Betta Foods, an Australian manufacturer of ice cream cones and specialty confectionery products, is adding convenience to candy packaging with a resealable zipper on its Natural Real Fruit Flavored Liquorice AllSorts and Liquorice Bullets varieties.

"The benefit of a resealable feature is twofold, says "John Roumelle, Marketing Manager at Betta Foods. "It serves as a visual differentiating factor at point of purchase and it allows our brands to stand out based on the added convenience."

Working with Zip-Pak, Betta Foods adds the zipper to a BOPP/CPP pouch with a trapped print lamination. The packages are flexo-printed in eight colors.

According to Zip-Pak, the zipper costs about .125 cent on a 6"-wide package, compared with 12¢ to 15¢ for comparable food storage bags.

For Teen Everyday Skincare System skincare products, packaging is the messenger for inspirational messages and a bit of attitude.

"The products are for teens and pre-teens, and we wanted to have packaging that was both attractive and inspirational for these girls," says Susan Shand, CEO and Co-Founder of TESS, Santa Barbara, CA.

Messages printed onto various packaging components include phrases such as "dare to dream," "speak your mind," and never settle."

TESS is using 2-oz and 4-oz clear and white PET Boston Round bottles, from The Cosmetic Packaging Group, O.Berk Co., with white disc dispensing caps or fine-mist spray tops. The range of packaging also includes 4-oz clear PET wide-mouth jars with white caps. Color hues on containers and caps match brand formulations and colors.

The challenge: The Stratis Group, Caldwell, NJ, wanted to reinforce the essence of Hawaiian fruit on the label to boost sales for its Hilo Gold Noni Juice. The solution: a decorative full-sleeve shrink label to stimulate maximum purchase impact.

Stratis turned to Seal-It, a division of Printpack, for the label. Hawaiian Noni fruit, also called Morinda citrifolia, inspired the graphics.

The PET-G label is heat-shrunk around the bottle. Rotogravure printing in seven colors and the gloss of the film give the label extra visual intensity.

Plastic containers with handles have recently elevated convenience in the sugar aisle, which has been home to paper sacks for decades. In Canada, here is how another marketer improves convenience in sugar packaging.

Tate & Lyle Canada Ltd., Toronto, markets Redpath Half, a sweetener, in widemouth paperboard/foil composite cans from Sonoco. The cans hold either 210 g or 400 g of sugar and are made of 100% recycled paperboard with a high-barrier foil liner that locks out moisture and oxygen and keeps the granular sweetener free of clumps.

A tabbed, peelable membrane serves as both a security and freshness barrier, and adheres to the can rim.

Graphics feature gravure-printed labels.

Organic Valley, LaFarge, WI, has found an innovative way to extend its brand reach and bring the healthful benefits of milk to the ballpark. The dairy packages about 8 oz of milk in aseptic cartons for distribution at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, WI, during baseball games of the minor league Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

"The milk cartons are easy for kids to open, carry, and consume, which is one less thing for parents to worry about while enjoying the action during the game," says Ryan Grossman, Timber Rattlers Food and Beverage Manager.

Milk is packaged in Tetra Pak's Prisma Aseptic® recyclable, single-serve cartons. The milk does not need constant refrigeration. All that's required for consumption is chilling the milk a few hours before service.

Unilever's Breyers brand created a new ice cream product based on new processing technology that swirls extra silky, smooth ice cream together with a range of indulgent toppings. Marketed under the Swirls subbrand, packaging sells the ice cream's distinctive design pattern to consumers.

Smith Design created the identity and label design for the line of quarts in six flavors. The Swirls brand name, printed in whimsical typography on the label, highlights the product's swirl effect, evident through the clear plastic container.

Mouth-watering illustrations of fruit and toppings call attention to the ice cream's "freshly made" ingredients and accentuate the product's eye appeal at the point of sale.

In order to be truly effective, packaging has to literally deliver the heart and soul of the brand in a way that forges strong, emotive connections with the consumer. The days of delivering a hierarchy of features and benefits on packaging in a dry manner, sans emotion, are over. But where do emotive cues come from?

With this issue, Shelf Impact! begins a more inclusive era in dissecting the marketing strategies and trends driving packaging decisions today.

Can a package in the self-grooming aisles really influence which product a guy buys?

