Consumer-foods giant Nestle USA, Inc., Glendale, Calif., has been selected as Packaging Leader of the Year 2001-02 by Arlington, Va.-based Packaging Education Forum.

The award recognizes Nestle USA's commitment to developing and commercializing innovative packaging forms with features that reflect the needs and preferences of today's consumer. The award also honors Nestle's active support of college-level packaging education.

Led by Peter Pucci, director of corporate packaging, Nestle USA's 38-member packaging team develops and produces primary and secondary packaging for about 5,000 SKUs. The company sponsors two or three packaging interns every year and actively recruits packaging graduates at several universities.

PEF will present the award to Nestle USA on Sept. 10 during the Pack Expo Las Vegas 2001 show.