Winners of the 46th Annual Package Awards competition of the National Assn. of Container Distributors (NACD, www.nacdnet), evaluated in February in seven categories, demonstrate clever shapes, functionality and decorating options. Honored during the association's 2009 annual convention in Las Vegas, in April, the winners include Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards that were presented to the top three containers in Cosmetics/Personal Care; Drug/Pharmaceutical; Food/Beverage; General Industrial; Household Chemical/Automotive; Novelty; and Pet & Vet categories. Other awards presented include one for a creative Use of stock components, the Bernard M. Seid Best of Show award, and the People’s Choice Award.

This year's Best in Show went to: Activate Beverage Co. and distributor Zuckerman-Honickman, Inc. for Activate, a vitamin-enhanced water package that keeps vitamins from losing some of their potency in the water. Keeping the vitamins out of water until the time of consumption is ideal. Zuckerman-Honickman worked to come up with an innovative cap for that contains the vitamins, in powder form, within a sealed reservoir. When ready for use, cap top is twisted clockwise, which releases the reservoir, allowing the vitamins to fall into the water. Shaking the bottle distributes the vitamin and the product becomes a potent, vitamin-enhanced drink.

The NACD People’s Choice Award went to Bath and Body Works' Halloween promotion, distributed by O. Berk Co. Bath & Body Works produces various bottles for holidays to stimulate product sales and comes up with some interesting shapes: a pumpkin, ghost, bat and snowman. In 2008, the company challenged its packaging suppliers to produce a multi-faced pumpkin bottle for hand soap. The blow-molded, high-definition bottle has the illusion of three separate pumpkins each enhanced by pad printing that accents features on each pumpkin's face. Topped with a green lotion pump, the pumpkin  bottle was deemed a major success in terms of its striking appearance and sales.

The stock components winner is Kaufman Container for Dr. Christine Rogers En Pointe Toners-Whipsmart. The skincare creator decided to develop a product that could help breast cancer fighters and survivors feel good again.Pink bottles were a must, to reflect the often-recognized color of the pink ribbon, synonymous with breast cancer awareness.

A silver Chinese symbol on the front of the bottle is used to reflect life and the idea that "you can survive." With a rich story behind the packaging, En Pointe also wanted an upscale, luxurious quality and attractive packaging that could easily be displayed on a bathroom counter. But the initial quantities didn't warrant a custom design.

Kaufman found a creative bottle that incorporates a plug and a cap and provided decorating options to achieve the pink hues requested. The clear bottle is also spray-coated in pink, and then Kaufman provided hot stamping and screen printing to complete the look. The results have a cohesive look with the rest of the line while staying within tight budget requirements. For further award details visit www.nacd.net.