September 2009

Tetra pak is continuing its push to bring aseptic, shelfstable packaging to north america with emerging package launches, despite only gradual acceptance by domestic consumers. Vernon hills, ilbased tetra pak inc., the company&rsquos north american unit, is introducing the tetra gemina aseptic container to a north american audience. The rollfed, gabletop carton is designed for dairy, soy, and juice beverages that want ambient distribution in a traditional looking package. The company will target cream and creamers for the shelfstable product as an unrefrigerated alternative.

While package sizes for many u.s. Food items shrank in size a year ago, the current recession is causing brand owners to rethink that strategy. Fritolay could be leading that trend back to larger pack sizes, in an attempt to lure consumers to buy more snack food. The pepsico division has upsized its bags for its dominant doritos, cheetos, tostitos, and fritos snacks by as much as 20 percent, said a company spokesman. One tostitos bag includes a white stripe bannering the change as offering &ldquo20 percent more free fun to share in here,&rdquo according to the associated press.