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

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials: Page 85

Flexibles

Baking kits display holiday spirit

Betty Crocker has cooked up a timely product for the season: holiday baking kits in four varieties. The kits from Minneapolis, MN-based General Mills are packaged in creative and colorful boxes with precision die cuts. Although introduced last year—and seasonally for Halloween—this winter's kits offer new features.

November 30, 2001

Closures

Recycled-content regs

At press time, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) was considering some changes it might enact to that state’s regulations on recycled plastic content in rigid plastic containers.

November 30, 2001

Flexibles

NECCO mints in a snap

New high-intensity Ultra mints from NECCO (New England Confectionery Co.), reached national retail stores in June packed in a 4½-oz, 1.7-mil polypropylene bag with a laminated cast PP snap closure.

November 30, 2001

Tamper-evident machinery

Vial and blister pack details

PocketPaks™ retail packs include a 24-count blister-packed vial, a 72-count blister containing three 24-count vials, and a 16-count vial blister-packed sleeve. A 144-count clubstore pack contains six 24-count vials. The packs feature easy opening and tamper evidence.

November 30, 2001

Flexibles

Listerine strips made portable, universal

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Morris Plains, NJ, introduced in the United States in October ‘01 Cool Mint Listerine PocketPaks™ of tiny hinged plastic “vials.” The vials (see sidebar) contain stamp-sized oral care strips that dissolve instantly on the tongue where they kill germs on contact. A carded blister serves as the secondary package.

November 30, 2001

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Label print station cuts fulfillment costs

American Tack & Hardware upgrades label printers for speed and quality images and gets healthy savings in the bargain.

November 30, 2001

Flexible packaging

Listerine packs strips in 'vials'

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Morris Plains, NJ, debuts Cool Mint Listerine PocketPaks™, tiny hinged "vials" within a carded blister pack. The vials, which measure 1 3/4’’ x 1’’ x 1/4’’, contain paper-thin, postage stamp-sized oral care strips. The strips dissolve instantly on the tongue where they kill germs on contact.

October 31, 2001

Flexible packaging

NECCO mints in a snap

New high-intensity Ultra mints from NECCO (New England Confectionery Co.) reached national retail stores in June packed in a 4 1/2-oz, 1.4-mil polypropylene bag with a laminated cast PP snap closure.

October 31, 2001

Flexibles

Canny cosmetics

In a market where impulse purchases rule, Markwins Intl., has raised the visibility of its cosmetics through unique packaging. The City of Industry, CA-based company’s “glam in a can™” cosmetics that were introduced at select mass merchandisers nationwide in August are packaged in transparent 1-gal paint cans.

October 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

Labeler proves 'berry, berry' good for Fabri-Kal

A new clamshell labeling system increases speed while reducing labor costs and downtime at the Greenville, SC, plant of thermoformer Fabri-Kal.

October 31, 2001

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

P&G tests Pringles portion pack

Procter & Gamble is test marketing Smart Stacks, a 0.81-oz portion pack of its Pringles-brand potato crisps, in a thermoformed polypropylene cup whose bottom is shaped like the curvy snack.

September 30, 2001

Flexibles

Kodak sees ?Advantix? in pouch

Kodak Canada Inc. is test marketing a four-pack of its Advantix-brand photographic film in a reclosable zippered gusseted pouch in Canada. It’s believed that this is the first film sold in a resealable pouch in North America.

September 30, 2001