Cosmetics are big winners in packaging competition

Gold Ryco Packaging (Omaha, NE) won for the polyethylene terephthalate bottles for Finest Call II Cocktail Mix marketed by American Beverage Marketers, New Albany, NY (see Packaging World, June '97, p. 58 and May '96, p. 43). At cycle times similar to those achieved in standard PET, the bottles are molded at elevated temperatures to create partial crystallization and, thus, heat resistance required for "warm filling." Liquid nitrogen, dosed into the bottle just before capping, turns to gas and expands to prevent sidewall paneling. Silver Ryco Packaging won again for a 4-oz polypropylene pedestal container with snap-on lid it supplies to Sea Snack Foods of Los Angeles for shrimp cocktail sold at retail. The package allows Sea Snack to price the 4-oz portion at less than $1.00, which is considerably less than was charged when glass was used as the container material. Among Ryco's challenges was finding a raw material that would stand up to refrigeration and in some cases even freezing without getting brittle or cracked as most PP does at low temperatures. Bronze Two glass bottles joined together to make an attractive package hold balsamic vinegar and oil marketed by Toronto-based Wildly Delicious Preserve Co. The Zwill Twin pack supplied by Richards Packaging (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) won NACD bronze.