Stockport-based Macpac , one of the UK’s leading independently owned thermoformed packaging manufacturers – has recently designed and produced an innovative dome-shaped style pack for Martin’s Chocolatier’s premium new Snow Globe chocolate Santa and snowball truffles product.
Martin’s Chocolatier provides luxury speciality chocolates from a wide range of internationally-renowned Artisan chocolatiers. It chooses products that are unrivalled in taste and texture, and that have been made with true passion, skill, flair, and only the finest of ingredients.
The online retailer required a unique snow globe type pack that was capable of holding a hollow chocolate Santa and snowball truffles in place, and could be easily inverted by the consumer to dust icing sprinkles over the chocolates.
Philip Ahn from Martin’s Chocolatier explained: “Our vision for this product was an eye-catching pack design that not only made the perfect festive centrepiece but that could actually be used like a traditional glass snow globe, while still maintaining the integrity of the chocolate contents.
“It was a big ask and we approached Macpac after several failed prototypes from another company who was unable to create a dome pack that met the necessary strength requirements or was able to function as a snow globe.”
Macpac’s in-house design team developed a clear two-piece pack with robust domed lid that clips to a separate base. The 100% recyclable snow globe is produced from lightweight rPET (recycled PET) and incorporates a friction clip mechanism with added transparent self-adhesive security tabs.
Talking about the project, Neil Greenhalgh, Sales Engineer at Macpac said: “There were a number of design issues to overcome with this project. Part of the brief was for the forming to grip and hold the hollow chocolate mould tight enough that it could be turned upside down. Holding such a delicate item tight without damaging or crushing it was a challenge!
“This meant that the holding of the Santa in position by his feet was literally touch and go but the team pulled out all the stops to get a design that matched the brief and we are delighted with the end result,” he concluded.
“The team at Macpac are true geniuses, this type of pack and product has never been done before and they managed to pull it off. It helped the process by having design, tooling and manufacturing all under one roof too,” added Philip.
The chocolate snow globe is supplied in a special cardboard presentation box and features a beautiful winter wonderland scene.
Macpac designs and manufactures a wide range of high performance thermoformed packaging for the food industry, including bespoke trays, box inserts, clam packs and flow wrap trays. The functional, high strength and 100% recyclable packs are produced from rPET with a minimum of 80% recycled content.
Meeting the highest quality standards, the company boasts full British Retail Consortium Consumer Goods for Packaging Materials accreditation. As well as bespoke designs, Macpac offers stock packs for the confectionery and bakery sectors.
