Popcorn and pretzels slip into slim elegance

In the fall of 2007, Bartons Confectioners launched Heavenly Dark popcorn and pretzels in tapered cartons, designed for elegance and a small footprint. “The pretzel container was conceived while trying to find a container that worked for a product that was tall and thin and would have a relatively small shelf footprint,” explains Bartons Confectioners marketing director Carrie Madigan. “The popcorn box is styled after retro movie theater popcorn boxes.”

The pretzels are packed in 8-oz SBS cartons, and the popcorn is sold in 9-oz SBS cartons. The packages get a rich look from process plus spot color printing by Seaboard Folding Box Corp. (www.seaboardfoldingbox.com), which prints them on a Mitsubishi (www.mlpusa.com) six-color press. According to Madigan, the color, shape and graphics made the flexible and cost-effective packaging appropriate for products meant for decadent consumption. Heavenly Dark popcorn and pretzels join Bartons' extensive product line, which includes nutritional and snack bars, chocolate bars, caramel cups, chocolate cherries, mints, molded chocolates, nut clusters, nut crunch and bulk chocolate.