Package of the Month
Nutrisystem Updates Packaging
New Branding Driven by Shifting Attitudes in Wellness Ideals
To effectively compete within the personalized weight loss space, Nutrisystem partnered with the agency Little Big Brands to update packaging that focuses on empowering consumers to live a healthy lifestyle that meets their personal goals.
The Little Big Brands team took on the challenge of evolving Nutrisystem from a “one size fits all” weight loss plan, to an engaging, relevant lifestyle brand. Throughout the project, the agency partnered with corporate stakeholders, nutritionists and dietitians to breathe new life into the Nutrisystem design.
The new design positions Nutrisystem as the expert within the category, highlighting the product's appetite appeal, coupled with a vibrant color palette to express optimism and customization. The Nutrisystem logo sits proudly on a cream background, evoking a sense of trust and confidence.
“Today’s consumer is attracted to brands that connect with them on a more emotional and supportive level,” said John Nunziato, Chief Creative Officer, Little Big Brands. “This insight is particularly relevant for the weight loss category and served as inspiration for the work.”
Courtesy of Little Big Brands
Mars Wrigley UK’s Maltesers Boxes Fully Recyclable After Switch to Metsä Board Dispersion Coated Barrier Board
The company has replaced the old multi-layer box design, where the PE plastic liner covered the box, with a dispersion coated barrier paperboard. The company says the new design will reduce its annual plastic usage by 82 tonnes.
The new Maltesers box uses Metsä Board’s dispersion coated barrier board, which is fully recyclable, biodegradable and compostable and made of fresh fibers, 100% traceable to their origin in sustainably managed Northern European forests.
“At Mars, we take our responsibility for sustainable packaging seriously, and today’s announcement that our iconic Maltesers box is now fully recyclable is another important step in our journey toward packaging that is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable,” said Adam Grant, General Manager, Mars Wrigley UK.
“We are firmly committed to helping brands develop solutions that address the increasingly pressing need to take food packaging in a more sustainable direction,” says Matthew Terry, technical service director, South and West Europe, Metsä Board.
Courtesy of Mars Wriggley
Dr. Sheffield's Introduces Charcoal Toothpaste in a Fully Recyclable Aluminum Tube
DDr. Sheffield's is a toothpaste brand made from an age-old recipe reminiscent of simpler times. In the mid-1870s, Dr. Washington W. Sheffield, a respected dentist from New London, Connecticut, invented a 'creme dentrifice' for his patients, replacing the unsavory powders of the time. He was the first to put toothpaste in a tube and that tube will now package its certified natural, fluoride-free Charcoal toothpaste in aluminum metal tubes.
"We researched a host of new packaging options, to find the one that matches our high standards of sustainability and quality. Our research determined that aluminum was the clearest choice versus other options like plastic, which often ends up in landfills or worse, in the oceans. As a result, we made a significant investment into modern automated packaging equipment to allow us to manufacture toothpaste packaged in aluminum tubes at high speeds," noted Jeffrey Davis, CEO of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, makers of Dr. Sheffield's Naturals. "Although recyclable plastic tubes are certainly a more cost-effective option, plastic recycling has been a failure, and a recyclable plastic tube is less effective at preserving the quality of our product," Davis adds.
Aluminum is the most recycled metal on the planet; it creates a very robust package that preserves the original flavor and quality of the product almost indefinitely and, as opposed to plastic it can be recycled over and over with no degradation. It is estimated that over 75% of aluminum ever produced in the US is still in circulation. Aluminum is the most valuable item in the recycling bin, as opposed to plastic, which has no value.
The full line of Dr. Sheffield's Toothpaste are certified according to the strict standards of the Natural Products Association and contain no fluoride, GMOs, synthetic detergents or foaming agents, and no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Dr. Sheffield's Naturals is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, signifying no animal testing at any stage of product development, and verified by the Non-GMO Project.
Courtesy of Dr. Sheffield’s
Hank’s Gourmet Beverages Introduces Innovative 4-Packs of its Limited-Edition Fall Favorites, Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Apple Cream
Hank’s Gourmet Beverages, the Philadelphia-based, third-generation family business which helped launch the craft soda boom in the 1990s, is responding to widespread customer and retailer input with a new packaging scheme for its two popular fall seasonal flavors. Hank’s critically acclaimed, limited-edition seasonals, Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Apple Cream, will be hitting markets coast-to-coast in colorful 4-Packs beginning this week. The announcement was made here today by Tony Salvatore, Partner and Chief Customer Officer of Hank’s Gourmet Beverages.
