Innovative single-serve packaging

In Pack Expo 2008, Snapsil unveiled a innovative single-serve package that can also serve as an utensil! This is pretty cool stuff from the “ultimate serving solution provider”.

Snapsil is a fresh, innovative company focused upon the development of unique portion controlled serving solutions.  A Snapsil packaging solution integrates product storage within a highly functional utensil or applicator, combining packaging and portion serving into one eye catching branded pack. By combining both delivery and function into the one pack, precise portion delivery of powders, granules, creams or liquid products becomes a viable and convenient marketing alternative. Meeting consumers’ ever-growing desire for greater convenience and functionality, a Snapsil solution goes further by adding unparalleled convenience with high brand promotion values.

Snapsil goes on to enhance the benefits for the marketers by adding exclusivity to the partnership. “Not only can your company exploit the marketing benefits of Snapsil you can also be assured, that a raft of intellectual property protection including pending patents are there to protect your market leadership.”

While U.S. is known as the bulk buying destination, introducing single-serve packages in this recessionary period may be a good idea. Especially when families are cutting cost and buying only what is required.  This is truly amazing creation! Absolutely out there for marketers to make use of and create a distinct advantage by a simple integration of innovation in their packaging!

I love this Green (pizza) Box!

According to PizzaDelivery, over 1 billion pizzas are delivered every year. A pizza delivery is not complete without the same old paper box. When I think about pizza box… environmental hazard, recycle, inconvenience, etc. comes to my mind.

So I wanted to come up with a novel idea of a pizza box that is Eco-friendly and very convenient. I thought how about a circles pizza box that can be cut in slices?. But before I go deeper, I wanted to understand types of pizza boxes available in the market currently. So I request loyal Google to search for “Green Pizza Boxes”. And what do I stumble upon! An amazing packaging concept that bowled me completely! It is Eco-friendly, convenient and smart!

I am talking about “The Green Box” developed by a New York based “Environmentally Conscious Organization, Inc.”. Here’s a video demonstration this brilliant packaging idea.

Even though the company tauts about the 100% recycled material & the ‘Green Factor’ I personally feel it is more about convenience than the ‘Green!’. If you remember, Pizza boxes are a huge pain… to fit them in trashcan is similar to mission impossible, refrigerators space do not gel well with the large pizza box, after the pizza is over the box just seems so annoying. Hence this “Green Box” may be absolutely green and help save the worlddddd. It still impresses my due to it’s immaculate versatility.

Smart perforation let's this box to be used as plates and also enables to store the remaining pizza in the smaller box!

This is how convenient it is!

Conclusion: This pizza box rocks!!! (because) it is Eco-friendly & it is super convenient (I love the Eco-friendly aspect, But I am still tilted towards the convenience factor).

Tropicana takes a U-Turn, reverts back to old packaging!

Early in January, PepsiCo‘s flagship product, Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice changed its packaging (on left in the image below). A day or two ago the company executives plan to discontinue the new packaging (which is already in market) and bring back the previous version back!

How stupid is that?

I am curious to know if there was any  rationale behind launching a new packaging in the first place! I am sure there was, but wonder what type of research lead to this decision to launch new packaging.  If customers did not want a new packaging…. then why introduce one?

I don’t mean to be rude, I’ve have been a Tropicana fan since long. I even loved the new package design. But for me, the deal breaker was the connection between how I perceive Tropicana & the new package design. For me, the new packaging diluted the premium appeal of the brand. It made Tropicana look like a store brand.

I am glad Tropicana is back on track & that is surely becuase of those Tropicana fanatics!

Five green themes to burn brands brighter

While consumers have become increasingly wary of products festooned with greenwashing, focusing on a few simple themes can garner gifters’ attention amidst the smorgasbord of holiday choices.

The greener good
With the economy falling apart, holiday pocketbooks will be thin, and there may just be a return to the true meaning of the holidays — goodwill and cheer. Consumers who do decide to buy material goods will likely be more precise and intentional in their gifting behavior. These holiday shoppers will be delighted with the green value-add: It feels good to buy, good to give and good to receive. Even though eco-friendly products are much more common nowadays, they still have cachet.

• Highlight green products with a special in-store section.
• Tout certifications and any alliances with green organizations.
• Be transparent about ingredients and manufacturing processes.

