The festive container of Limited Edition Premium Dark Chocolate Pretzels was created for John B. Sanfilippo and Son’s Flavor Tree brand.It marks the shelf debut of Clear Lam Packaging’s recently developed PrimaPak technology, which gives brand owners and packaging partners a favorable alternative to weightier packaging materials.
Packaging alternative
Clear Lam marketing manager James Foster said PrimaPak is geared toward giving food and packaging operations an alternative to rigid and flexible packaging.
“PrimaPak is targeted to replace preformed cans, bottles, jars and trays,” Foster said. “The goal is to create new packaging that is stackable and recloseable, while using much less plastic and significantly reducing trucks, warehousing, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Foster added that PrimaPak affords weight savings of up to 70% compared to plastic jars. Further, it reportedly streamlines warehousing demands and truck shipments, while helping keep costs down and increase sustainability along the supply chain.
High-end presentation
James Sanfilippo, CEO of Clear Lam Packaging, said the PrimaPak technology is well suited for a special seasonal product such as these high-quality pretzels.
“The customized design for Flavor Tree pretzels creates a gift-wrapped presentation perfect for the holidays,” he said.
In addition to confectionery items, PrimaPak is suited for nuts, chips, cookies, cereals, coffee, sliced fruit and vegetables and other products.
Rigid construction
In order to engineer a package that is flexible yet rugged enough to be stacked and guard the integrity of the products within, Clear Lam came up with a way to enhance the pack’s rigidity. The end product: a pop-up box-shaped container that is light, rugged and offers better presentation to appeal to consumers.
According to Foster, the finished package retains its shape, holds up during shipping, and presents well on retail shelves. A peel-and-seal lid opens easily, stays open while the product is being served or dispensed, and reseals just as easily.
Production details
The PrimaPak material and equipment are designed toward maximum flexibility and easy use. The package is constructed from Clear Lam’s custom rollstock on the PrimaPak vertical form/fill/seal (vffs) machines.
“The PrimaPak technology is literally a pop-up box on a roll of film,” Foster said. “It produces a flexible, stackable bag with six sides.”
The PrimaPak method, Foster said, is capable of producing attractive packages that appeal to shoppers, including those looking for high-end giftable items.
“It’s great for merchandising and great for developing unique graphics such as the seasonal FlavorTree chocolate covered pretzel item,” he said.
In addition to the peel-and-seal lidding option, customers can opt for a formed, semi-rigid snap lid. Also formed on the PrimaPak machine, it creates a hinged lid that snaps tight when reclosed.
While the pretzel project marks the first time PrimaPak has been put to commercial use, it is not the first time Clear Lam and John B Sanfillipo and Son have worked together. Both are run by members of the Sanfilippo family, and both have manufacturing facilities in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.