MX2008002664A

MX2008002664A - Package for marketing visibly distinct variations of an edible product.

Info

Publication number: MX2008002664A
Application number: MX2008002664A
Authority: MX
Inventors: James A Glydon
Original assignee: Cadbury Adams Usa Llc
Priority date: 2005-08-23
Filing date: 2006-08-22
Publication date: 2008-03-18
Also published as: AR056040A1; WO2007024897A2; WO2007024897A3; CA2616264A1; US20070048414A1

Abstract

A gum package including a blister pack and a sleeve member having first and second apertures for displaying first and second different varieties of gum pellets contained within the blister pack. The first and second apertures to permit first and second cavities in the blister pack to be viewed through a surface of the sleeve member. This allows a consumer to view first and second different varieties of gum pellets contained within the package. In addition, first and second surface treatments are applied to the outside surface of the package to provide a consumer a visual indication associated with the first and second varieties of gum pellets.

Description

PACKAGE TO MARKET VISIBLY DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF A COMESTIBLE PRODUCT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application relates generally to packaging for chewing gum and other products and more particularly to packaged multicompartment to display visibly first and second types of chewing gum and other products in at least first and second compartments having windows display at the same time that an indication of the taste of the first and second types of chewing gum and other products is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Chewing gum is currently available to consumers in a variety of different formats. These include chewing gum on sticks, chewing gum on sticks, chewing gum on bar, extruded chewing gum and so on. The chewing gum in sticks can be presented in sizes with a length of approximately 6-7 cm., A width of approximately 1.5-2 cm. and a thickness of approximately 0.2 cm. The chewing gum in bars can be presented in a size of approximately 4.5 cm. in length, 1.2 cm. of width and 0.3 cm. of thickness. The chewing gum in tablet can be presented in a variety of sizes with an example size of about 2 cm. in length, 1.3-1.5 cm. in width and 0.8-1.0 cm. of thickness.

A variety of types of chewing gum packaging also exist, including certain types of packaging predominantly used for one or another of the chewing gum formats. The chewing gum in tablet can be packed in a cardboard that can be opened to distribute one or more pins at the same time. There are other package configurations, but in a configuration it packs each tablet individually into what has come to be known as a blister package or package. Said package configuration can include a plastic sheet having multiple cavities (bulky structures) which typically can be formed in a set. The chewing gum pellets are placed in the individual cavities and an aluminum foil is attached to the plastic sheet to contain / seal the chewing gum pellets within the individual cavities.

Generally, the blister package is packaged (eg, wrapped) to protect the blister package against damage prior to sale. In one arrangement, this packaging includes an opaque cardboard sleeve member having a hollow interior in which the blister-type package can be selectively inserted and removed. The outer surface of this sheath member may contain printed matter that identifies the contents of the blister package. In some cases, a single opening can be formed through the sheath member so that a chip of chewing gum in a single blister can be seen by a consumer before buying the chewing gum pack.

Said packaging is currently popular and achieves satisfactory results. It has been discovered, however, that this approach has certain disadvantages. These disadvantages refer to the display of different varieties of said chewing gum pellets that may be contained within a single pack of chewing gum.

It is against this background and with a desire to improve the prior art that a packaging design for chewing gum and other products has been developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect, a package is provided for containing pieces of the first and second different food products. The package includes a blister pack having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein. A first edible product is placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments and a second edible product is placed in a second predetermined subset less than all the separate compartments. A sealing layer is placed on at least a portion of a first surface of the blister pack, which seals each of the compartments.

In one arrangement, the separate compartments are composed of at least partially transparent material to allow a contained product to be visible through a second surface of the blister package. The transparent material may include a plastic material.

In one arrangement, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the combined total number of the first and second edible products in the package and the number of separate compartments formed in the blister package. That is, each compartment contains a single edible product. These products may include first and second different varieties of chewing gum, which may be visibly different. The separate compartments or cavities in the blister package may be of any suitable form. However, in an arrangement, the separate compartments have a similar shape to the first and second products, which may also have a similar shape. In any arrangement, the first and second edible products are placed in predetermined compartments. This allows to align predetermined compartments with openings in overlapping wrappers so that different products can be displayed.

