When IHOP decided to launch its first-ever line of home syrups, it was both blessed and burdened with tradition. Its clean-looking glass syrup dispensers are an integral part of the restaurant experience, so the new package had to evoke the in-restaurant version. At the same time, the bottle required significant changes to be retail- and home pantry-friendly. Neither the glass, tapered round form factor, free-floating handle nor open-spout cap were suitable.
Turning toBerlin Packaging’s (www.berlinpackaging.com) Studio One Eleven design division for assistance, IHOP licensee Sorbee International delivered a five-SKU lineup of IHOP at HOME Syrups that met those challenges while also providing a smooth and consistent pour. The new 12-ounce and 24-ounce custom packages:
- Use a heavy-gauge polypropylene that allows IHOP’s signature strawberry- and blueberry-flavored syrups to be filled at the required 180-degree temperature.
- Feature a unique near-right-angled handle reminiscent of the restaurant dispenser, creating molding challenges that require special machinery for manufacture as well as special trimming to remove flashing.
- Utilize an off-the-shelf blue Weatherchem (www.weatherchem.com) LiquiFlapper flip-top closure with a specially designed teardrop orifice that provides an even flow, a butterfly hinge that stays open when pouring, a cut-off spout that controls the flow rate and helps prevent drips, and one-piece construction that opens and closes with one hand.
- A dramatic large-panel label with strong IHOP at HOME branding that matches the blue closure.
Introduced just a few months ago, the new syrups have been met with success with distribution in Walmart and other major retail chains.
