Heinz spent 3 years developing the new ketchup packet

[RamboLiberal]

Some people rip off the corner of the packet with their teeth. Others, while driving, squirt the ketchup directly into their mouth, then add fries. Some forgo fries at the drive-through all together to keep from creating a mess in the car.

After observing these and other "compensating behaviors," H. J. Heinz Co. says it spent three years developing a better ketchup packet.

Heinz says the new "Dip and Squeeze" packets will begin replacing the traditional rectangular ketchup packets later this year at Wendy's Co. restaurants. Smaller chains including Chick-fil-A Inc., Smashburger Master LLC, and International Dairy Queen Inc. started carrying the packets earlier this year.

-----

To develop the new packet, Heinz staffers sat behind one-way, mirrored glass, watching consumers in 20 fake minivan interiors putting ketchup on fries, burgers, and chicken nuggets.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904194604576578691502178606.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_second

[Capitalocracy]

1. So it took them three years to come up with the idea of

just making them like all the other dipping sauce packets?

[seaglass]

9. I've never seen one that has a squeeze spout like the Heinz one does.

In any case this is a major improvement over the squeeze packages. :-)

[graywarrior]

2. Oh, the anticipation til it hits the market!

[pinboy3niner]

7. LOL! An-ti-ci-pay-ay-shun is making me wait...

Classic Heinz Ketchup Anticipation TV ad 1979 (0:32):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoLoyg3JKRQ

[Broderick]

3. bout time

[TheMightyFavog]

4. They've had these packets at my local Culver's for a while.

Wonder if Heinz was test marketing them there?

[Wait Wut]

12. Culver's???

:cry:

Took the husband to one when we were back in Chicago two years ago. He had never had frozen custard before. Now, he dreams about it.

Tell Culver's I miss them and still love them.

[gkhouston]

5. Meh. They're a pain in the ass to open. n/t

[SpiralHawk]

6. Ketchup is a damn socialist condiment anyway

They eat the stuff in Russia on everyfreakingthing including freaking cabbage. What America needs is Freedom Sauce (R) for Freedom Fries (R).

[NorthCarolina]

8. I HATE these new packs. Way too hard to open. nt

[Wait Wut]

10. "Dipping and Driving"??!!

WTF is wrong with these people? I'm not threatened enough by people texting, applying makeup, yelling at their kids and people eating WITHOUT ketchup, now you have to give these morons something else to do instead of paying attention to my ass?

If you want to eat in your car, while it's parked...have at it. But, please, don't Dip and Drive. :eyes:

[MadHound]

11. Gee thanks Heinz,

Enabling drivers everywhere to be even more distracted while behind the wheel.

[Tallulah]

13. I got one today

at Dairy Queen.

[lame54]

14. Have we cured any diseases lately?

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. Nope, just creating them one packet at a time.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

22. wasn't aware Heinz brands were into curing diseases...

but maybe I missed something.

sP

[yawnmaster]

23. I haven't recently. You? eom

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. Swell. Even more material to end up in the landfill. Or on the side of the road with the rest of the

trash.

[underpants]

17. We have gotten those at Chik-fil-a for a while

and they are not easy to open at least not to leave open as a dipping dish.

[Lucian]

18. How fat are we when we're dipping and driving at the same time?

And it took them three years to develop something that's like every other condiment packet?

[Strelnikov_]

19. Idiocracy n/t

[Papagoose]

20. Do people really use dipping sauces when driving?

Actually, I guess that might explain a lot.

[whistler162]

21. Should be as popular as New Coke.