In an arrangement, the cavities of the blister package are placed in a first geometric array containing rows and columns. In this arrangement, the first edible product can be placed in a first predetermined subset of the first geometric set and this first predetermined subset can form a second geometric set. In the same way, the second edible product can be placed in a second predetermined subset of the first geometric set and this second predetermined subset can form a third geometric set. Alternatively, the first and second edible products may be alternated, for example by row, by column or in a checkerboard-like form.

In an additional arrangement, the package may include an opaque cover having first and second openings. The opaque cover is adapted to be placed on at least one second surface of the package. The opaque cover can generally define a sheath having an interior volume sized to receive the blister package. Said sheath may include at least one open end to allow reception of the blister package therein. In another arrangement, a common wall of the opaque cover includes the first and second openings. In a further arrangement, an outer surface of the opaque cover further includes a first surface treatment corresponding to the first opening and a second surface treatment corresponding to the second opening. Generally, said first and second surface treatments are visibly different and may correspond to one or more properties / attributes of the first and second edible products.

According to another aspect, a method is provided for packaging first and second different edible products into a common package. The method includes providing a package having a plurality of substantially transparent and separate compartments formed as cavities therein. A first edible product is placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments and a second edible product is placed in a second predetermined subset less than all the separate compartments. A sealing layer is then applied on a surface of the package that seals the separate compartments. Once sealed, the first and second edible products are visible within the separate compartments.

The method may include placing first and second visibly distinct edible products in the first and second predetermined subsets of the separate compartments. Additionally, the method may include applying a wrap over at least a portion of the package, wherein at least one of the first edible product and one of the second edible product are visible through the wrapper.

According to another aspect, a packaged chewing gum product is provided. The product includes a package having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein. These separate compartments are composed of at least one partially transparent material. A first plurality of chewing gum pellets is placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments and a second plurality of chewing gum pellets is placed in a second predetermined subset less than all the separate compartments. The first and second tablets of chewing gum are visibly different. In addition, the first and second varieties of chewing gum are visible when placed in separate compartments. A sealing layer is placed on at least a portion of a first surface of the package that seals each of the separate compartments.

The product may further include a wrap that covers at least a portion of the package. The wrapping may further allow at least one of the first chewing gum pellets and at least one of the second chewing gum pellets to be visible through the wrapping.

According to another aspect, a package containing different pieces of first and second edible products is provided. The package includes a blister pack having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities. These separate compartments are placed in a geometric array including at least two rows and at least two columns. A first edible product is placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments and a second edible product is placed in a second predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments. The first and second edible products are different. A sealing layer is placed on at least a portion of a first surface of the package and seals each of the separate compartments.

The first and second edible products are placed in a predetermined manner and can be placed in alternating rows of the geometric arrangement of the separate compartments or in alternating columns of the geometric arrangement of the separate compartments. Alternatively, the products may be placed so that none of the separate compartments containing the first edible product abuts another of the separate compartments containing another of the first edible products.

Numerous additional features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the additional description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the packaging design.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packaging design of Figure 1, shown with a blister package removed from the sheath member.

Figure 3 is an expanded perspective view of the blister pack.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an unfolded piece of cardboard used to form the sheath member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the packaging design of Figure 1, shown with the surface of the sheath member having first and second visually distinct surface treatments.

Figures 6a and 6b are plan views showing the application of different surface treatments to the surface of the sheath member.

Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating a marketing method for use with the packaging design, wherein: 110 is to provide a package including different first and second edible products, 120 is to align the first and second edible products with first and second second openings in a package surface, 130 is to provide first and second visual indications on the package surface associated with the first and second edible products contained within the package and 140 is to present the package surface in a location that is visible to consumers .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in the illustration of various relevant characteristics of the packaging design. Although the invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with the packaging of chewing gum, it should be expressly understood that the invention can be applied to other applications when it is desired to display multiple different food products across a surface of a common package. In this regard, the following description of a chewing gum packaging design is presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Accordingly, variations and modifications proportional to the following teachings and technique and knowledge of the relevant technique are within the scope of the packaging design. The embodiments described herein are also intended to explain known ways to practice the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to use the invention in said or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the design. of packaging.

