(PRWEB) September 21, 2005 -- In packaging, innovation can result in product quality preservation, increased shelf life, or product differentiation in the marketplace. One recent innovation is in single-serve packaging. The need is simple, consumers want a sample of their product, a portion they can take with them wherever they go.

Recently, contract manufacturer Rainforest Nutritionals, Inc. chose the increasingly popular Slim Stick®, a single serve, on-the-go, as-you-need it, flexible package format to market Ciena Corporation’s Veri Macana nutritional supplement in Japan. They turned to Technical Help in Engineering and Marketing of New Jersey (T.H.E.M.), a leader in the acquisition and exportation of international packaging technologies. T.H.E.M. holds the exclusive North American distribution rights for the Slim Stick® package.

Made of high quality barrier film, the Slim Stick® is ideal for packaging dry, free-flowing products such as powdered beverages, sugar and seasonings. This makes it a natural choice for Veri Macana, a granular combination of two patented ingredients designed to reduce pain and inflammation and slow the aging process. With a perishable product like Veri Macana, quality packaging is critical in order to preserve freshness and potency. The barrier film keeps air and moisture out, and the individual size packet ensures that each serving is at its best.

According to Rainforest Nutritionals Vice President Paul Bobrowski, the Slim Stick® is a common packaging option in Japan and is therefore familiar to Japanese consumers, an important factor in their decision to use the package.

“Because it’s a relatively expensive product with a niche consumer base, Veri Macana required a lower volume of packaging than many manufacturers are willing to produce,” said T.H.E.M.’s Senior Vice President Ken Botterbrodt. “But we are able to handle a range of volume needs.”

The Slim Stick® uses up to 40% less film than traditional three and four side-seal envelope packages, so it is therefore less expensive to produce. Adds Botterbrodt, “We were able to cost-effectively provide Rainforest with the high quality, specialty packaging they were looking for and meet their small volume needs.” This is good news for specialty manufacturers, start-ups and other businesses with low volume needs that want cost-effective premium packaging.

T.H.E.M. doesn’t just service smaller, niche companies like Rainforest. As an international packaging leader, T.H.E.M. is fully equipped to handle a wide range of volume needs, from minimal units for niche marketers to the high volumes required for global product distribution.

Slim Stick® offers great versatility as well. Size, film structure and method of opening are all variables that can be customized based on the product and its usage. Combined with its unique silhouette and ability to extend product shelf life, the Slim Stick® is an innovation that enhances marketability and brand recognition. The package can accommodate a range sizes from a fraction of one gram up to 35 grams of product. Production can be adjusted for a range of package sizes from 50mm to 180mm long and 12mm to 60mm wide. T.H.E.M. uses the Sanko FC-1000 for high-speed, multi-lane, precise stick packaging mass production.

Slim Stick® is just one of the many packaging options available at T.H.E.M. Founded in 1973, T.H.E.M. serves as the gateway for North American companies to find innovative packaging solutions. By monitoring global packaging trends, T.H.E.M. identifies innovations from all over the world for application in a diverse range of industrial and consumer product companies in North America.

For more information on T.H.E.M.’s products and services, please contact:
Ken Botterbrodt
Senior Vice President
T.H.E.M.
5A Stow Road
Marlton, NJ 08053
Tel: 856-988-8436, x36
www.them.net

For more press information, please contact:
Ed Delia
Delia Associates
295 Route 22 East, Suite 102W
Whitehouse, NJ 08888
Tel: 908-534-9044
www.delianet.com

For a downloadable photo that accompanies this release, please go to
http://www.delianet.com/THEM/VeriMacana/.