Consumers’ cereal packaging needs (and those of frustrated bag-in-box cereal eaters everywhere) are about to be realized with the sleeve-in-pouch (SIP) package design. The brainchild of Hosokawa Yoko, the SIP design emulates the cube of a carton, offers the easy-open/reclosure attributes of a zipper, and capitalizes on the efficiencies of in-line form-fill-seal manufacturing.

Commercial in Japan since April 2002 for instant coffee, tea, and pet and snack foods, the SIP design is about to crack the U.S. market—and major cereal brand owners are ready to dig in with spoons in both hands.

The current SIP is a two-side-seal heat-sealable OPP/PE laminate— although other barrier materials can be used. SIP incorporates a thin-gauge poly-coated paperboard liner laminated to the inside of the pouch, which provides rigidity.

The lamination to the inner walls of the flexible material prevents rogue Lucky Charms or errant Cheerios from being lost between the carton and bag as in a bag-in-box structure.

The “wings” of the pouch are folded neatly during the form-fill-seal process and glued to the structure's top and bottom panels. They can be easily dislodged to facilitate access to the easy-tear opening feature. The zipper replaces the venerable clothespin used for decades to keep bag-in-box products fresh during pantry storage.

The four flat side panels of the pouch, and the gravure or flexo print receptivity of the film, allow for outstanding graphics and billboarding. Most importantly, they provide the ability for kids to stand the pouch up, even after opening, and read and play games printed on the package.

As Tony the Tiger would say: “It’s Gr-r-reat!”