Plantation All Natural Raw Cane Sugar brand's use of Zip-Pak's Zipbox resealable polycoated paperboard carton with an attached flexible film header, Zip-Pak's Press-to-Close solution has resulted in sales growth since launch last year, company says

Andrew Rogers

CHICAGO , October 29, 2012 (press release) – To alter the packaging landscape in the crowded sugar category, Plantation® All Natural Raw Cane Sugar brand began packaging its product in the innovative Zipbox® resealable carton last year. Plantation is currently sold in Dash’s Market, a four-store retail chain in Upstate New York, and the new package has resulted in clear sales growth since the initial launch.

“Plantation is excited to be at the forefront of the new Zipbox packaging innovation, and our early success with the product in Dash’s Market is driving additional expansion opportunities in other grocery chains as we look downstream to possible club store activities,” said William McDaniel, President and CEO of U.S. Sugar Co., Inc., the manufacturer of the Plantation brand.

The team at Zipbox, a joint venture between Zip-Pak and T.H.E.M., has worked closely with Plantation throughout the launch to ensure the new package format maximizes convenience in the home. Zipbox combines a poly-coated paperboard carton and an attached flexible film header containing a ZIP-PAK® Press-to-Close™ solution. As the product is meant for multiple uses, the resealable functionality and structural integrity allows consumers to easily open and close the package and stock it neatly.

“Brands are constantly seeking new ways to penetrate the clutter on the shelf. The initial success at Dash’s Market confirms that Zipbox catches their attention and leads to a purchase decision,” explains Frank Kelly, Business Manager for Zipbox. “The package format’s benefits further extend to consumers by offering a recognizable closure function on a rigid carton, enhancing the convenience of their products with each use.”

As the Zipbox package format continues to gain traction as an innovative alternative to traditional rigid and flexible solutions, a major consumer product goods (CPG) company recently included Zipbox in Nielsen’s BASES II testing. Nielsen, a leading global consumer research firm, conducts BASES II to assess new product potential and hone the consumer value proposition. The testing consists of several criteria that included such aspects as Consumer Need/Desire, providing Consumer Advantage and Concept Credibility. Zipbox resealable carton scored positive responses to these and other test criteria, bolstering its potential as a viable package format for a variety of consumer products.

“Introducing a breakthrough packaging innovation like Zipbox requires expertise and partnership throughout the supply chain, from machinery and materials to package design and consumer insights,” explains Neil Kozarsky, President of T.H.E.M. “The positive feedback from both Dash’s Market and Nielsen indicates we have overcome many of the initial challenges faced with a new product launch of this magnitude and will enable us to continue broad scale commercialization.”

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About T.H.E.M.

T.H.E.M. (Technical Help in Engineering and Marketing) was founded in 1973 as one of the first providers of innovative packaging solutions in the U.S.

T.H.E.M. is best known for commercializing Sanko Stick Packaging in North America in 1996. As the stick pack authority, T.H.E.M. has helped to put America’s leading beverage brands into convenient, portable, single-serve packaging. Stick packs are the perfect solution for ‘on the go’ consumers of all ages and a popular package option for powdered beverage brands, snack items, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and personal care/healthcare products.

Working in conjunction with select packaging and equipment manufacturers, T.H.E.M. offers a comprehensive array of packaging solutions that can take your brand from initial concept to full-scale national or global production.

T.H.E.M. has a fully operational on-site R&D center located at its Marlton, NJ headquarters, with pilot production to scale up capabilities.



About Zip-Pak

Zip-Pak, celebrating over 25 years of resealable packaging innovations, offers seven distinct technologies that provide the framework for more than 200 patented zipper profiles. A global leader for resealable packaging solutions, Zip-Pak is an Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Company. World headquarters are located in Manteno, IL, USA.

For further information on Zip-Pak, please visit www.zippak.com or contact John White at +1-815-468-6500 or john.white@zippak.com

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