Delivering Custom Variety Packs: How RAD Packaging Excels with Paperboard, Shrink Wrap, and Corrugated Boxes

Variety packs have become one of the most powerful tools in a beverage brand's arsenal. Whether you're launching a new lineup, running a seasonal promotion, or trying to get new flavors into consumers' hands, a well-executed variety pack can drive trial, increase basket size, and keep your brand top of mind. The challenge? Getting them built right, at speed, without sacrificing quality. That's exactly where RAD Packaging comes in.

Based in San Fernando, California, RAD Packaging is a contract packaging partner built specifically for beverage brands. We specialize in variety pack repacking, and we do it across three core format types: paperboard cartons, shrink wrap, and corrugated boxes. Here's a closer look at how each one works and why it might be the right fit for your brand.

Paperboard Cartons: The Classic Retail-Ready Format

Paperboard cartons are the gold standard for variety packs sold at retail. Clean, brandable, and shelf-friendly, they give your product a polished, professional appearance that stands out in a crowded category.

At RAD Packaging, we handle paperboard carton builds for Slim, Sleek, and Standard cans in configurations ranging from 4-packs all the way up to 24-packs. Whether you need a curated four-flavor sampler or a 12-can mixed pack for club retail, we have the capability to execute it precisely and repeatably.

Our automated packaging solutions ensure each carton is consistent, because inconsistency on shelf is a brand problem you don't want. And with our coder-ready setup, we can apply batch, lot, and date codes directly during the packing process, keeping your traceability and compliance needs covered.

Best for: Retail distribution, club stores, promotional SKUs, seasonal launches.

Shrink Wrap: Speed, Flexibility, and High Visibility

Shrink wrap is one of the most versatile formats in beverage packaging. It's fast to produce, visually impactful, and works beautifully for both in-store display and e-commerce fulfillment.

RAD Packaging offers both tray + shrink and trayless shrink configurations, giving you flexibility based on your structural and aesthetic needs. A tray provides added stability and a cleaner look on shelf, while trayless shrink keeps costs lean and packaging minimal, a growing preference among direct-to-consumer brands.

Our team handles both hand-packing and automated tray + shrink lines, scaling to your volume without compromising on speed or precision. Mixed flavor packs and promotional builds are our specialty, we welcome the complexity.

Best for: Promotional multipacks, DTC orders, on-premise retail display, fast-turnaround builds.

Corrugated Boxes: Built for Bulk and B2B

When your priority is protection, volume, or wholesale distribution, corrugated boxes are the format of choice. They're durable, stackable, and ideal for moving product through distribution channels where retail aesthetics matter less than structural integrity.

RAD Packaging builds corrugated variety pack configurations for brands shipping to distributors, fulfillment centers, or large-format retail. Combined with our warehousing and order fulfillment capabilities, we can take your product from repacked to ready-to-ship without skipping a beat.

Our San Fernando facility is also licensed under California ABC Type 14, meaning we're fully compliant to store and ship alcoholic beverages on behalf of licensed manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. If you're a hard seltzer, beer, or RTD cocktail brand, that matters.

Best for: Wholesale distribution, bulk fulfillment, DTC subscription boxes, cross-docking.

Why Variety Packs Work and Why Your Execution Partner Matters

Variety packs aren't just a packaging format ,they're a marketing strategy. They lower the barrier to trial, expose consumers to your full flavor lineup, and deliver exceptional perceived value. Families can pick a pack knowing everyone will find something they like. New customers can sample without over-committing. And for brands, variety packs often convert samplers into repeat single-SKU buyers.

But a variety pack only delivers on that promise if it's built correctly. Misaligned cans, inconsistent builds, or labeling errors undermine the experience before the consumer even cracks the first one.

At RAD Packaging, we focus on one client's success at a time. That's not just a philosophy, it's how we operate. Every client has unique needs, and we build our solutions around yours, not the other way around.

Ready to Build Your Variety Pack?

Whether you're exploring paperboard, shrink wrap, or corrugated, or you're not sure which format is right for your product, RAD Packaging is here to help you figure it out.

Get in touch with our team at radpackaging.com/contact or call us at (818) 336-1092.