The closure is ideal for protein powders, meal replacement products, infant formula, ground coffee and other dry food and powders.
Kraft-Heinz, PepsiCo, Perrigo, Nestlé
Alan Sica, president, Global Market Development Food, Aptar, told BeverageDaily, in the F&B industry its customers are companies that are looking for innovation and differentiation like Kraft-Heinz, Pepsico, Perrigo, Nestlé, and Unilever, to name a few.
“The Flip Top closure with integrated scoop is designed to enhance consumer convenience. We’ve built on our success in the infant formula market, where we created several styles of flip top closures with integrated scoop holders built into the lid. We think this is a feature that is in high demand in the nutrient and protein powder markets,” he said.
“Consumer research indicated the top complaints from consumers in these segments are related to their difficulty in removing the liner and accessing the scoop.
“Scoops are typically placed on top of the powder during manufacturing, but they easily get buried in the container during transportation, forcing consumers to have to dig for it when opening the packaging for the first time.
“Once the container is opened, consumers typically have no option but to leave the scoop in the container after use and very often, if the package is transported, the scoop may get buried in the powder again, causing frustration and inconvenience.”
Package counterfeiting
Sica added Aptar’s BAP technology uses a double sided aluminum liner with plastic layers on both sides to permanently weld the closure to the container, providing a tamper-resistant all-in-one foil to closure that deters against package counterfeiting.
Aptar’s innovations often help transform categories. A good example of that happened in the Sauces & Condiments category where we introduced a Flip Top closure with our SimpliSqueeze valve technology to cleanly and conveniently dispense product,” he said.
“The no-spill sealing benefits of the SimpliSqueeze technology enabled the whole category to change their package to be used in the inverted position, altering the consumer’s interaction with the product and improving their experience.
“We believe this new 120mm Flip Top closure using BAP Technology, has the potential to revolutionize the market in several categories including; meal replacement products; infant formula, coffee and powdered beverages.”
Sica said it was difficult knowing which market segment to target as there are so many.
“We often describe the grocery mart or convenience store as a “sea of opportunities” and we need to be smart about prioritizing the right ones,” he added.
“From the perspective of a consumer, I walk the aisles of my local grocery store and see so many inconvenient, unsafe and unable to be re-sealed packages. It’s frustrating. But it’s exactly where Aptar can enter.
Cheap packaging can slow production lines
“A cheaper package may contribute to a lower bill of materials, however it can also mean it will make the production lines run slower, or the scrap rates will be higher, or the functionality will be compromised and therefore consumers will be frustrated and unsatisfied.
“There are many cases in the packaging industry where value added packaging has created a new consumer experience and completely changed the industry. Many companies nowadays are literally in a race to the bottom, trying to cut expenses at all costs and lightweight their packaging to a point that it can barely stand on the shelves, while others are looking for innovation to improve the consumer experience and positively impact their operations at the same time.”
He said the next big trends will be cleanliness; safety; security; freshness; on-the-go; ease of use and healthier choices.
“These are real trends that are here already and they are only going to get bigger in the next five years,” added Sica.
“Aptar needs to stay ahead of the competition by understanding how best to provide consumers with dispensing solutions that address any one or any combination of these trends. Take for example, consumers’ desire for healthier products. This may have the biggest impact in the industry since it is not only impacting packaging but also how products are being processed.
“New technologies are emerging as alternatives to create better quality products. Companies are looking at on how to keep their natural look, flavour, nutrients, etc. so the packaging will need to evolve as well to keep these products preserved and protected.”