Cookie canister encourages portion control

Food & Drug Packaging, Oct, 2002

Because Gamesa's Mini Emperador[R] Cookies are considered a star by Mexican consumers, Sonoco's Linearpak[TM] shaped canister accents the product's fun approach while encouraging portion control.

The Gamesa Mini Emperador package is Sonoco's first application of its Linearpak[TM] shaped canister technology in Mexico. The 250-gram rectangular canister features a bright red rotogravure printed label complemented by a matching red overcap, making it appealing to children and parents.

The canister is sized and shaped so that it is easy to handle, stack and store. A peelable membrane adheres directly to the top of the canister and is tabbed for easy removal. The overcap provides a reclose feature, while a liner in the overcap keeps cookies fresh after opening. Because the canister can be closed after opening, it's easy for parents to control the amount of cookies given to children.

The packaging was the result of consumer research. Housewives were asked to compare several types of packaging. They consistently chose the Linearpak shaped canister based on attractiveness, convenience and what they could use the package for once the cookies were consumed. Package reuse is an important consideration for Mexican consumers.

Says Evaristo Paredes, director of packaging research and development for Gamesa, "After [the research], we knew we had a sure winner with the Linerpak canister."

The canister was introduced in Mexico earlier this year.

Sonoco
843-383-3333; www.sonoco.com