Flexibles

P&G's new angle on tortilla chips

Procter & Gamble has unveiled another intriguing new plastic package. Just months ago, the Cincinnati-based company began test-marketing 0.81 oz of Pringles in a single-serve cup injection-molded of polypropylene (see PW, Oct. ’01, p. 2, or packworld.com/go/pringlepak). This time it’s Torengos Tortilla Chips in an 8 ½’’ tall white triangular container with 2 ¾’’ sides.

December 31, 2001

Industries: Page 677

Secondary Packaging

Early Times pours into PET

Following the success of its switch to PET from glass for Canadian Mist blended whisky in 1999, Brown-Forman Beverage Worldwide in November launched a 1.75-L PET bottle for its Early Times Kentucky whisky. Like Canadian Mist, the Early Times bottle is injection stretch/blow-molded by Schmalbach-Lubeca (Manchester, MI).

December 31, 2001

Reusable/Returnable

Corrugated protects fruit shipments

Three tree fruit producers participated in a recent field test that revealed that new corrugated “common footprint containers” provided the best protection for fragile fruit like peaches and nectarines, with less bruising during transit.

December 31, 2001

Adhesives/tape

Euro lawncare products drum up sales

Canisters made of recycled paperboard have been making inroads throughout Europe as a primary package that provides stackability and pleasing graphics for fertilizers.

December 31, 2001

Flexibles

The clear choice in jerky packaging

Phoenix-based Sun Valley Natural Products released its Jerqué line of gourmet beef and turkey jerky in October. The antibiotic-free, hormone-free meat product is packaged in a clear film pouch from Lithografix, a subsidiary of Lithotype (South San Francisco, CA), and is decorated with an award-winning label designed by Estudio Ray (Phoenix, AZ).

December 31, 2001

Flexibles

Marks & Spencer 'bites' on lined container

In October, renowned U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer launched QuickBite foods in an “insulated” package that keeps food hot without burning consumer hands as they eat the food directly from the container.

December 31, 2001

Flexibles

Detergent tabs 'heat' up packaging

In Britain, premeasured tablets are the fastest-growing way to use laundry detergents, and Robert McBride, plc, Cumbria, England, is packing them 70% faster with an economical film from UCB Films (Smyrna, GA).

December 31, 2001

Protective/transport packaging

Xbox box has 'game'

The graphics design for the much anticipated mid-November debut of Microsoft’s Xbox game console strikes a balance for hard-core gamers and mainstream consumers.

December 31, 2001

Contract Packaging

Laser coding excels at Excelda

Excelda Mfg., a contract packager of lubricants and other products sold in the automotive aftermarket, has turned to laser coding to improve legibility of the single-line date code it uses on the plastic bottles it fills.

December 31, 2001

Tamper-evident machinery

Q&A

Brad Rostowfske, director of new product development at Sargento Foods Inc., a leading marketer of cheese products based in Plymouth, WI.

December 31, 2001

Labels

Design: Redesigned label is rosier

In September 2001, Four Roses Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY, a Seagram’s company, unveiled a bold new label for its Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

December 31, 2001

Bakery/Snack

Design: Play-Doh's reformed look

In the spring of 2001, Hasbro released to the market a new look for one of its most established brands. The redesign for Play-Doh carried out by Marketing by Design (Beverly, MA) had three simple goals: reinforce the Play-Doh identity, establish Play-Doh as the brand that offers the best selection of vibrant colors, and provide a model of what kids can create with the colored dough.

December 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

Web plus: A dot-com looks for packaging solutions

Overstock.com offers a variety of name-brand surplus merchandise, such as toys, diamond rings, and TVs, for up to 70% off the retail price. Just like a catalog retailer, this Internet retailer must invest in quality packaging to ship products to consumers.

December 31, 2001