by Randy Hofbauer
Assistant Editor
Winning entries in thePaperboard Packaging Council’s(PPC) 65th National Paperboard Packaging Competition were announced April 3 during the PPC’s annual meeting, in New Orleans. Out of the tens of thousands of paperboard packages introduced each year to the North American marketplace, only a few hundred are even worthy of competition entry, and only PPC members can submit entries, though they may submit as many as they want.
Although no food package walked away with the President’s Award, the three gold award winners showed that less is indeed more. Paperboard reduction, slimmer size and lighter weight packaging showed that consumers are starting to care more about what goes into a package and not just what they remove from it.
To judge the awards, an expert panel of judges could give each entry up to 10 points for each process stage. An entry that earned a total of 24 to 30 points received a Gold Award, and an entry that earned 18 to 23 points received an Excellence Award. The entry that received the highest amount of overall points was given the President’s Award.
Awards given for food products follow:
GOLD AWARDS
Candy and ConfectionsEntry: Two-Pack Preserves
PPC member:All Packaging Co.
Customer:High Country Orchards
Customer objectives:The customer is known for corrugated fruit crates for shipping tree-ripened peaches, and wanted to sell a new two-pack retain package of preserves in a gift box reminiscent of that packaging.
Converter’s strategy:Solid unbleached sulfate (SUS) stock was used to mimic the look of the peach crate, which was white over kraft brown. The stock supported the weight of the two jars in the die-cut insert to keep the carton from being crushed or showing other damage. The top and bottom pieces are modified Walker lock trays and, in addition to the die cut insert, are all unglued. These gift boxes are designed to be easily stacked, just like the peach crates. The three pieces composing the gift box are flat packed and easy to store until needed for each order.
Dry Foods
Entry:Multi-Grain CheeriosPPC member: Graphic Packaging Int’l Inc.
Customer:General Mills Canada
Customer objectives:The structural design objective was to create a carton shape that conveyed to consumers the benefit of the low-calorie product: a slimmer silhouette. Curved scores were desired to mimic a waistline.
Converter’s strategy:The carton was printed on a standard sheet-fed offset press with a high-gloss coating. The carton was die-cut in the standard process. Sealing the side seam of the carton required special time-fed gluing to ensure that the top-opening feature of the carton performed correctly. Cartons met all requirements, from packing into corrugated trays through storage, distribution and warehousing to the finished end-aisle display. The carton effectively communicated to consumers the benefits of the new product. Despite the unique shape, carton integrity was not compromised.
Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
Entry: Ellio’s Microwave PizzaPPC member:Cascades Boxboard Group
Customer:McCain Foods USA
Customer objectives:The customer wanted to reduce total package cost and material. The package was first introduced as a two-piece package including an inner tray with susceptor.
Converter’s strategy:The converter used solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard in developing a one-piece combination folding carton and susceptor tray. The innovative structural design incorporates a susceptor tray in the carton. We printed the package offset in colors with conventional inks and water-based coating. We were able to increase efficiencies through the supply chain with decreased overall package weight and board reduction.
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Bakery and Snack FoodsEntry:Frito-Lay 3-Count Z-Flute Bag-in-Box Club Pack
PPC member:Graphic Packaging Int’l Inc.
Customer:Frito-Lay
A solid-fiber carton with reinforcing strips at critical locations cut stocking requirements for salted snacks by allowing stacked display in club stores. Each carton holds three bags of Frito-Lay products-Cheetos, Ruffles and Doritos. With their stacking strength, the cartons eliminated the need for wire racks and attention by store personnel.
Bakery and Snack Foods
Entry: Golden Walnut Shortbread CookiePPC member: Jones Packaging
Customer: Golden Walnut
Golden Walnut Specialty Foods wanted a different package to launch its shortbread cookie. The answer was a stand-up, pouch-style carton with gusseted sides. The shape is unusual for the cookie category and easily differentiates the brand on the shelf. Six-color offset printing with an aqueous coating complement the visual appeal.
Bakery and Snack Foods
Entry: Great Spirits Mini Bundt CakePPC member:Curtis Packaging
Customer: Great Spirits
Cartons holding the Great Spirits Mini Bundt Cake line combine elegance with functionality. The new product features high-end liquors as flavorings in cake mixes. The attention to detail in converting allows a black background that does not show any white for the finished carton. The combination of matte and gloss coatings and hot-stamping projected the high-end look.
Bakery and Snack Foods
Entry:Rocky Mountain Popcorn Not-A-TinPPC member:All Packaging Co.
Customer:Rocky Mountain Popcorn Co.
As an alternative to holiday popcorn tins, the carton for Rocky Mountain Popcorn cut costs while maintaining a festive holiday look. Called the Not-A-Tin package, the hexagonal carton carries high-quality graphics that let it compete with the look of printed tins. Cost savings resulted from lower package cost and reduced shipping for in-bound carton flats.
