Turkish based Mondi Kalenobel, a flexible packaging manufacturer acquired by Mondi in a July 2016 acquisition, has produced a customer challenge – a paper ice cream cone sleeve that contained a clear plastic window, allowing the consumer to see the sugar wafer cone underneath. The company was approached in 2016 by family-owned sugar-cone maker Oexmann GmbH & Co. KG of Gelsenkirchen, Germany, who wondered if it could be done.
“We were the only supplier to accept this challenge,” says Sedat Igbar, commercial manager – Europe for Mondi Kalenobel. “We worked step by step with Oexmann and developed and patented a cone sleeve that lets ice cream lovers see the goodness inside. The first commercial products hit the shelves this past May.”
Oexmann, which first began making ice cream cones in Gelsenkirchen in 1926, ships these special sleeves half-way around the world to Auckland-based ice cream producer Fonterra Brands (New Zealand) Ltd., which is using them to package some of their premium cones.
The oval clear window on the cone sleeve measures 2.3 cm high by 1.8 cm wide, explains Igbar, and is made of biodegradable film, per Oexmann’s wishes.
In addition to New Zealand, notes the current managing director, “We export our ice cream cones to virtually all European countries. At the moment we produce almost five million ice cream cones per day.”
According to Euromonitor, the consumption growth in the region is particularly driven by single portion ice cream sold in stick, cone or cup format. Mondi Kalenobel is exporting 75% of its ice cream business and expects a strong sales increase in Europe.
The unique window sleeve design represents an untapped branding opportunity for Fonterra’s premium cones.
Mondi further decided to also create a small, see-through window, laser cut to the outline shape of Kapiti Island on the cone lid, allowing the consumer to view the ice cream below.
Fonterra liked it, and Mondi is now supplying custom-made lids in addition to the cone sleeves.
“We’re focused on finding the solution –– even if it takes six months or a year,” stressed Igbar. “Mondi also has shown the ability to create convenient, easy-to-open packages to generate impulse purchases, as well as various sustainable solutions. We are truly a one-stop shop and major player in the ice cream packaging market.”