September 25, 2008
Packaging concept for granola
Wal-Mart consultant: Retailers' new in-store strategies will impact packaging
Sylvania's enlightened redesign overhauls 270 items, embraces sustainability

September 11, 2008
Sophisticated labels flex marketing muscle: two examples
Consider facial coding for understanding consumer experiences
Paint cans are easier on the environment

August 21, 2008
Bottle as art grows Mountain Dew's market share
Research: 'Lack of time' stifling branding and packaging innovation
Hubs propel GSK as OTC design innovator

August 7, 2008
Compact infuses style and sophistication
Savvy brands quietly toning down the aisle 'noise'
Marketer makes a 'bee' line for versatile honey packaging

July 24, 2008
Measuring success on the front lines of sustainability
Labels spoof candidates, support cancer research
Redesign elevates whisky brand above commodity

July 10, 2008
A 25% premium through design? P&G hopes to clean up in dish detergent
A co-packer's perspective: Design with downstream in mind
Krafting a better salad-dressing bottle

June 26, 2008
WD-40 finds the emotional bull's-eye in bathroom cleaners
Fabric-care brand links fashion with fine fragrances
Bottle's sidewall made of film

June 12, 2008
U.S. vs. Europe: The design challenge
Harnessing your brand's leadership potential
Shrink labels pump up brand's billboard

May 29, 2008
Six rules for maximizing impact at club stores
Bottle shape signals sophistication in glass
Brown-box wines, with sustainability benefits

May 15, 2008
Opening ceremonies: Where has that magical moment of wonder gone?
Women's network's insights prompt snack-bag changes
Lexus promo mailer has the high-end touch

April 24, 2008
Kraft accelerates momentum for sustainable packaging
Green your goal? Conference to discuss leading-edge approaches
Cereal canister extends freshness, reduces shelf footprint

April 10, 2008
The modern retail packaging conundrum
Approach sustainability with a healthy dose of perspective
Label makes child's play of juice's target audience

March 27, 2008
Shrink-sleeve strengthens Elmer's face-lift
High-impact sleeves sell the realism for frozen treats
Home-meal replacement packs go green

March 13, 2008
Inside Wal-Mart, Sam's Club: Successfully balancing branding and sustainability
Failure to test can be costly
U.K. grocer goes 'green' with milk bags

February 21, 2008
Food, beverage packages say goodbye to excess
FUSE : Ideas for elevating the packaging of your brand
Decorative shrink labels sell tea's taste

February 7, 2008
Color means...
Break the rules by thinking in new dimensions
Bottled plant food's delivery system cultivates convenience

January 24, 2008
Research: Sustainability is beginning to drive shopping decisions
FUSE : Ideas for elevating the packaging of your brand
Bottled fruit drinks are on the mark

January 10, 2008
The evolution of natural as a lifestyle choice
Coming to a city near you: Shelf Impact!'s workshops on trends and package design
Microsoft gets dual benefits in new pack

December 14, 2007
Cooking up a recipe for innovation? Serve it up in manageable steps
Kids’, moms’ needs on center stage
As trends emerge, are you thinking innovatively?

December 3, 2007
South African, French vintners shake things up
Global Package Gallery: a designer’s review
Field Guide makes sense of sustainable packaging

November 8, 2007
¿Que pasa, USA?
Household cleaners prove less is more
Check touchpoints—and check them twice

October 25, 2007
Smart packaging—lessons in enhanced functionality
Retailer brands growing solidly in additional categories
OTC brand’s packaging provides soothing relief in topical lotions

October 11, 2007
Healthcare brand ailing? Give it a shot of design
High-visibility theft-prevention packaging: A love/hate relationship
Link brand believability, belonging, and packaging

September 27, 2007
Color, graphics put Dial's RGX on masculinity's softer side
Coming to you more often, in a modified format
Unlocking core brand assets in packaging...and doing it with emotion.

September 13, 2007
Honeywell packs organize mom's car
Color's messages is Proof keynote topic
Tell me a story – in five seconds

August 23, 2007
Simoniz line adds distinction, clarity to auto aftermarket products
Proof topics: Special-edition, cost effective packaging
A good ‘harvesting’ can create winning brands

August 9, 2007
Color, graphics put Dial's RGX on masculinity's softer side
Coming to you more often, in a modified format
Unlocking core brand assets in packaging...and doing it with emotion.

July. 2007
Anti-counterfeiting strategies taking shape
Proof conference to spotlight trends influencing packaging
Visual Fusions capture the essence of the “Herbal Girl”
Product customization takes geographic twist

June. 2007
Coming out of the turn…Distillery’s Derby-themed bottles
Turning design-impact perceptions into reality
Which Comes first – structural or graphic branding?
Design managers weigh in on executive suite, design firms

May. 2007
Shape, graphics tag-team to introduce Pringles sub-brand
Your brand’s future may depend on connecting with Gen Y
The ice boxes cometh with repackaged carity
Push or pull?