Perfect packaging
Thrifty holiday shoppers will be out to get more by consuming less. They’re over unnecessary packaging — for dark-greens, that includes new wrapping paper — especially when they have “to recycle or not to recycle?” weighing on their conscience post-party. For consumers fed up with “stuff,” this year’s holiday wish is for companies to help them in minimizing waste.

• List a few short green wrapping ideas on receipts (newspapers, “brown paper packages tied up with string,” crayon decorations, etc.).
• Feature reuse and recycle ideas on product packaging.

G-commerce
E-commerce is morphing into G(reen)-commerce. Last year saw a 19% increase in online shopping for the holidays (Comscore.com 12.30.07), presumably because it’s a great way to track spending and research products on the consumer’s own schedule. Because shopping online is already a great way to compare ingredients and read reviews, calculating conservation and finding green deets are logical extensions of the convenience.

• Describe how deliveries minimize fuel consumption and save shoppers gas money. (And provide free shipping whenever possible.)
• Cluster green products together in a prominent eco section of your site.

Eco-expert customer service
A shopper walks into a store and says, “I want to buy green!” Will anyone be able to help? Employees trained in explicit eco benefits can maximize shopper wallet share by helping consumers get the most green for their green with confidence and ease.

• Transform your sales associates into passionate brand ambassadors for eco-friendly gifts; the gifter will be all the more enthused to share the information with the giftee upon opening.
• Train employees to ask whether shoppers need a bag or a receipt, showing that your operation is keeping pace with the trend toward less waste.

Fantastic plastic
When all else fails, good things come in small packages. Folks who have had it with useless tchotchkes may opt for cause-related gift cards that pay it forward, such as those offered by CharityGiftCertificates.org, TisBest.org and JustGive.org. Even traditional gift cards can be world-benefiting when made from recyclable bioplastic.

• Offer gift cards with percent matches toward a local cause or charity.
• Match bioplastic cards with purchasing intent; extend a discount on green-related purchases with use of the card.

McDonald’s creates history: unveils new generation packaging.

When one thinks McDonald’s, greasy burgers, obesity, and possibly cardiac arrests are still the first thoughts that come to mind for many. Not any more, Beginning in November 2008, world’s largest fast food chain & my favorite chain -McDonald’s will introduce its new generation of global packaging using “sophisticated graphics, photography and storytelling” to positively impact customer perceptions. Starting from November, McDonald’s will extend its packaging overhaul to a whopping 118 countries – from Iceland to India. The roll out is stated to be complete in two years. The new packaging is developed by a marketing company subsidiary Boxer of London & Birmingham,England.

The new look puts more emphasis on product and less on the brand’s iconic “I’m lovin’ it” tagline.

new drink cups

The move is intended to put the McDonald’s food quality story directly into the hands of consumers. Ms. Mary Dillon, Global Chief Marketing Officer said “McDonald’s is putting the focus on food.”  “Our new packaging is a fresh way of sharing McDonald’s food quality story with our customers,” said Dillon. “The more people know about our food the more they’ll love it.”

She said, Each new package focuses on the item enclosed, with pictures of the sandwich or nuggets and a rallying cry, such as “There is only one” for Big Mac; “Full steam ahead” for the Filet-O-Fish; or “Share me nots” for chicken nuggets. The packages are bright red, purple, yellow and blue with a wide variety of fonts.”

(more) Nutrition information, pictures of ingredients and “I’m lovin’ it” are printed on the sides — de-emphasizing the tagline, which earlier was featured prominently at the top of each package. To subtly indicate freshness and quality ingredients, the new food bags have pictures of potatoes, lettuce, wheat, eggs and even farm machinery.

(Quick bite) McDonald’s last big global packaging revision coincided with the adoption of it’s “I’m lovin’ it” ad slogan in 2003.

Pierre Woreczek, chief brand and strategy officer-marketing, McDonald’s Europe, described the repackaging as a move from “100% I’m lovin’ it lifestyle,” to something that also assured consumers of product quality in a “young tonality.” He added, “We’re modernizing brand identity using packaging as a badge value.”

McDonald's new packaging

Keeping in mind McDonald’s global reach, the new packaging is flexible enough to accommodate 21 languages while sharing stories about the quality of McDonald’s ingredients in a way that is locally relevant for customers around the world.
Nice read

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• On revamping packaging & Green restaurants: McDonald’s to emphasize sustainability

@ anishvshah