'Push-In' Pour Spout Improves Egg Beaters Package
Beatrice Foods, makers of Egg Beaters — the original egg alternative and category leader for nearly three decades — is using new packaging to make its product even better. The company has introduced an innovative, resealable pour spout carton designed to meet consumer demand for food packaging that opens easily, stores conveniently and maintains freshness.
Egg Beaters is the first retail product in the United States to feature this unique, easy-to-open pour spout design, available from Elopak (New Hudson, MI). The real-egg product stays fresher because, unlike traditional spout designs, the resealable sealed spout never comes in contact with the product until the consumer opens it.
"The addition of the consumer-friendly pour spout packaging underscores Egg Beaters' commitment to providing a convenient product that fits the lifestyle of today's consumers," says Mike Shingler, brand manager for Egg Beaters at Beatrice Foods (Indianapolis). "It's just one more way Egg Beaters has broken new ground and differentiated itself from the competition."
Semi-perforated Opening
The package consists of Elopak's Pure-Pak gabletop carton that features a tamper-evident cap and pour spout, the Elopak Pure-Cap S. The ¼-in.-long low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pour spout is incorporated into the carton via Elopak's PAS-70 Post Screw-Cap Applicator, which enables Beatrice Foods to attach the screw cap to the gabletop carton after it has been formed, filled and sealed. Due to Elopak's unique, patented design, in which the carton's aperture is semi-perforated, the spout does not touch the Egg Beater product until the consumer opens the package by pushing down on the spout and puncturing the semi-perforated opening.
Upon removing the ½-in.-high screw cap, the consumer simply pushes down on the spout, which penetrates the carton via the round semi-perforated hole-punch. This allows the spout to protrude into the carton. Due to the semi-perforation design, the hole-punch remains attached to the carton and does not fall into the product. Windows incorporated into the bottom of the pour spout ensure complete product discharge.
Elopak's PAS-70 system, which the manufacturer says can be used in conjunction with virtually any model filling machine, applies the Pure-Cap S caps and flanged spouts to the Egg Beater gabletop cartons at 120 units per minute, says Kevin Mellor, manager of manufacturing services at Beatrice Foods. The new Egg Beater pour spout package, currently being introduced nationwide, is available in 16- and 32-oz sizes in refrigerated dairy cases of supermarkets. The unique cap and spout system is not available on frozen versions of Egg Beaters.
The package also features new eye-catching graphics dominated by a bright yellow background with red and blue trim. The graphics call attention to the new, value-added, tamper-evident pour spout, which features a ¾-in. aperture. The linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) screw cap is bright red. Instructions on opening the package are printed on the carton's side panel.
Responding to Users
The package design is the result of consumer research, which indicated that users of Egg Beaters, primarily older consumers, felt the existing packaging — a conventional gabletop carton — was difficult to open. Beatrice Foods is confident the new, recloseable packaging is more functional and user-friendly. In addition, with the spout located at the top of the carton, the opened container can be conveniently stored on its side in a refrigerator.
Mellor says that although there is some added expense to the company to incorporate the pour spout and cap into the carton, no additional cost is passed on to the consumer. In fact, he says, the food manufacturer is actually saving on costs because the recloseability of the new package allows Beatrice to produce Egg Beaters in sizes larger than the 8-oz sizes of the conventional cartons without screw cap. The shelf life for the fat-free and cholesterol-free Egg Beaters after opening is about seven days.
Egg Beaters are a real-egg product that is 99% pasteurized egg whites with added vitamins and minerals and no preservatives.
For more information: Elopak, Inc., 30000 South Hill Rd., New Hudson, MI 48165-9350. Tel: 348-486-4600; Fax: 248-486-4601.
Edited by Bill Noone