Kids are drawn to food packaging that provides fun in addition to containing the product.

One product introduction that provides a notable recent example is Squish'ems!, a vitamin-enriched fruit snack from Dole Packaged Foods Canada. The flexible, squeezable stand-up pouch with a built-in straw encourages kids to make on-the-go consumption nutritious and fun.

The hot-filled, twice-pasteurized fruit snack uses a multilayer film laminate from Hosokawa Yoko Co. that enables high-quality, eight-color gravure printing on the outer layer. The film also provides barrier properties and shock- and pressure-resistance.

The pouch design is a side-gusseted package that is easy for little hands to grasp.

Besides fun for kids, the packaging also provides peace of mind for parents. A patented cap from Gualapack S.p.A. is difficult to swallow and is designed with vents and holes on the top to prevent throat obstruction if accidentally ingested.

Peter Stewart, Senior Business Development Manager for Dole Canada, says that if the product launch is successful in Canadian retail and club stores, the packaging format could extend to other Dole divisions worldwide.