Hershey Foods and Smithfield Packing Co. were among the honorees in packaging award competitions held in conjunction with the recent PACK EXPO Las Vegas show.

Smithfield pioneered the used of Cryovac's Simple Steps heat-and-serve package, which was honored by the Institute of Packaging Professionals with a 2003 AmeriStar award for technology in the food category. The same vacuum-skin packaging is used for processing the meat, displaying it in a clear-view package, and re-heating the entrée in a home microwave without slitting the bag. Simple Steps earlier received a gold DuPont Award and was spotlighted in Food Engineering's April issue.

Golden Mummy awards for applications using ExxonMobil Chemical films went to Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Gorge Delights Pear Bar and Hershey milk chocolate bars. Hershey replaced foil, paper and tissue packaging with high-barrier OPP films to improve product freshness, increase tamper evidence and enhance the shelf appeal of the candy.

For more information:
Jay Wilson, Cryovac, 864-486-8605