Frequently used for drink mixes, electrolyte powders, supplement powders, coffee additives, flavor enhancers, sweeteners, and functional beverage mixes — delivering a measured amount in a package that is easy to carry, open, and pour into a bottle, cup, shaker, or recipe.
Stickpacks
Fortis Solutions Group produces custom stickpacks built around your product, production needs, and brand goals. Fortis stickpack solutions can include Easy Tear construction, custom print options, structure support, and compatibility with high-speed multi-lane stickpack equipment.
Custom stickpack packaging engineered for single-serve convenience, product protection, and production performance.
What are Stickpacks?
Stickpacks, also called stick packs or stick pack packaging, are long, narrow flexible packages commonly used for single-serving or small-dose products. They are often selected when a brand needs packaging that is portable, easy to open, and suitable for measured use.
Unlike larger pouches or wider sachets, stickpacks are designed for a slim, controlled-dispensing format. They can be used for products that are poured, squeezed, mixed into a beverage, or distributed as samples.
What Makes Stickpacks Different From Other Flexible Formats?
Stickpacks are defined by their narrow profile and single-serve presentation — easier to hold, open, pour, and carry when the product is used one serving at a time.
For brands comparing single-serve formats, stickpacks are often considered alongside sachets, pouches, and other flexible packaging options.
Why Brands Choose Stickpacks
Brands often choose stickpacks when the packaging format needs to do more than simply contain the product. Stickpacks can support portion control, trial distribution, sampling, subscription programs, travel-size formats, retail merchandising, and on-the-go use.
For consumers, the appeal is convenience. For operations teams, the appeal is a format that can be evaluated for efficient production. For marketing teams, the appeal is a compact package that can still support a polished, branded single-serve experience.
Convenience
- A compact package that is easy to open, easy to carry, and simple to use one serving at a time.
Efficient Production
- A format that can be evaluated for efficient production, including compatibility with high-speed multi-lane equipment.
Branded Single-Serve Experience
- A compact package that can still support a polished, branded single-serve experience on shelf, in mailers, and on the go.
Common Uses for Stickpack Packaging
Stick packaging is commonly used for powders, drink mixes, supplements, sweeteners, gels, oils, small-dose liquids, granules, samples, travel-size products, and other single-serving items that require portability, convenience, or pre-measured use.
Powders & Drink Mixes
Liquids & Gels
Samples & Travel-Size
Industries That Use Stick Packs
Fortis supports these markets across its broader packaging offering, making stickpacks a relevant format for brands looking for flexible packaging support across multiple product types.
Key Features & Performance Considerations
The right stick pack structure should support product protection, usability, production efficiency, and brand presentation — for both consumers and production teams.
Easy Tear Construction
Fortis offers RFID as a fully integrated solution embedded within your existing pressure-sensitive label, or as a standalone RFID label applied separately. We work with you to select the right inlay, adhesive, and face stock combination for your specific application.
Seal Integrity
Reliable seals are important because stickpacks often hold measured servings, powders, liquids, gels, or products that require clean containment. Strong seal integrity helps reduce leakage risk, protect the product, and support a consistent consumer experience.
For production teams, reliable performance also matters at scale. A stickpack structure should be evaluated with the product, fill type, and production environment in mind.
Product Protection & Barrier
Stickpack packaging can be designed around the needs of the product inside. Depending on the product, packaging considerations may include protection from moisture, oxygen, light, aroma transfer, leakage, or other factors that can affect freshness, shelf life, and product quality.
For powders, moisture protection and clean dispensing may be important. For liquids and gels, structure and seal performance become especially important. For sample-size products, the package needs to protect the product while also creating a strong first impression.
High-Speed Multi-Lane Compatibility
Stickpacks are often selected for high-volume production environments. Fortis’s flexible packaging capabilities include Easy Tear stickpack construction designed to protect the product and perform at optimum speeds on production lines, including high-speed multi-lane stickpack machines.
This matters because packaging performance affects more than the finished package. It can also influence throughput, consistency, and confidence during production scale-up.
Facility-Level Quality Certifications
Packaging requirements can vary by product, market, application, and production facility.
Fortis publishes facility-level quality certifications, including ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, FSC chain-of-custody, IFS PACsecure, and SQF Food Safety Code certificates for listed facilities.
For food, beverage, nutraceutical, personal care, and other regulated or specification-driven products, buyers should confirm which certifications, documentation, and production requirements apply to their specific stick pack project.
For buyers evaluating sustainability-related requirements, Fortis also provides public information about Sustainable Green Printer certification for its Merced, CA facility. Sustainability, recyclability, and material claims should still be confirmed based on the selected structure, production facility, and intended market.
Custom Stick Pack Options
Custom stick pack packaging should be built around the product, brand, and production requirements. Fortis can help evaluate structure, print approach, and format considerations so the package supports both performance and presentation.
Material & Structure Support
Film and material structures selected based on the product’s needs — a powder may require different considerations than a liquid, gel, granule, or oil-based product. Barrier requirements, seal performance, product compatibility, filling conditions, and shelf-life goals are all discussed before finalizing a structure.
Print & Branding
For production teams, reliable performance also matters at scale. A stickpack structure should be evaluated with the product, fill type, and production environment in mind.