As shown, the package 100 includes a blister pack 10 that can be received within the interior of a hollow sleeve member 40. See Figures 1 and 2. The sheath member 40 contains first and second openings 42, 44 that allow First and second edible products 32, 34 contained within the blister pack 10 are displayed through a front surface of the sheath member 40 when the blister pack 10 is placed therein.

Figure 3 is an expanded perspective view of the blister pack 10. As shown, the blister pack includes a substantially transparent plastic sheet 20 that includes a plurality of cavities 22 formed therein. In this regard, a sheet of flat plastic can be compressed by molds to produce the sheet of plastic 20 including the cavities 22. An exemplary plastic material that can be used to form the sheet is PVC, however, it will be appreciated that other materials as well They can be used. As shown, the cavities 22 are accommodated in the plastic sheet 20 in a geometric array having three cavities 22 across the width of the sheet 20 and four cavities 22 along the length of the sheet 20 (i.e. 3 x 4 arrangement having three rows and four columns). In the embodiment shown, each cavity 22 is box-shaped having a generally rectangular cross section in length and width. In the illustrated embodiment, all the cavities 22 are of a common size and shape and are equally spaced apart in the plastic sheet 20. However, it will be appreciated that the shape of the cavities 22 and / or the arrangement of said cavities 22 in the Plastic sheet are each a matter of design choice. For example, one or more of the cavities 22 may have a different size and / or shape compared to another cavity 22 in the blister card. In addition, the separation of the cavities 22 can also be varied.

Placed in each of the cavities 22 in the plastic sheet 20 is an individual edible product. In the embodiment shown, these edible products are individual chewing gum pellets 32 or 34. As shown, a first variety of chewing gum pellets 32 is placed in a first portion smaller than the total of the cavities 22 and a second variety of chewing gum tablets 34 is placed in the remaining 22 cavities. Generally, these first and second edible products, gum bars 32, 34, will include one or more characteristics in common and may each include one or more features not included in the other product. For example, the first and second tablets of chewing gum 32, 34 may share one or more features such as shape, size, texture and / or functional benefits (e.g., teeth whitening) while differing in one or more of said features. That is, in some embodiments the chewing gum pellets 32, 34 may differ in one or more features while having at least one feature in common. In the embodiment shown, the first and second chewing gum pellets 32, 34 are visibly distinct at the same time that they have a common size and shape. That is, the first and second chewing gum pellets 32, 34 can include any variation (i.e., visible distinction) that allows an observer to distinguish a variety of pellet 32 from a second pellet variety 34.

Once placed within the formed cavities 22, the individual chewing gum pellets 32, 34 are sealed within the cavities 22 by an aluminum foil 30 which is adhered to the lower surface of the plastic sheet 20. Specifically, the The upper surface of the aluminum sheet 30 adheres to a lower surface of the plastic sheet 20 around the periphery of each of the cavities 22. In this regard, each cavity 22 and the chewing gum pellet 32 or 34 placed in it they are sealed individually. Said sealing generally prevents the chewing gum pellets 32, 34 from drying / dehydrating. Although it is discussed herein that an aluminum sheet 30 is used, it will be appreciated that other materials (eg, plastic and paper) can also be used to form the sealing layer 30.

As shown, the first and second varieties of chewing gum pellets 32, 34 have a shape that corresponds generally to the shape of the cavities 22. That is, each chewing gum pellet 32, 34 is generally box-shaped having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in both length and width. In the embodiment shown, the first and second varieties of chewing gum pellets 32, 34 are placed in first and second arrays 3 x 2. That is, when the first variety is placed within the cavities 22 in the plastic sheet 20. of chewing gum lozenges is placed in one half of the cavities 22 and the second variety of chewing gum lozenges 34 is placed in the other half of the cavities 22. However, other non-random or predetermined distributions of the lozenges of chewing gum can be used. For example, each row or column of the cavities may contain a different variety of chewing gum pellets. Alternatively, the first and second products may be arranged in a checkerboard-like shape (not shown) in which no cavity containing the first variety of chewing gum pellets abuts another cavity containing the first variety of gum chew.

