Velcro-like closures and re-sealable zippers are widely used in the fresh and frozen food market, but Hood Packaging and Sixto Packaging think there’s plenty of scope in some areas of the snack market.
“The opportunity lies in the higher-end products like good-for-you products, nuts or packages where you’re not going to eat the whole thing like share bags or high-end candy,” said Rick Wood, sales and marketing manager for US Consumer Group at Hood Packaging.
“You’ve got your products that are typically in a stand-up pouch where you eat some and save the rest for later. It would be for your more premium products, not for potato chips,” he said.
Bosch previously told this site stand-up, re-sealable snack pouches had a higher aesthetic appeal and improved functionality.
Felipe Sixto, director of sales and marketing at Sixto Packaging, agreed re-sealable zipper features weren’t fit for the entire snack market.
“Most of our market where we sell into as a company is in fresh produce and frozen produce and that’s probably where you’re going to see the growth. But big bags in snacks, like popcorn and party size bags also show growth,” he said.
Easy access
Wood said Hood Packaging had recently developed an alternative to regular interlock seals – which only enabled access from the front.
“Our Zip 360 closure is a Velcro-like material that allows consumer full access to the product as it goes around the circumference of the bag,” he explained.
Compared to a regular interlock zipper function, he said consumers could better access product inside the pack.
Hood Packaging had worked in partnership with ITW Ziploc to develop the product.
“This is easy for people that are already in a different format, such as interlock, that are already used to running this type of material,” Wood said.