Its new ‘Twist-Top’ mechanism was developed in response to a request from Michigan-based bakery firm Dawn Food Products, which was seeking a cake dome that was easier for consumers and manufacturers to open and reseal, said PWP. The manufacturer explained that the dome is opened by sliding apart two tabs at its base and, to close, the lid is snapped back in place.
Design features
A spokesperson for PWP Industries told BakeryandSnacks.com that the packaging makes it “easy for the elderly to open or for those with physical disabilities” and a “secure air tight seal locks in freshness for maximum product shelf life in-store.”
The packaging has a reduced-height dome, which not only reduces packaging, making it better for the environment, but also “shows the product off better” by making cakes appear bigger, the spokesperson said.
The company also highlights that the packaging is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is commonly recycled by consumers, and that its straight walls and stackability save on space in transportation and displays. Additionally, the cake domes are freezable, crack-resistant and the company said the new dome design will “reduce damage to cake decorations and icing.”
Form and function
Dawn Food Products’ senior product manager Hugh Brooks said that the company worked in partnership with designers at PWP Industries to develop “a product that eliminates opening issues entirely for consumers.”
He said: “It wasn’t enough for the packaging to offer a functional benefit alone. Ready-to-sell cakes are often impulse buys…Our customers need packaging that lends the product an enticing, upscale presentation.”
The ‘Twist-Top’ design was awarded the 2008 Silver Consumer Packaging Award from the Society of Plastic Engineers in a competition that judged product creativity, innovation, and design complexity.
PWP said that the cake domes are available in different heights for seven-inch and eight-inch cakes (17.8cm and 20.3cm), to manufacturers across the globe.