# Heat-Retaining Food Trays ProAmpac Designs Packaging for Circle K’s Hot Wings By Mursal Rahman | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-09-25 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flamin-hot-wings-box References: [packagingdive](https://www.packagingdive.com/news/proampac-chicken-wing-box-circlek-design/830666) & [proampac](https://www.proampac.com/en-us/media-center/1009/turning-up-the-heat-proampac-helps-power-circle-ks-flamin-hot-boneless-chicken-wings-launch/)  ProAmpac is advancing [heat-retaining food trays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kp-elite-nova) with a [custom fiber-based package](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paperseal-pressed) developed for Circle K’s Flamin’ Hot Boneless Chicken Wings. Designed specifically around the recipe and portion size, the tray addresses common hot-hold challenges by helping retain heat and moisture while providing enhanced grease resistance. ProAmpac also optimized PepsiCo’s initial branding for production and improved [product visibility](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inline-plastics-safetchef), allowing the wings to stand out more clearly in heated display cabinets. The result combines food preservation with a more polished retail presentation. For Circle K, packaging tailored to a specific menu item can help maintain product quality for longer while creating a more consistent customer experience. The approach also shows how convenience retailers can treat packaging as part of product development rather than an afterthought. For ProAmpac, developing recipe-specific solutions creates opportunities to deepen partnerships with foodservice brands seeking packaging that supports operational performance, merchandising and differentiated menu launches. Image Credit: ProAmpac ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 27% | Freshness: 92% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Recipe-specific Packaging:** Custom tray formats tailored to exact menu items create room for packaging to become a performance layer in food development rather than a generic container. - **Hot-hold Merchandising:** Heat-retaining materials that preserve visibility, moisture and grease control are reshaping how ready-to-eat foods compete inside convenience retail displays. - **Fiber-based Foodservice Design:** Sustainable packaging substrates with functional heat and barrier properties signal new potential for replacing conventional plastic formats in prepared food programs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Convenience Retail:** Retailers with expanding hot food menus can use specialized packaging systems to improve product consistency, impulse appeal and operational reliability. - **Food Packaging:** Advanced fiber packaging producers are positioned to differentiate through item-specific engineering that blends preservation, branding and in-store presentation. - **Quick-service Food:** Prepared food operators benefit from packaging innovations that support longer holding windows, more polished merchandising and smoother limited-time menu launches. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [All-in-One Chicken Wing Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wingstop-loaded-flavor-boxes.md) - [Sustainable Heat Retention Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecoteppan.md) - [Spicy Chicken Snack Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flamin-hot-boneless-chicken-wings.md) - [Redesigned Fry Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dipper.md) - [Ready-to-Snack Chicken Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-tenders-snack-box.md) - [Co-Branded Frozen Chicken Wings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-shop-range.md) - [Steamed Foodservice Chicken Wings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steam-cooked-chicken-wings.md) - [Rigid Protective Food Containers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kp-infinity-hp3.md)