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WowZa!

this past week i had the pleasure of traveling to new orleans for the qualitative research consultants association (QRCA) annual conference.  and yes, i am geeking out over some of the cool nuggets i got that i cannot wait to start implementing on monday….but i digress…after enjoying an amazing bowl of chicken and andouille gumbo and a…wait for it… deep-fried break pudding po boy at ye olde college inn in the airport, i was making my rounds in the hudson news and discovered this amazing NEW gem of a package………..

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new orleans airport, 10.2014

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as i was standing at the gate i carefully opened the outer package with incredible anticipation.  i sort of felt like ralphie from “a christmas story” when he was working to decode his weekly little orphan annie secret message.

some notable points on the package include: stickers with product information (suggesting this is an international product trying to meet our regulations), that this is a new tictac offering all together with crystals (read = “xylitol”), and that it is “exclusive to travelers” (and with travelers misspelled with two l’s – oops!).

once i had carefully opened the outer package and removed the second thin plastic layer my enthusiasm had grown – as had my audience as i started my own little focus group regarding the package while waiting to board – and this is the magic that i found!

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shush up is right!  it has a slide door for picking out the product and a flip top as well for pouring!  the package is a bit big for your pocket but is definitely new and interesting….so of course i went back into the hudson news and bought all of the flavors in fear that i might not find this package again.

not sure on the verdict on the product itself…sadly, more of a candy versus a proper mint but i guess that is the tictac way.  my new friends at the gate appeared to like it but candidly, i was so excited that i might have biased them (or just in general, freaked them out).

SO, what are your reactions to this package?  have you seen any other candy packages that stand out as notable?  share it in the comments below… and be sure to come back and check the comments as there are some really amazing packages that are being shared….

and just because i know you all wanted to know what a deep-fried bread pudding po boy looks like…

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i am not sure my body will ever recover from the new orleans culinary delicacies i enjoyed on this trip.  in fact, i think it is still trying to catch up from the minnesota state fair adventure of 2010….

more fun with wine!

so do you remember when you saw your first screw top on a bottle of wine?!  reactions to this innovation varied.  some possible reactions might have included…

– but how can THAT keep my wine as fresh?

– nice touch for CHEAPER wines

– hmm…no corkscrew needed?  NICE!

regardless of your reaction, i must say that i am very impressed with the level of innovation that i have seen with regard to wine packaging.  i have already shared the magic of the Copa glass of wine but even before that we saw boxed wine.  remember the outcry on that?  see possible responses above.  yep.  shockingly very similar.

but recently i came across a few other innovative wine packages that i cannot resist sharing with you….

1st innovation….a can.

yep.  a can of wine.  i have not yet tried it but leave it to whole foods to carry it…

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chicago, illinois 9.2014

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2nd innovation…a bag without the box.

in a world where we always boast about wanting less packaging, this seems like a perfect transition from the box…

bagged wine

(found online but they have another type at whole foods)

3rd innovation…and my favorite….a boxed 750ml bottle.

while many speak about the importance of less packaging, if a package is just perfect enough then the amount of packaging can prove to be less of a barrier…i, being the packaging whore that i am, just really hope deep down that this is better for the planet in some way because i think i am in love…

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chicago, illinois 9.2014

4th innovation…because this category is changing and innovating daily it seems…the stacked single serving.

there is no sugar coating it, i have been hanging onto this gem for a while now.  if you follow me on twitter (@kcwglobal) this will look a little familiar.  it was in the clearance rack for $6.99.  shocking, right?  candidly i am afraid of what it will taste like so i am just keeping it around for the sake of entertainment.

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auburn, alabama 5.2014

can you think of any innovations you have seen in the wine category as of late?  have you tried any of these new packaging styles?  and yes, friend or foe?  this spark another thought?  share in the comment section below…