In any arrangement, it is desirable that the first opening 42 allows to see at least a portion of one or more cavities 22 containing the first variety of chewing gum chips 32 and that the second opening 44 allows to see at least a portion of one or more of the cavities 22 containing the second variety of chewing gum pellets 34. As shown, the openings 42, 44 of the illustrated arrangement are aligned with separate portions of the blister pack 10 as defined by the first and second array of pellets. chewing gum 32, 34, respectively. What is important is that the first and second varieties of chewing gum chips 32, 34 are placed in a non-random / predetermined arrangement so that the openings 42, 44 can exhibit first and second different products.

In order to be able to arrange the chewing gum pellets 32, 34 in a non-random / predetermined arrangement, it will be appreciated that specialized manufacturing machinery may be required. That is, for prior blister packs containing either a single variety of chewing gum pellets or randomly distributed palette varieties, the individual placement of a certain variety of chewing gum pellet in one or more predetermined cavities does not It was required. Accordingly, the chewing gum pellets can be placed and / or mixed in a single hopper that feeds multiple conduits aligned with the multiple cavities in the blister pack. In accordance with the blister pack 10 discussed herein, it will be appreciated that the requirement that certain cavities include certain varieties of chewing gum pellets increases the complexity of the machinery used to form the blister pack 10. For example, instead of using a single hopper to feed conduits aligned with the cavities, multiple different hoppers are required to contain individual varieties of chewing gum pellets. Similarly, different ducts coming from different hoppers should be directed so that they align with the desired cavities.

Figure 4 illustrates the sheath member 40 before being formed to have a hollow interior to receive the blister pack 10. As shown, a piece of cardboard 50 is used to form a sheath member 40. The piece of cardboard 50 it has a flange 52 extending from an upper edge thereof and an opposite flange 54 extending from a lower edge thereof. These flanges 52, 54 adhere together using an adhesive 56 which is placed on the upper flange 52. To allow the upper flange 52 and the lower flange 54 to adhere together, the piece of cardboard 50 is folded along the lines of fold 58a-d. This allows the upper surface of the upper flange 52, which includes an adhesive 56, to engage with the lower surface of the lower flange 54. Generally, the cardboard part 50 is bent into a four-sided sheath member 40 having a front wall 60, a rear wall 62 and first and second side walls 64, 66. See Figure 2. In the embodiment shown, both ends of sheath member 40 are open to allow reception of the blister pack 10 inside the member of sheath.

Before folding the piece of cardboard 50, first and second openings 42, 44 are formed through a portion of the cardboard piece 50 that forms the front wall 60 of the cover member 40. See Figure 4. Generally, the size and the position of these openings 42, 44 are selected to allow the display of first and second spaced apart portions of the blister pack 10 that will be placed within the resulting sheath member 40. Although shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being accommodated to exhibit first and second cavities 22 in the blister pack 10 which are at opposite ends of a common row, it will be appreciated that other position arrangements of the openings 42, 44 are possible. For example, the first and second openings 42, 44 can be positioned to display cavities 22 in different rows and / or different columns. What is important is that the openings 42, 44 are positioned so that different products, first and second varieties of chewing gum pellets 32, 34 in the present embodiment, can be exhibited through the front wall 60 of the limb member. sheath 40. As further shown in Figure 4, a side surface of the board 50 also includes a slit 62. The slit 62 is formed in a portion of the piece of cardboard 50 that forms the back wall 62 of the sheath member 40. When the piece of cardboard 50 is bent to form the sheath member 40, the slit 62 allows the user to take a portion of the blister pack 10 when the blister pack 10 is placed inside the sheath member 40.

Generally, the inner volume of the sheath member 40 substantially corresponds to the outer dimensions of the blister pack 10. In this regard, the width and height of the inner volume of the sheath member 40 can be sized to provide a frictional fit with the sheath member. blister-type package 10. When the blister-type package 10 is inserted into the sheath member 40, the friction between the inner surface of the sheath member 40 and the outer surfaces of the blister-type package 10 can be used to maintain the blister-type package. inside the sleeve member 40. In addition, a clear film, (not shown) can be used to wrap the package 100 before purchase.

