Award winning packaging for potato products

The following packaging of potato products won an award at the FPA 2009:

Ore Ida’s Steam n’ Mash package (Packaging Excellence Category)

Heinz North America wanted a lightweight, flexible package instead of a rigid tray for its convenience. Alcan Packaging (www.alcanpackaging.com) delivered, with a block-bottom, microwaveable, laminated PET/high-performance sealant film bag structure that’s vertically formed, filled and sealed. In-register laser venting helps the pouch stand up to the high-heat levels attained during the 10-min cooking process. The product cooks without any additional consumer steps.  The package also meets demands of frozen food distribution, and withstands extended cooking cycles and safely vents excess steam to provide steamed potatoes quickly from the microwave

Frito-Lay potato chips (Technical Innovation Category)

An iconic package developed by Flex America, Inc. (www.flexamerica.com) forFritolay’s Lays potato chips incorporates a patent-pending, moisture resistant, one-way air evacuation valve that allows for entrapped air to escape. Produced by Exopack ( marketed in India is made using high-barrier, plasma-metallized PET film that protects the chips and exhibits a dazzling appearance. Reverse-printing of the colorful graphics is by gravure.   For the first time, consumers can open the pouch from one end to the other, in a straight line, in one stroke, courtesy of a horizontal laser score at the top of the bag.. The chips are provided with a sauce that be opened and “sprayed” or poured on, thus the bag was designed as a “serving bowl” container.

Masafi Gourmet Potato Chips (Printing Achievement Category)

Masafi gourmet potato chip packageearned kudos for Flex America, Inc. with its 8-color gravure-printed abstract design in a matte finish using special environmental friendly Toluene/MEK-free, alcohol-based inks. A protective overcoat required a specially engraved cylinder used for optimum coating protection. A dull-finish matte effect was achieved using a specialty matte-finish film;not matte colors. The structure incorporate matte-finish BOPP/coextruded PE/high-barrier metallized PE.