Fixing the Ketchup Packet- New Dip & Squeeze Design from Heinz

Unfortunately most of us have opened a ketchup packet and had it explode all over our white shirts! Heinz has set out to solve that problem with their new Squeeze & Dip packet design, which they unveiled last Thursday. The original packets, which we use now, were created in 1968. Heinz designers have found that these packets work fine when the eater is seated at a table, but when on-the-go, in the car, like most fast food eaters, they pose many problems. 2 years Heinz purchased a minivan to analyze the problems that their packets pose to fast-food eaters in the car. They found that they needed a packet that could hold enough ketchup for a whole meal, that could rest on the armrest for the driver's use, that you could dunk or squeeze, and one that was easy to open. The new design is shaped like a small shallow bowl. The corner can be peeled back for dipping or the end can be torn off to squeeze out the ketchup. Best of all the packet holds three times as much ketchup as the old packet, so you don't have to grab multiple packets for one meal!

Heinz is the biggest ketchup maker and sells more than 11 billion packets a year. They have exclusive contract with some fat-food chains including Wendy's and Burger Kind. The new design will only costs a little bit more than the original but whether or not the major fast-food chains will switch is up to them. There is also no information as to whether or not the new design is green. But the fact that it holds 3 times as much as the old packet means less packaging waste.

I think that Heinz has solved the problem of the messy ketchup packet very well. The new packets seem to be more convenient and easier to open. I like that they can be used in two separate ways, to dunk and to squeeze. I also like that it holds more, because then people will be more inclined to only use one or two packets, leading to less waste. If Heinz is able to produce the product using recycled plastic that would also be a big plus. I think that they will be seeing the new Dip & Squeeze packets at all the major fast-food chains very soon!

(See the following article for more info: Chicago Tribune article, The Christian Science Monitor article, and

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