In one embodiment, the piece of cardboard 50 is composed of an SBS (solid bleach sulphate) board, in part due to the good folding properties of this material. Alternatively, the piece of cardboard 50 may be composed of some other suitable material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The cardboard material may have a white mud emulsion coating on an outer surface thereof and no coating on the inner surface thereof. The coating improves the ability to print on the cardboard material, which can occur before folding the piece of cardboard 50 in the sleeve member 40.

As noted, the use of the first and second openings 42, 44 through the front wall 60 of the cover member 40 allows to display first and second cavities 22 within the blister pack 10. In addition, the use of the substantially transparent plastic 20 allows the products placed inside the cavities 22 to be seen from the outside of the package 100. Specifically, in the embodiment shown the first variety of chewing gum chips 32 can be seen through the first aperture 42 and the second variety of chewing gum lozenges 34 can be seen through the second opening 44. In this regard, consumers can see first and second different types of edible products (e.g., chewing gum lozenges) placed within a common blister pack 10.

To further improve the presentation of the first and second types of consumer products, the outer surface of the sheath member 40 (for example, the outer surface of the front wall 60) may contain first and second visibly distinct surface treatments that they correspond to the first and second edible products placed therein. In this regard, the front surface of the front wall 60 can provide first and second visible indications of the type of products contained therein. For example, as shown in Figure 5, a first surface treatment 72 on the surface of the front wall 60 may correspond in style and / or color to the surface treatment, color, coating, flavor, type (eg, filling) gel), texture and / or shape (e.g., pill, bar, etc.) of the first chewing gum variety 32. Additionally or alternatively, the first surface treatment 72 may provide an indication of one or more ingredients, which may include, for example, the absence of one or more ingredients (e.g., sugar), as well as the presence of one or more ingredients (e.g., active). Such assets may include tempered, refreshing, tingling, breath fresheners, teeth whitening and / or throat relief actives. Similarly, a second surface treatment 74 may correspond in style and / or color to the surface treatment, color, taste, type, texture, shape and / or ingredients of the second chewing gum variety 34. Alternatively and In addition, one or more of the surface treatments may include a physical variation of the front wall surface (e.g., dimples, etc.). Said surface treatments 72, 74 may cover the entire outer surface of the front wall, as shown in Figure 5, or the first and second surface treatments 72, 74 may cover smaller portions of the outer surface of the wall front 60. See figures 6a and 6b. Generally, each surface treatment 72, 74 will correspond at least partially to an area on the front surface 60 of the sheath member 40 that includes the first and second openings 42, 44.

In conjunction with the package 100 described above, there is provided a method for marketing visibly distinct variations of an edible product in a common package. As set forth in Figure 7, the method includes providing (110) a package including first and second different edible products. These first and second edible products are aligned (120) with first and second openings in the surface of an opaque package. The first and second visual indications associated with the first and second edible products are provided (130) on the surface of the package. Said visual indications may include, without limitation, indications of the style, color, taste, type, form and / or ingredients of the first and second edible products. The surface of the package containing the openings and surface treatments is then presented (140) in a location that is visible to consumers. In this regard, consumers are able to see the first and second edible products through the first and second openings in the package as well as receive a visual indication on the package surface associated with the first and second edible products. In a particular arrangement, multiple packets 100 are presented in a location that is visible to consumers. For example, a plurality of individual packages 100 can be packaged together in a single carton (e.g., two stacks of six packages placed side by side). In addition, this single cardboard can allow to see the surfaces (i.e., containing the openings and surface treatment) of at least first and second packages 100. In said cardboard, a plurality of individual packages 100 having the same non-random distribution of chewing gum pills.

