There are four major considerations in perishable shipping:

• Choosing the right boxes/packaging
• Using the right insulation
• Picking the right refrigerant
• Choosing the right shipping and delivery options

Someone who knows from first-hand experience is Phillip Ashley Rix, owner of Phillip Ashley Chocolates and a FedEx Small Business Grant finalist. His customers expect his gourmet chocolates to look perfect when they arrive at their doorsteps. But to create that flawless customer experience, Phillip evolved his packaging as he learned everything he could about packaging and shipping perishables.

Boxes

Phillip says one key to the right packaging for perishables is choosing the right gauge of corrugated cardboard as the outer packaging to protect his delicate products. Corrugated cardboard with a one-inch wall thickness provides the best protection for his chocolates, without adding too much weight. To fully seal the outer packaging and ensure smooth shipping, he makes sure the box is taped evenly across all flaps with a pressure-sensitive plastic tape.

Insulation

It’s always important to understand how weather can impact shipments. Phillip makes sure he insulates his packages to prevent warming of his chocolates throughout their journey. He finds that reflective materials such as radiant barrier films work best for him. Other common forms of insulation include expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and rigid polyurethane.

Refrigerants

To help keep his cool — and his chocolates cool, too — Phillip uses gel coolants that maintain a temperature from 32° F to 60° F. Another option is dry ice, which is typically used for frozen shipments. It’s important to note that dry ice is not intended for live seafood; instead, use gel coolants. And while wet ice has its drawbacks, including increased weight, potential leakage, and special packaging needs, it can also be an option for the right shipment.

Shipping and delivery

When it comes to shipping, Phillip offers a range of shipping services and options to meet the individual needs of his customers. When shipping across the country, he generally ships with FedEx Priority Overnight^® unless he’s shipping large quantities for events like the Emmy Awards, when he’ll use FedEx First Overnight^®.

Delivery options for customers are also important, and Phillip stresses that it's key to communicate available choices, including customized delivery options, during the ordering process and over-communicate with customers until the order arrives.

Whether you’re delivering chocolates to Chicago or cakes to California, you want to make sure your customers enjoy a fresh, festive experience. Take it from Phillip that every shipment can be picture-perfect with the right preparation, packaging, and shipment option from FedEx. And that truly is sweet!