Size & Format Flexibility
Developed around serving size, dose size, product volume, pack count, and distribution strategy. A single drink mix may require a different format than a gel, sample product, or travel-size application — the right size should support usage, production, and merchandising goals alike.
Specialty Requirements
Some products require additional technical or design considerations, such as barrier properties, tear features, seal areas, artwork templates, or production requirements. Any sustainability, recyclability, or specialty packaging claim should be confirmed based on the selected film structure and project specifications.
Stick Packs vs. Other Single-Serve Formats
A stick pack is long and narrow, while a sachet is often wider and flatter. Fortis offers both sachets and stickpacks within its flexible packaging lineup, giving buyers room to compare formats based on the product and use case.
When a Stick Pack May Be the Better Fit:
- A narrow, portable format
- Pre-measured dosing
- Easy pouring or squeezing
- Single-serve convenience and on-the-go use
- Sampling or trial distribution
- A compact retail or promotional footprint
- Compatibility with high-speed multi-lane production
When Another Format May Make Sense:
- More front-panel space for branding
- A larger serving size
- A resealable structure
- A stand-up presentation
- A different dispensing experience
Why Partner with Fortis for Stickpacks?
Choosing a stick packsupplier is not only about finding someone who can print flexible packaging. Buyers need a partner who can align product requirements, production needs, brand goals, and service expectations.
Flexible Packaging Capabilities
Multiple formats — liquid fill packaging, pouches, sachets, and stickpacks — supporting an informed discussion about which single-serve format is the right fit.
Service & Project Support
Responsive service, clear communication, fast quotes, and proactive project management — plus the option to contact a specialist and request a custom quote.
Flexible Programs
Blanket orders, stocking strategies, just-in-time delivery, and seasonal support — aligning packaging supply with demand patterns, launches, and promotions.
Digital Tools
Online file uploads, digital proofs, and real-time order tracking make the process transparent when multiple stakeholders review artwork, timelines, and production details.
Stickpack FAQ's
What is a Stickpack?
A stickpack is a long, narrow flexible package used for single-serve or small-dose products. Stickpacks are commonly used for powders, granules, liquids, gels, and sample-size products because they are portable, easy to open, and convenient to dispense.
What does single-serving stickpackaging mean?
Single-serving stickpackaging means the package is designed to hold a pre-measured amount of product for one use, serving, dose, or sample. It can apply to food and beverage products as well as nutraceutical, health and beauty, household, pet care, and trial-size applications.
What are the benefits of stickpack packaging?
Stickpack packaging can support portion control, portability, easy dispensing, product freshness, consumer convenience, sampling, merchandising, and efficient single-serve distribution.
What products commonly use stickpacks?
Stickpacks are commonly used for powders, drink mixes, powdered supplements, gels, liquids, sweeteners, sample-size products, and other single-serving applications.
What industries use stickpackaging?
Industries that often use stickpackaging include food and beverage, nutraceuticals, health and beauty, household products, and pet care.
What is the difference between stickpacks and sachets?
Stickpacks are typically long and narrow, while sachets are usually wider and flatter. Stickpacks are often a good fit for controlled dosing, pouring, portability, and on-the-go use. Sachets may be a better fit when a product needs a wider face panel, a different opening experience, or a broader sample presentation.
How does the stickpack filling machine process work?
In general, stickpack filling starts with rollstock or flexible film that is formed into narrow lanes, filled with the product, sealed, cut, and checked for quality. Fortis’s Easy Tear stickpack construction is designed to protect the product and perform at optimum speeds on production lines, including high-speed multi-lane stickpack machines.
How do I choose a custom printed stickpack supplier?
When choosing a custom printed stickpack supplier, ask about material and structure options, print capabilities, proofing, artwork support, production timelines, machine compatibility, quality processes, facility-level certifications, and service support. A strong supplier should help you evaluate both the finished package and the production requirements behind it.
What materials are used for stickpack film?
Stickpack film depends on the product and application. Material decisions may involve barrier needs, seal performance, product compatibility, print requirements, and whether the product is a powder, liquid, gel, granule, or oil-based formula.
Are stickpacks a good fit for powdered supplements?
Stickpacks are often a strong fit for powdered supplements because they support portion control, portability, freshness, easy opening, and single-serve dosing. They can also be useful for sample programs, travel-size packaging, and products intended to be mixed into water, beverages, or shakes.
Are stickpacks recyclable?
Stickpack recyclability depends on the selected film structure, materials, coatings, and local recycling access. Any recyclability or sustainability claim should be confirmed based on the final packaging structure and the recycling guidance available for the intended market.
How do you design artwork for a stickpack?
Stickpack artwork should be designed for a narrow format. Important considerations include brand hierarchy, required copy, readability, flavor or variant identification, seal areas, tear features, and dieline requirements. Because printable space is limited, the design should prioritize clarity and essential information.
Are stickpacks cost-effective for startups?
Stickpacks can be cost-effective for some startup products, but cost depends on material structure, print requirements, order volume, run efficiency, fill type, and production needs. The best approach is to discuss the product, expected volume, and packaging goals with a supplier so the format can be evaluated realistically.
What should I prepare before requesting a stickpack quote?
Before requesting a quote, prepare details about your product, fill type, serving size, intended use case, packaging goals, artwork status, and any known production requirements. If you already have artwork or specifications, Fortis allows you to upload files for review through its contact process.