The above description of packaging design has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form described herein. Accordingly, variations and modifications proportional to the prior teaching and the relevant skill and knowledge of the art are within the scope of the invention. For example, instead of using a sheath member to receive the blister package, a sheath member having first and second openings can be attached to, or otherwise can cover the upper surface of the blister package. In another arrangement, the openings can be formed as transparent windows, for example, in a plastic sheet. Additional arrangements may use additional openings (for example, three or more) to display additional products. The embodiments described above are also intended to explain the best known ways to practice the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to use the invention in said or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the invention. . It is then intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A package containing different pieces of first and second edible products, comprising: a blister pack having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein, a first edible product placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all compartments separated, a second edible product placed in a second predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments, wherein the first and second edible products are different, a sealing layer placed on at least a portion of a first surface of the package, the sealed by sealing each of the separate compartments.
2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separate compartments are composed of at least one partially transparent material to allow the contained product to be visible through the second surface of the package.
3. The package according to claim 1, wherein the package is composed of a plastic material.
4. The package according to claim 1, wherein there is a one-to-one correspondence between the combined total number of first and second edible products in the package and the number of separate compartments formed in the package.
5. The package according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edible food products are first and second different types of chewing gum.
6. The package according to claim 1, wherein the first and second types of chewing gum are visibly different.
7. The package according to claim 1, further comprising an opaque cover having first and second openings, the opaque cover being placed on at least one second surface of the package.
8. The package according to claim 7, wherein a first edible product in a first predetermined subset is visible through the first opening and a second edible product in a second predetermined compartment is visible through the second opening.
9. The package according to claim 7, wherein an outer surface of the opaque cover further includes: a first surface treatment corresponding to the first opening and a second surface treatment corresponding to a second opening, wherein the first and second Second surface treatments are visibly different.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the package is perforated between the first subset of compartments and the second subset of compartments.
11. The package according to claim 1, wherein the sealing layer is opaque.
12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the individual pieces of the first and second edible products have a similar shape.
13. The package according to claim 12, wherein the separate compartments and the individual pieces of the first and second edible products have a similar shape.
14. The package according to claim 1, wherein the cavities are placed in the package in a first geometric array containing rows and columns.
15. The package according to claim A16, wherein the first edible product is placed in a first predetermined subset of the first geometric array, wherein the first predetermined subset forms a second geometric array.
16. A method for packaging different first and second edible products into a common package, comprising: providing a package having a plurality of substantially transparent and separate compartments formed as cavities therein, first placing a first edible product in a first predetermined sub-assembly less than all the separate compartments, second placing a second edible product in a second predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments and applying a sealing layer on a package surface, wherein the sealing layer seals the separate compartments, wherein first and second products Edibles are visible within separate compartments.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein first and second placement includes placing first and second edible products visibly distinct in the first and second predetermined subsets of the separate compartments.
18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: applying a wrap on at least a portion of the package, wherein at least one of the first edible products and one of the second edible products are visible through the wrapper.
19. A packaged chewing gum product, comprising: a package having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities therein, wherein the separate compartments are composed of at least one partially transparent material, a first plurality of chewing gum chips placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments, a second plurality of chewing gum chips placed in a second predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments, wherein first and second gum chips are visibly distinct and wherein the first and second varieties of chewing gum are visible when placed within the separate compartments, a sealing layer placed on at least a portion of a first surface of the package, the sealing layer sealing each of the separate compartments.
20. The product according to claim 19, further comprising: a wrap covering at least a portion of the package, wherein at least one of the first chewing gum chips and at least one of the second gum chips are visible to through the envelope.
21. A package for containing pieces of different first and second edible products, comprising: a package having a plurality of separate compartments formed as cavities, in which the separate compartments are arranged in a geometric array including at least two rows and at least two columns, one first edible product placed in a first predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments, a second edible product placed in a second predetermined subset smaller than all the separate compartments, wherein the first and second edible products are different, a sealing layer placed on at least a portion of a first surface of the package, the sealing layer sealing each of the compartments.
22. The package according to claim 21, wherein the first and second edible products are placed in one of: alternating rows of the geometric arrangement of the separate compartments and alternating columns of the geometric arrangement of the separate compartments.
23. The package according to claim 21, wherein none of the separate compartments containing the first edible product abuts another one of the separate compartments containing the first edible product.
24. The packet according to claim 21, wherein the first subset smaller than all the separate compartments forms a first geometric sub-array within the geometric array of the separate compartments.
25. The package according to claim 24, wherein the second subset smaller than all the separate compartments forms a second geometric sub-array within the geometric array of the separate compartments.