How Great Northern Helped Philly Swirl Launch a New Club Store Product

Philly Swirl, known for its flavorful Italian ice treats enjoyed by both kids and adults, has traditionally focused on frozen desserts for people. Seeking to diversify and tap into the largely unexplored pet treat market, the company decided to introduce a frozen treat specifically for dogs. To support the launch of this innovative product line in club stores, Philly Swirl partnered with Great Northern to develop packaging that would align with their brand and meet the unique needs of the new offering.

The packaging required high-impact graphics to attract shoppers’ attention in-store, while also meeting rigorous functional demands. It needed to perform reliably throughout the entire supply chain from printing and converting to fulfillment, distribution, and retail display. Designed for refrigerated and frozen environments, the packaging had to be durable enough to support the product’s weight when palletized without master cases. Additionally, it required strong structural integrity to withstand the demanding conditions of club store distribution systems.

Great Northern engineered a stunning package that could withstand the rigors of shipping and distribution while also creating a billboard effect and attracting shoppers when displayed in club stores. For efficient fulfillment, custom scoring profiles for the thicker substrate ensure the carton erects easily and squarely on the customer’s automated fill lines.

The Solution

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Substrate

A 40 pt. laminated paperboard construction consisting of a 10pt. SBS top sheet from SAPPI and a 30pt. recycled base sheet was used

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Efficient Fulfillment

Custom scoring profiles for the thicker substrate ensure the carton erects easily and squarely on the customer’s automated fill lines

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Optimized Shipping

Thinner 40 pt. laminate material offers several advantages, such as more cartons per pallet and per truckload

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Special Features

The precisely engineered scoring profiles enabled the cartons to erect and form reliably on the customer’s auto-forming equipment

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The Bottom Line

Leveraging years of research and development, Great Northern engineered a custom substrate specifically designed to maintain structural integrity in cold, damp refrigerated and frozen environments. This high-performance material meets the stringent strength requirements of club store distribution and supports the product’s weight when palletized without the need for master cases.

The use of a newly formulated recycled baseboard substrate helped reduce costs while enhancing sustainability. Additionally, the precisely engineered scoring profiles enabled the cartons to erect and form reliably on the customer’s auto-forming equipment, ensuring seamless integration into existing packaging lines.

Visually, the packaging design reinforces the product’s appeal. A vibrant palette of oranges and yellows reflects the pumpkin flavor of the dog treats and creates a strong visual contrast across the carton. Prominently placed dog images on all visible panels ensure the product is engaging from every angle. To enhance durability and visual appeal, a Satin UV coating was applied, offering superior scuff resistance and helping to prevent moisture absorption in freezer conditions.

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    A Unique Package for a New Pet Product

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