From EZ-Squirt bottles of red and green ketchup for kids to retorted pouches of tuna for both foodservice and retail markets, H. J. Heinz Co., Pittsburgh, made a strong case for its selection as Packaging Leader of the Year, 2000-200l. “The year 2000 is extremely worthy of note for Heinz as they introduced several dynamic packaging innovations to the industry,” said James E. Scott of Eastman Kodak, the chairman of the Packaging Education Forum. “Heinz’s many packaging advances over the years make it clear that successive generations of Heinz leadership adhere to the ideal of continuous revolution and renewal.”
This year alone, Heinz has created some unusual packaging improvements for both its mature and new products:
•Introduction of flat-bottom, zipper-reclosing bags for Ore-Ida French Fries (see Packaging World, Feb. ‘00, p. 2)
•Introduction of retorted flexible pouches as an alternative to #10 cans for StarKist tuna for foodservice outlets (see PW, Feb. ‘00, p. 28)
•Development of the “trap-cap” closure to eliminate watery ketchup (see PW, May, ‘00, p. 31)
•Introduction of EZ-Squirt bottles of red or green ketchup (below) for kids (see PW, Aug. ‘00 p. 2)
•And the retail introduction (right) of StarKist tuna in a retorted pouch (see PW, Aug. ‘00 p. 2)
Heinz will receive its honor Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Packaging Education Forum’s Leadership Awards reception and dinner at the Chicago Hilton & Towers Hotel, beginning at 6 p.m. Heinz joins an impressive list of companies that have been designated Packaging Leader of the Year in past years. Dean Foods was selected last year, and previous winners include Kraft, Anheuser-Busch, Hershey, Coca-Cola and Campbell Soup.
See the main story that goes with this sidebar: Electronics controls new technology at Pack Expo