Candy and Confections
Entry:Go Girl ProjectPPC member:MOD-PAC Corp.
Customer:The Hershey Co.
Hershey’s Go Girl package added an elliptical shape to a square carton. The goal was to create a unique and feminine look for cartons holding Hershey Kisses. The cartons are square top and bottom, but eliptical in the middle. That earned better shelf placement at retail. The carton is formed from 16-point, SBS paperboard.
Candy and Confections
Entry:Home Entertaining Collection 2007PPC member:Diamond Packaging
Customer: Godiva Chocolatier Inc.
The carton for a Godiva holiday collection delivers a range of eye-catching graphics, thanks to the use of transparent inks over a foil paperboard. The inks provided a cost-effective alternative to foil-stamping in multiple colors. The full-seal-end cartons also allowed easy opening and reclosure.
Candy and Confections
Entry: IsaDelightPPC member:Kramer Carton Co.
Customer: Isagenix Int’l
Isagenix International is a direct sales organization that wanted a retail-style carton with a high-end look for its new product, IsaDelight. A gable-top carton answered its needs by delivering a quality look and meeting cost criteria. It uses a metallic gold ink, embossing and a custom chocolate color to achieve the look at a cost 20% lower than that of using foil or hot-stamping.
Candy and Confections
Entry:Kit Kat Chunky ChristmasPPC member:Jones Packaging
Customer:Nestle Canada Ltd.
An unusual shape differentiates the Kit Kat Chunky Christmas promotion. The shape has a long triangular profile with each corner flattened. It helped meet Nestle’s goal of being eye-catching and being seen by shoppers as a possible stocking stuffer. The six-color offset printing displayed the trademark Kit Kat colors and brand imagery.
Candy and Confections
Entry: Scharffen Berger Tasting Squares ProjectPPC member: MOD-PAC Corp.
Customer: Artisans Confections
The carton for Scharffen Berger Tasting Squares had to incorporate characteristics of three carton styles: straight tuck, shadow box with hinge lid and a film window. Intricate die-cutting accomplished that. The carton also projects a natural look with water-based matte coating. Five-color printing, including a metallic ink, added pizzazz.
Food and Beverage, Candy
Entry:Brix Chocolate for Wine LoversPPC member:Utah Paper Box Co.
Customer:Brix Chocolate
Brix Chocolate for Wine Lovers is a new brand positioned in a new category of chocolate-and-wine pairings. Its packaging appeals to wine connoisseurs. The set-up box uses an existing facing stock to convey the feel of wood grain, and the belly band printed on a matte stock adds to the package’s elegant look.
Food Carry-Out
Entry:Quiznos Catering CartonPPC member:Southern Champion Tray LP
Customer:Quiznos
High-end graphics on a Quiznos catering carton helped the fast-food chain enhance its brand by mirroring the quality of the food inside. Graphics are four-color process with a spot orange color. That combination improved color management versus trying to achieve it solely through four-color process. The substrate is SBS board.
International
Entry:Air Transat PizzaPPC member:Cascades Boxboard Group
Customer:McCain Foods Canada
The Air Transat Pizza carton combines top-quality graphics with a structure that gives the consumer an easy, oven-safe container that simplifies preparing the product. An easy-opening feature, vent holes to release steam and four-color printing are techniques that helped the package deliver.
International
Entry:Slim-FastPPC member:Cascades Boxboard Group
Customer: Unilever Canada
A display carton for Slim-Fast bars used 100% recycled fiber. To improve the easy-open feature in a carton with recycled fiber, the design employed a staggered perforation. It delivers a uniform, clean tear for a package that serves as a shipper and then becomes a retail display tray. It is printed litho in six colors.
Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
Entry:Patrick David SoufflesPPC member: Kramer Carton Co.
Customer:Patrick David’s Fine Foods
Carton graphics for a carton holding Patrick David’s Soufflé delivered a visual richness and an “I see how it tastes” image. The restaurant company was extending its line to retail products and wanted to leverage its reputation for quality. A carton printed in six colors, including metallic gold and an ultraviolet coating, delivered the strong visual impact that supports the brand.
Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
Entry:Saag’s Natural SausagesPPC member:Kramer Carton Co.
Customer:Saag’s Sausage
A folding carton that replaced a film package for Saag’s Natural Sausage matches packaging for competing brands in the natural sausage category. An automatic bottom speeds manual filling, and the package’s footprint allows easier handling and stacking at retail. Soy-based inks and water-based coating on 100% recycled paperboard stock fit the brand’s “natural” positioning.
Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
Entry:Stop Light SalsaPPC member:Dixie Printing and Packaging
Customer: East Coast Fresh Cuts
SBS, poly-coated on two sides, provides the structural integrity needed for the Stop Light salsa carton, which has to withstand cold and moisture. A structure of die-cut holes immobilize the salsa containers and are folded into the carton to add strength that prevents sagging.
