Muoto products were in test use in Pikante's ten restaurants and cafés serving buffet lunches for a month.
For the first time, the Muoto Twin 2in1 concept was used, in which the bowl is combined with a lower part to form a lid, and a printed paperboard sleeve completes the impressively branded take-away packaging. The paperboard sleeve was made of MetsäBoard Natural FBB material, and designed by packaging designers Marko Leiviskä and Iiro Numminen in cooperation with the customer and the Muoto team.
Laura Torssonen, Marketing Manager at Pikante, describes the goals and experiences of the pilot as follows: "At Pikante restaurants, we are constantly looking for more sustainable solutions, and the Muoto pilot gave us the opportunity to test a completely new kind of product. What makes Muoto products special is their domestic production and the traceability of the products. At Pikante, we prefer Finnish ingredients, products and services, whenever possible and sensible. In addition to responsibility, the stylish design and high-quality structure of the products were particularly pleasing from the marketing point of view. The personalization of the sleeve brought out the Pikante brand and made the collaboration visible to customers. At the same time, the attractive packaging added value to the delicious lunch. Close cooperation with Metsä Spring's Muoto team during the project went very well."
During the pilot use, we received a record amount of feedback from users. A total of almost 100 people (about 3%) responded to the survey, and Pikante also received feedback on its own channel and on site in restaurants. The results serve both Pikante's sustainability work and the further development of Muoto products. "The Muoto products looked high-quality and the sleeve made for us was a good advertisement. Customers quickly learnt the operating logic of the bowl, lid and sleeve. In particular, the development proposals included a larger take-away package in which cold and hot food can be placed next to each other or separated with compartments and closed with a hinge lid," says Elisa Nieminen Restaurant Manager at Pikante Cafe.
"We will continue to develop the Muoto product range and are currently designing a lunch box with a hinged lid, which we will be able to test on the market next autumn," says Product Manager Tarja Heikkilä.