Single-serve peanut-butter cups are just the right size

Sunland, Inc., located in Portales, NM, is a 20-year-old, vertically-integrated peanut processor/manufacturer that specializes in Valencia peanuts and organic peanuts of all varieties. It processes 92 percent of all U.S. grown organic peanuts and 80 percent of all Valencia peanuts. Last March, Sunland introduced a 6-pack of 2-oz cups of peanut butter packed in a paperboard sleeve. “We found that there is high demand for this type of healthy food in a convenient, shelf-stable form. The 2-oz individual package size provides an ample amount of nutrition for all types of caloric-intake needs,” says vp Katalin Coburn. The 6-pack sells for $2.99.

Sunland worked with ZestNet (www.zest.net) to design the packaging. The cup, which is supplied by the Rampart Div. of Printpack, Inc. (www.printpack.com), is made from a three-layer lamination of PP, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and PP. The easy-peel, polyolefin lid film is supplied by Legend Packaging Group (www.legendintl.com). The 6-color, rotogravure-printed film is printed in 4-across rolls, and the individual lids are cut out of the film as they are being sealed to the tops of the filled cups. The 4-color, litho-printed paperboard sleeves are supplied by Graphic Packaging, Intl. (www.graphicpkg.com),

The 6-pack is being sold in natural and organic markets on the West Coast and a 24-pack is being tested in the Northwest region of Costco. “The market response has been fantastic” says Colburn. “We're expanding distribution and should have it in stores nationwide by end of the first quarter of 2009.” The shelf life is one year. Sunland produces the cups at its plant in Portales.