April. 2007
Masterfoods director talks turkey about innovation
The Power of a label: Regional customization
Packaging Summit mature as integrated event
Cosmetic gift sets show multiple personalities

March. 2007
Restoring trust in the brand
Pump brings Innovation to dish soap
Almonds in a can: Pizzazz and product safety
Barrier film enhances protection for sausage snack

February. 2007
Convenience is king in food packaging
BIPD conference: Synergizing strategy, design, and innovation
New bird food bags take flight at wagner's
Coors comes in to the cold, Cold Wrap bottles help brewer deliver cold refreshment

January. 2007
Uno cartons communicate deli-quality pizza in store
Sustaining the ‘design economy’
Morton seasons dowdy category’s profile
BIPD conference: Synergizing strategy, design, and innovation

November. 2006
The Need for Speed
The humble pouch goes decidedly upscale
Eclipse goal: Build consumption with stationary pack
Unpublished The Value of celebrity endorsements

October. 2006
Readers share experiences of inventiveness, resourcefulness, and persistence
Visual association-- through a 2-year-old's eyes
Packaging sells the lifestyle proposition
Disney line gives Kroger kid-focused store brand

September. 2006
Purity story brings 100% sales increase
Seeing green amid the blue numbers
Tried and true is alive and kickin'
Perception huge in beverage packaging

August. 2006
Challenge your team to think about what your packaging could be
Cereal pounch of the furture may be ‘Gr-r-reat!’
Unpublished Jekyll & Hyde glass bottles dazzle on-premise market
Tequila bottle as art piece

July. 2006
Maxell adds dimension to CD-R, DVD disks at Wal-Mart
'Proof' conference to present innovative market research
Men's products, in-home salon kits grooming facial-care sales
Costco packaging goes eco-friendly

June. 2006
Convenience packaging pushing premium wine sales
Breaking down the creative 'silos' between marketing and design
Mining possibilities in a media-fragmented world
Dissolvable supplement strips in portable packs

May. 2006
Lord live milk! New screw caps add value to cartons
A toolbox for testing human utility in packaging
Scotts uses packaging to instruct on applying fertilizer responsibly.
Persuading consumers who don't listen

Apr. 2006
Untapped opportunity: Convenience snack packs in Europe
Packaging can educate in growing dental ancillaries products
Foster's Maximizes aluminum bottle's marketing clout
'Test tube' sells protein drink's benefits message

Mar. 2006
The next convenience packaging surge:personal care?
Tissues In a ‘cup’—and a 40% premium
The road to protecting your creative designs and brand equity
A blend of personalities

Jan./Feb. 2006
What challenges loom for you?
Prestone dresses for auto protection
Updated look boosts Ty-D-Bol’s sales
Grab-and-go meats to drive growth in barrier film use

Dec. 2005
Microbrew label maximizes marketing pop, production efficiencies
The age of unthinkable partnerships
Aseptic carton targets ‘pseudo-chefs’
Black & Decker finds ‘billboard’ extension through P-O-P

Nov. 2005
Forecast: Color, effects to intensify on shelf
Let’s go bust some clutter
Seafood tray redirects microwave power
Marinade design exudes New York

Oct. 2005
World Kitchen’s ‘try me’ package extends brand
Designing for people with arthritis
Closure crowns distinctive bottle shape
The value of consumer research

Sep. 2005
Structure, graphics sell convenience message
Combination label upgrades Betty Crocker line
Lid provides structural support for bundled jars
Branding, á la mode; cosmetics marketers say French sells

Aug. 2005
A-B goes upscale in aluminum bottle
Clear jars spark veggie sales
Kits making cold cereal more portable
Maximizing brand manager time at trade shows

Jul. 2005
New CD, DVD packs in Europe
Shapely PET bottle fills niche in tea
Chapin moves an ‘industrial’ brand into home décor
Stunning olive oil package would make Cleopatra proud

Jun. 2005
Retort pouch conveys freshness in mushrooms
Mattel simplifies game-selection process
Marketing to Brand China
Conference focus: R&D’s role in package design

May. 2005
Aromatherapy as marketing tool
Custom pouch adds glamour
When money doesn’t talk
Achieving consumer-driven packaging innovation

Apr. 2005
Microwavable aseptic pack enhances sauce
Seagram’s Coolers go 21st Century
Research: Paperboard exudes potential
The path to building ‘visual brand positioning’

Mar. 2005
Lowe’s issues bilingual packaging mandate
Treat club store pallets like primary packages
Unlocking a brand’s critical assets
Young, feminine and hip

Feb. 2005
The right innovation can redirect a category
4 oz more at no extra cost
The value of resisting complacency
April conference targets marketers, package designers

Jan. 2005
Packaging icons help drive brand sales
Package visuals create a new category
Guys, gadgets, play value
Sleeve label ties snack kit together

Increased competition for space in refrigerated cases at grocery stores is shifting product marketers' focus toward food packaging that can deliver a long, ambient shelf life elsewhere in the store. French food manufacturer William Saurin believes it has a solution with its new range of ambient pâtés in innovative thermoformed packaging.

For some homeowners, their bar is becoming a status symbol. They're expressing interest in wine and spirits bottles that not only perform the functional task of holding a beverage, but that double as decorative pieces.

A closer look at the newest trends in today's packaging.

Just a few seats remain for the ninth annual Proof: Market Research & Strategy Development for Package Design conference.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then why do so many brands choose to use so many words to get their message across to the consumer?

Innovation brings women to an aisle in the store—auto care—they don’t normally frequent, and integration of a network of vendors gives Honeywell a ‘virtual factory.’