For shelf appeal, product differentiation, and consumer convenience, there’s no packaging format quite like the flexible pouch. But why has the pouch stuck its nose in front of competing substrates? Nampak Flexible, Africa’s leading flexible packaging manufacturer, say’s there are many reasons for the shift.

For starters, flexible pouches have several relatively straightforward advantages over substrates such as metal, paper and glass:

• Their shape adapts to available space.
• They are lighter in weight
• When empty they require less storage space
• They are not subject to metal corrosion or glass type breakage
• They are easier to open
• They can incorporate a host of additional, functional features

Outside of these benefits, the pouch has deep-seatedadvantages across the entire supply chain:


Inventory turnover

Not so long ago, manufacturers had the luxury of long runs of relatively small numbers of products with one or two variations. Today, in a fast-paced society that demands more choice, new products, with dozens of variations in a single product line, are being released faster than ever, and it’s a trend well suited to the pouch format. This is because with pouches, it’s easier to produce short runs and handle the expanding number of SKU’s (Stock Keeping Units, [Status]) that brand owners bring to market.In this regard, flexible materialsconform better to space on trucks and shelves, are lighter to transport, and take up less space in warehouses, stores and of course the pantry.


Convenience is the new selling point

In an increasingly growing, and therefore crowded marketplace, the marketer with a difference stands out. When compared to formats such as glass or cans, pouches simply offer a wider range of possibilities for differentiation in this regard.

With new products being developed all the time, brand owners want something that is not only unique, but also adds convenience to product usage. With Nampak Flexible’s pouches, there are a plethora of options, some of which include self standing pouches, punched handles for carrying heavier products, tear notches for easy opening, weld spouts for pouring liquids and powders, resealable zippers, and even punched holes for retailing – all features which simply cannot be added to many other packaging types. The refill pouch is another convenient advantage over competing packs – one need only look at the variety of brands coming out in Nampak Flexible’s refill pouches, including the likes of Sunlight and Sta Soft.

The pouch has become an extension of its contents

Flexible pouches have increasingly become inseparable from the products they carry. Many pre-mix drinks for example, require a mixing cup and blender. Not so with Nampak Flexible’s dual compartment pouch - a pouch that can hold any dry powdered product or liquid drink concentrate separately from an empty section, and provide for user blending at point of use. In application, the user removes the tamper evidentcapped spout, fills the empty section with a liquid, replaces the cap and then applies pressure to the now-filled section. Upon reaching a desired pressure by manual squeezing, the temporary seal ruptures, combining both the dry or wet products into the liquid for a seriously convenient ready to drink product.


What does the future hold for pouches?

Nampak Flexible believes that the market for pouches can only grow, which is why the company ismaking further capital investment in the pouch category to support and develop this growth. This investment includes two new pouch machines and a spout inserter, which have already been ordered and are due to arrive in the new calendar year. The new equipment will enable Nampak Flexible to deliver a host of options, including a few that are currently not available on the South African market. Overall, the development ofa variety of spout options, amongst other things,will greatly increase Nampak Flexible’s footprint and capacity in this dynamic sector.

Furthermore, trends such as convenience and practicality have naturally converged to require packaging that’s best suited to any given product on any given occasion, whether it be quick snacks, mixing beverages in-pack, resealing a pack, saving space, creating shelf impact and so on. In this regard the pouch is truly dynamic and fits this “anyproduct, any occasion” trend perfectly. This is evident in the wide range of products across market sectors using Nampak Flexible’s pouches, either as a primary pack or as a refill including detergents, sauces, snacks, beverages, pet foods, coffees, and much more.
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