With convenience being one of the overriding trends in the food and beverage industry, new packaging designs are constantly revolutionising what it means to be convenient. But are they taking the notion of convenience throughout the entire supply chain? By adding value where it’s needed most, a few of Nampak’s recent 14 Gold Pack Awards winners are showing that convenience is far more than an end consumer “nice-to-have”:

Shorter bread trays rise to the occasion
As a commodity, bread competes on price with very small margins. Thus improvements in logistics and efficiencies can have huge benefits for this already price sensitive product. For these reasons Sasko was looking for ways to improve profitability and asked Nampak Megapak – a leading manufacturer of plastic crates, trays and drums - to develop a better performing bread tray.
Currently bread at Sasko is transported by truck, in plastic trays stacked ten units high. In response Nampak Megapak devised a way to reduce the height of each individual bread tray, so as to be able to fit a full extra layer of trays (and bread, [Status]) on top. This 11th layer essentially represents a 10% saving on transport costs for Sasko i.e. what would have previously taken 11 Sasko trucks to deliver, will now only take 10! Not only does this mean fewer trucks on the road, it also means a saving of all the overhead and maintenance costs associated with extra vehicles while substantially reducing the customer’s carbon footprint.
The redesigned bread tray is also reinforced in critical areas, ensuring that it has a longer reusable working life in the customer’s supply chain, and is ultimately a great improvement on its predecessor.

A ‘hole’ lot more of a can
SAB (South African Breweries, [Status]) was looking for a quicker, safer solution to serve beverages at large events. Since glass can no longer be used in stadiums and at public gatherings, the beverage can stepped up to the plate as the lighter, unbreakable alternative, but with a twist – it was given a full opening end, termed a full aperture.
Developed by Nampak Bevcan and Crown, this innovative design is a world first, and the can’s full aperture has completely changed the way convenience beverages are served at events. Especially designed to facilitate "speed" bars at large events such as sports matches, the invention of the large aperture has made it unnecessary to decant beverages into cups or to spend time pouring draughts; the bar tender simply has to pull the tab and hand the can over. Moreover, this ‘supporters can’ cannot be thrown as a projectile, making it the ideal solution at events the likes of the FIFA Soccer World Cup fan parks where it was first used.

Unreal printing for Simba Doritos
This unique, engaging and interactive pack is the first crisps pack in South Africa to use augmented reality (AR, [Status]) – a print technology that functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality. Through this process, Nampak Flexible made the Simba ‘Doritos Late Nite’ crisps packaging come to life with an enhanced neon lighting design that looks exactly like the real thing, only better, brighter and more colourful.
The AR mechanism requires exceptional and highly accurate printing in order to be fully experienced. Nampak Flexible achieved this through the creative use of material and unique printing capabilities in the form of a matt and metalised film combination. The contrast of the matt and metallised film enhances the design and printing quality, mimicking the neon light effect.
Consumers will find it easy to identify the standout packaging on cluttered shelves, and Simba stands to benefit from an enhanced pack design that is conveniently simple to locate amongst hungry competitors
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