he simple act of opening a food container can often be a frustrating experience for most people. Designers at Nestl� SA have developed a new package for its Country Creamery ice cream. The plastic lid, developed after nine months of effort, is easier to pull open even when the ice cream is frozen and also keeps the freshness locked in.

The ribbed corners on the container give it a good grip when scooping out the ice cream. The design is also more convenient to stack, and keeps the ice cream in, unlike messy paper-based cartons. Nestl� is also in the process of developing better caps and seals for its other products. ... more