“From the beginning, we’ve been a company that has maintained an ongoing dialogue with both our fans and retailers,” says Salvatore. “It is something that has played a great role in both shaping and continuing the evolution and expansion of our brand.”
“This year has historically been our strongest, with especially brisk pre-orders for our two seasonal flavors that have nearly quadrupled 2020’s actual sales,” adds Salvatore. “Our customers, from supermarkets and bakeries to eateries and farm stands, have been clamoring for us to release these in 4-pack cartons, so they could build the high-impact displays that have become a holiday tradition and merchandising mainstay. We’ve answered their call with unique and breakthrough for-the-category designs that we think both catch the eye and communicate the outstanding quality of these handcrafted, delicious flavors.”
Hank’s worked with Greensboro-based (GA) Heffernan Marketing to create the packaging, one which breaks with soda industry norms in several regards. The 4-packs communicate the great taste with enhanced real-fruit photography on the carton’s main panels, a rare occurrence in the trade. There’s now messaging about the brand’s annual 4Q soda celebration, Hanksgiving, as well as new callouts that highlight the product’s gluten and caffeine-free ingredients.
“Our vision for the 4-pack packaging design was to go for a rich, textural and layered look, one that would really make it stand out on the shelf and in dramatic seasonal displays,” adds Lee Heffernan, President and Creative Director, Heffernan Marketing. “These two seasonals have amazing flavors. And there’s no better way to convey that than with pictures of ripe, luscious fruits. Our goal was to properly tap into and visualize peoples’ love of a fresh-baked piece of pumpkin pie or a hand-dipped caramel apple at this time of year. In our testing, Hank’s fans immediately stopped, recognized, and reacted positively to this both on-shelf and in specialty displays, so we know we hit upon a winning look with this approach.”
Introduced in 2020, Hank’s Caramel Apple Cream marries the tart bite of a perfectly ripe Granny Smith apple with the smooth body of toffee and hints of golden butter-caramel. This product is being re-released as a limited edition, along with a new supply of Hank’s Pumpkin Spice, the hugely popular fall entry introduced during 2019’s Hanksgiving, the Company’s yearly event celebrating the pairing of craft sodas with food. Both will now only be available in the newly designed carriers through the New Year’s holiday.
Several Hank’s retail partners and specialty accounts are expected to participate in this year’s Fall release promotions anchored by these new 4-pack designs, with special displays and dedicated placements across seasonal aisles and sections, including Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores nationwide.
Courtesy of Hank’s Gourmet Beverage
Sweden’s Best-Selling Sausages Now Wrapped in Renewable Paper-Based Packaging by Mondi
Mondi worked with Nordic food manufacturer HKScan to provide renewable paper-based packaging for its best-selling Falukory sausage. The company aims to achieve a carbon-neutral food chain by the end of 2040. Mondi used its EcoSolution approach to collaborate with HKScan’s R&D team to provide the right barrier paper without requiring any changes to its existing production lines. The new packaging is made of bio-based plastic and responsibly sourced paper, coated and printed in Sweden, to keep transportation to a minimum. Thanks to its majority paper content, the new packaging can be disposed of in Swedish paper recycling streams. Mondi’s solution ensures the Scan Falukorv sausage remains fresh and intact in transportation, and the packaging provides excellent print quality for an attractive presentation on the shelves. Maria Häger, director quality & environment HKScan Sweden, says: “Reducing our environmental footprint is one of our most important priorities at HKScan. The barrier paper from Mondi is a valuable piece of the jigsaw puzzle, enabling us to proudly announce this new, recyclable packaging for our Falukorv sausage, reducing its CO2 impact from the previous solution by 70%1. This represents a vital step in our sustainability journey and is helping us get closer to achieving our climate targets of achieving a carbon-neutral food chain by the end of 2040.”
Jonas Fridberg, business solutions manager, functional paper and films, Mondi adds: “Our aim is always to develop fit-for-purpose packaging that is sustainable by design. Our work with HKScan to facilitate their switch to recyclable and renewable paper packaging for Scan Falukorv 800 g is a great example of that. It has led to a significant reduction in carbon impact, with no change in the consumer experience, and that is truly something to be celebrated.”
1 Measured by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Courtesy of Mondi Group