Planters Nut Duos: Out of the Can & into the Pouch

The iconic blue Planters nut can has been instantly recognizable for decades but for its latest premium product entry, the company opted for a different look to enhance the snacking experience, and maybe encourage a little sharing too.

Planters has added to its top-selling nut product line-up with the launch of Nut Duos, a line of three new snack items that blend two types of crunchy nuts with unique flavor coatings. Planters Buffalo Cashews and Ranch Almonds pairs roasted cashews and crunchy almonds with zesty Buffalo-sauce flavor and cool, tangy ranch; Planters Cocoa Cashews and Espresso Hazelnuts combines the classic taste of chocolate and with espresso-dusted hazelnuts and sweet cocoa-coated cashews; and Planters Parmesan Cheese Cashews and Peppercorn Pistachios unites Parmesan coated cashews with the warm bite of peppercorn dusted pistachios.

Shannon Kelly, brand manager of the Planters brand, tells Packaging Digest that each of the three new flavors is packaged in a convenient, 5-ounce resealable bag made of "paper touch"-coated PET with an ALOx barrier. It’s not Planters’ first standup flexible pouch for nut snacks so no new packaging machinery was required to produce the bags. This debut sports a more upscale look and imagery, as showcased with a touch of urbane humor in this promo video:

“The standup, resealable pouch is great for easy storage in the pantry or for on-the-go snacking,” she comments. “We wanted to make our Planters Nut Duos products convenient for consumers to enjoy any place, any time.”

The Nut Duo line underwent a meticulous development phase. The Planters brand team explored more than 100 nut-and-flavor combinations and tested them with consumers before determining the final recipes that had the most appealing, trending flavors.

“The distinct flavors combined with two varieties of nuts create a savory, spicy or sweet taste along with a unique texture snacking fans will love,” comments Ashley Krautkramer-Gonya, senior brand manager for the Planters brand. “The new offerings can be enjoyed individually or together for one incredible taste sensation.”

Planters Nut Duos have a suggested retail price of $4.79.