CHAIRMAN OF THE JURY | COMMENTS FROM SATKAR GIDDA

With plastic now truly in the firing line of governments as well as environmentalists, it is a great opportunity for companies involved with cartonboard to really show what the material can do for a brand and the resultant benefits to the consumer.

The entries did not disappoint. In every category, I can state that the judges saw design, construction, structure and graphics that really made an impact and set cartonboard far away and above any other material.

Impact is not always created just by structure or by some glossy finish. As judges we have to assess the pack from several view points such as on-shelf, in hand, functionality and above all consumer benefit and consumer understanding of what the packaging is representing.

Choosing a winner in each category was not easy. It was easy, in fact, to make a case for several winners in each category. Like many competitions, there are fine margins between winners and finalists and so that is the case here but more so this year I feel.

Satkar Gidda

SATKAR GIDDA

CHAIRMAN OF THE JURY

Satkar Gidda studied Business Studies and Marketing and has worked 6 years in Sales, Trade Marketing and Brand Marketing for RHM Foods and Nestle followed by 30 years as Sales & Marketing Director of SiebertHead, the longest established brand and packaging design consultancy in the UK. Since March 2020, Satkar operates as an independent consultant.

MARTIN LUH

NESTLÉ

After his study of repro- and printing technology, Martin Luh worked in the folding carton industry before joining Nestlé In 1996. He advanced to the role of Procurement Manager for fibre based materials and is owner of the Nestlé cartonboard sourcing strategy for all European Markets. His key objectives are the development of innovation partnerships with the paperboard industry, specification performance management, responsible fibre sourcing and education programmes for employees.

PETER KLEIN SPROKKELHORST

ADVISOR TO THE JURY

After being trained as a mechanical engineer, Peter Klein Sprokkelhorst decided to join the paper-processing industry. In 1982 he became managing director of Zedek Deventer Holland (which today belongs to the Smurfit Kappa Group) and turned the company into a major display and packaging supplier in Europe. He retired in 2008, but with 45 years of experience is still active as an independent consultant.

GEERT VERLINDEN

VAN GENECHTEN PACKAGING

Geert Verlinden studied Graphical Industries with specialisation in Pre-press, worked as Price Analyst for a commercial printing office and then changed company to become Customer Support Manager and finally Plant Manger at a small commercial printing company. He joined Van Genechten Biermans in 1993. In 2001 he lead the Cad-cam and R&D department as R&D Manager developing and implementing new projects for European customers. He has built up an impressive knowledge of materials, production processes, orderflow and shapes. Since 2012 he is leading VGP’s 3 innovation hubs as Group Innovation Manager, working on projects in close contact with European Customers and Brand owners.