The newly constituted North American Packaging Association (www.paperbox.org) has awarded two innovative container designs its 2007 Best of Show honors in the group’s Annual Packaging Competition. The winners were recognized this spring at the NAPA annual meeting held in Orlando, FL.

NAPA was officially formed Jan. 1 from the union of the National Paperbox Assn. (Alexandria, VA) and the Canadian Paperboard Packaging Assn. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Each year, the NAPA competition recognizes the accomplishments of paperboard-packaging converters, focusing on the innovation and accomplishments of member companies to create a wider demand among end-user customers and consumers for paperboard packaging. Seventy-two converters from around the world entered the 2007 competition, and NAPA bestowed 32 Gold Awards and 106 Excellence Award from among the 30 end-use classes and five judges’ categories. Judging was held over three days in February.

A. Utah Paperbox Co. (Salt Lake City, UT) won the Lorne Ballance Award for Best Folding Carton for its family of “Sweet’s Twist” packages for customer Sweet’s Candy.

This innovative group was designed for unique product visibility and market exposure. The cartons replicate the candy “twist wrap” end of the product packaged, and an effective varnish was incorporated into the design to mimic a candy-paper wrapper. Eye-catching graphics help propel the product off the store shelf in the competitive and crowded confectionery retail environment, the judges said. Originally packaged in a plastic bag, the “Sweet’s Twist” carton was a collaborative effort among Sweet’s Candy, Utah Paper Box and Struck Design.

Utah Paperbox Co. also won nine other Gold Awards in categories ranging from Educational Materials and Improvement Over Former Package to Microflute Packaging and Best Surface Design and Execution.

B. A luxurious and protective promotional package, the “Hard Rock Presentation” Box for customer Rimco Marketing Products, won converter Taylor Box Co. (Warren, RI) the C. Taylor Kew Award for Best Rigid Box.

Designed to hold collateral materials for a condominium project for Hard Rock Hotels, the box has a style both strong yet eloquent, upholding the Hard Rock name and value. The standard tray with 5-panel cover design was covered with a foam pad and then wrapped with Fibermark Fiori Astrea Black paper. Multiple technologies and exceptional exterior decoration includes a blind deboss (revealing a “branding” effect on the flocked material), an engraved plaque and a magnetic closure. All together, the rigid box has the stability to protect the advertising materials inside while promoting the Hard Rock identity as an up-market, self-indulgent brand, the judges said.

In addition to its Rigid Box Best of Show, Taylor Box Co. won a Gold Award in the Product Promotion Category.