Less than two weeks after Aptar Food + Beverage took home an award for its innovative flip-top closure for Daisy Brand Squeeze-Flexible Sour Cream pouch, it can now add a second award to the trophy case.

The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) awarded its AmeriStar refrigerated food award to Aptar late last month.

“We are excited to receive a second award for this innovation. The AmeriStar award showcases our company’s dedication to providing value-added convenience to the consumer packaged goods community,” said Alan Sica, President, Aptar Global Market Development – Food.

“Due to our pioneering spirit, we are always looking to bring our new, customizable, premium closure technology – like the Daisy Squeeze Sour Cream pouch, with Aptar’s SimpliSqueeze® valve – to additional markets.”

The AmeriStar awards’ criteria are based on sustainability, product protection, economics, package performance, marketing and packaging innovation.

“The flip top closure (on the Daisy Brand sour cream pouch) features a valve that prevents messy drips and spills, enabling consumers to confidently dispense sour cream,” said Jim George, IoPP’s Director of Education. “And, this package had kitchen cleanup in mind as well. The dispensing spout and valve means there is no longer a need for the additional step of dirtying utensils.”

Daisy Brand looked to Aptar for a customizable closure based on consumer packaged goods’ (CPG) consumer research, calling for a change in package design, functionality and shelf differentiation. Film laminate provider (Sonoco) and design and development partner (Continuum) contributed to this packaging innovation.

Aptar’s custom-made, ring-pull fitment and SimpliSqueeze valve were created to meet Daisy Brand’s stringent product freshness and dispensing requirements.

Aptar’s self-sealing membrane valve closure allows consumers to dispense desired product amounts, preventing drips and spills, and providing consumer convenience, cleanliness and control. KraftHeinz and Hidden Valley were some of Aptar’s first entries into the inverted rigid packaging markets.

Second Aptar Valve Technology Award

Last month Aptar took home a DuPont Diamond Finalist Award for the Daisy Brand Squeeze-Flexible sour cream pouch and flip-top closure at the 2016 DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation. One of six finalists for the premier DuPont Packaging Diamond award, Aptar’s closure was recognized as providing a technological advancement, responsible packaging and an enhanced user experience.