renovations to a vacant building in Winslow. Now transformed into a certified gluten-free facility, the 17,000-sq.-ft. space enables the company to launch new product lines and offer co-packing services to gluten-free food startups.
“My mission is to create better products for people, and our new package design really highlights the sense of naturalness that I strive for.” — Karen Getz | founder, president | Maine Crisp
Maine Crisp founder Karen Getz celebrates the opening of the new production facility. Photo courtesy of Maine Crisp
Maine Crisp worked with the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership to design critical workflow enhancements. In the production room, a Somengil multiwasher saves hours of laborious handwashing by cleaning and drying 80 sheet pans in 20 minutes. A custom Grote slicer offers consistent thinness for the twice-baked crisps, and just one of the four new Revent ovens does the combined work of all ovens at the former production facility.
In the packaging room, plans for an automated line are taking shape, a result of the company’s successful application to the Maine Dept. Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry’s Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program in spring 2022.
“We are beyond excited to have a new state-of-the-art facility to offer our retailers and consumers our delicious crisps while preparing for our aggressive innovation plans to bring the healthfulness of buckwheat to new snacking and baking categories,” said Lewis Goldstein, CEO of Maine Crisp. “Moreover, this facility supports our mission to support Maine and its rural communities by providing good jobs that offer fair pay and benefits.”
A gluten-free retail space featuring products from Maine Crisp and fellow Maine purveyors will be open to the public in 2023. Consumers can find Maine Crisp products in supermarkets, specialty food shops and online at www.mainecrisp.com.
