Robbie Manufacturing Introduces New Hot N Handy® Zip Pouch
New packaging innovation eliminates product leaks and spills
Robbie Manufacturing, the Kansas City-based leader in flexible packaging, announces the introduction of a new packaging innovation for in-store packaging of rotisserie chicken. Named the Hot N Handy®, the zip pouch design introduces new security and branding features never before available with conventional plastic dome packaging.
The significant advancement, according to consumers, is the Hot N Handy® Pouch’s convenient, reusable zip lock seal that stays closed to eliminate leakage and surprise spills.
A June 2002 survey conducted by Market Research Institute recorded consumer reactions to existing and new rotisserie chicken concepts. The plastic dome was criticized for its leakage throughout the store and in shopper car seats and refrigerators.
Survey participants said that their number-one consideration in rotisserie chicken containers is leakage control and that leakage is their greatest concern with the plastic dome. Conversely, Hot N Handy® was ranked as the best perceived performer for leakage by a significant margin over the dome.
Consumers also said they preferred Hot N Handy® to the dome by a two-to-one margin.
“Frankly the research surprised us,” said Irv Robinson, Robbie CEO. “Our new
Hot N Handy® dominated conventional packaging. In the eyes of consumers, we have solved container leakage. As a branding tool, grocers will love this combination of form and function.”
Besides leakage protection, the Hot N Handy® introduces several important and exclusive benefits to the grocery deli, including the following:
1. A built-in handle for portability and protection making product easy to carry while keeping employees and shoppers’ hands clean and safe from burns.
2. A high-tech pouch construction that resists heat and stays strong. The special heat-resistant film was designed to withstand the rigors of heated display cases.
3. Colorful graphics printed directly on the pouch in up to ten colors. Robbie’s expertise in flexo printing allows grocers to include preprinted branding, preparation notes and nutritional information. Both stock and custom branding options are available.
4. A built-in gusset expands to allow the pouch to store snugly in the grocery sack and expand to stand upright in the refrigerator and microwave. Hot N Handy® zip pouch saves deli space by storing flat, using just one seventh of the space required for the plastic dome. Shoppers participating in the research liked the way Hot ‘n Handy® fits easily into a crowed refrigerator.
Rotisserie chicken is the fastest growing item in supermarket deli according to Progressive Grocer's Deli Update 2001. It represented 10.4% of deli sales in 2000, up from 7.0% in 1995. Many industry experts agree that the rotisserie category is one area that the supermarkets are winning over commercial restaurants.
“With explosive growth in the category,” added Robinson, “we think the demand for a more appropriate packaging approach is there, too. The research proved our hunch right.”
Robbie Manufacturing is a leading flexible packaging supplier to the supermarket industry in the United States. The company also serves the food processor industry with customized packaging solutions.
Find more information about The Hot-N-Handy® Pouch or view an executive summary of the consumer research on our website or contact Penny Sweeny at 913-492-3400.