The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI) recently surveyed 72 industry players for its Confectionery Trends 2013 Market Assessment report. It said: “Confectioner packaging preferences are shifting toward flexible packaging, particularly with mass-market confectioners. Stand up pouches with or without zippers, were often mentioned as one of the fastest growing types of packaging.”
Big brands go bitesize
Mars recently announced plans to introduce 3 Musketeers, MilkyWay and Twix in bitesized form, all in flexible stand up pouches with resealing features.
Mondelez International-owned Cadbury also sells bitesized version of brands such as Wispa and Milka and last year identified ‘Bitesize’ as one of its four global chocolate innovation platforms, alongside ‘Bubbly’, ‘Choco-bakery’ and ‘Hollow Wafer’.
Printpack talks up barrier properties
Mark Brogan, director of technology and innovation at Printpack told ConfectioneryNews: “Stand up pouches are more and more popular every year. They have tremendous pop on the shelf”
“A lot of the standard pouches have reclose zippers so not only is it easier for the consumer, but it also extends the shelf life of the product. It gives you a firm clean barrier versus simply folding over a package.”
“That’s been a problem in the past. You might have it for a few days, then you have a stale product.”
Peacock notices rise
Geri Capulong, account manager at stand up pouch supplier Peacock Engineering Company, added: “We’ve been seeing a lot of our customers going this route. A lot of different formats are being introduced, yet this one seems to have some steady volumes being seen.”
She said that certain confections such as gummies required barrier production for multi-serve packs, which could be achievable with a metalized film lining within the stand-up pouch.
“A lot of the bite-sized candy bars that we love like Snickers and Kit Kat are going to this package as well, just for the convenience of a bite-sized piece and it has that resealable feature. It’s really the new way confections are being sold. We’re seeing it a lot here in the US.”
Resealing features
She said that it was important that the resealing feature was separate to the packaging material.
“Having the resealing feature already part of the structure, constricts the flexibility, “ she said, adding that a single structure would also prove costlier.