The idea of drinking a hot drink in a cup that stays cool may sound like the stuff of science fiction.

However, the product is a reality and will be heading to the stores soon, using a Bradford firm's technology.

Mailway Packaging Solutions, one of the UK's largest contract packers, has developed packaging for Mars Drinks' new Moment du Chocolat.

The microwavable, long-life, ready-to-drink Belgian hot chocolate, which will be launched in the UK this month, features a UK first - a cup-in-cup mechanism that keeps the outside of the cup comfortably warm after microwaving.

Stewart Clough, Mailway's sales director, said the technology was unique to this section of the drinks market.

He said: "The whole design makes things dead easy for the consumer. They just take the product out of the cupboard, heat it up and drink it. Simple."

He said cup-in-cup' had received an encouraging reception during its trial run.

He said: "Since then we have worked extensively with Masterfoods - Mars' parent company - in order to redevelop, redesign and rebrand Moment du Chocolat so that it looked better suited for the retail shelf. We have worked hard to develop an initial production line for the trial volumes which automates the process sufficiently to drive out cost."

The business on Pitcliffe Way, West Bowling, Bradford, is now working on a fully-automated production system for the product.

Simon Mellor, of Mars, said Moment du Chocolat's cup-in-cup design gave consumers the chance to "enjoy the premium caf experience without having to leave their home or office".

He said: "Key to ensuring this is the packaging, which needed to reflect caf quality, while at the same time providing the kind of strength and durability required from long life, microwavable products.

"We have been very impressed at Mailway's creativity in finding a packing solution for us."

Confidence in the product is already high following last year's trial, which saw both Mailway and Masterfoods win two Starpack Awards - one a silver for Carton Board Food, the second a bronze in the Inclusive Pack category.

Mr Clough said that for a relatively small company Mailway was dealing with some of the UK's top businesses.

Recent work has included a triple-pack on behalf of a Coca Cola and McDonald's promotion, and supplying the outer sleeve to Mars drinks.

"We also have a couple of patents pending related to our work with the whiskey industry," he revealed.

The company has also worked with GlaxoSmith-Kline, Heinz and Proctor & Gamble.

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

HOW THE CUP WORKS
  • The ready-to-microwave milk-based chocolate drink is packed in a pre-sealed dairy pot
  • This in turn is glued inside a paper cup
  • It has an overcap and carton board sleeve
  • This insulates the customer's hand from the hot drink, leaving the exterior cool