Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging, and in particular, although not exclusively, to a packaging assembly for food and, more specifically, to a packaging assembly for confectionery products such as chocolate.

Background to the Invention

It is known to package foodstuffs, including confectionery products such as chocolate and other confectionery and snack-type products, in packaging which is formed from a length of flexible, film-like material. The film-like material has an inner surface which is directed to the food product and an outer surface. Typically the outer surface is printed with information for the customer such as branding and nutritional information.

For snacks, chocolate bars and other confectionery it is known to use flow wrapping techniques (also known as ‘fin seal wrapping’ and ‘horizontal bagging’) to provide packaging. Such techniques allow a product to be wrapped in a plastic film which is characterised by crimped end seals and a further seal which extends between the end seals, the three seals securing the product within the package. The further seal is typically located at the intended rear of the product to ensure that the desired branding or other messaging on an intended front surface of the package is visible to a consumer.

For an elongate product, for example a chocolate bar, it is typical to provide a film which is fed in a running direction. The flow wrapping machine secures ends of the film together to form a seal (typically called a fin seal) extending in the running direction to form a tubular structure. The product is then introduced into the tubular structure, typically such that the elongate axis of the product extends in the same direction as the seal. Transverse seals at either end of the product are then formed in the tubular structure to thereby encapsulate the product within a package. As mentioned above, the elongate seal is formed on the rear surface of the package so as not to obscure branding or other desired information on the intended front surface.

Whilst flow wrapping is very popular, because of the nature of many seals and of the material of the packaging, it does not lend itself to re-sealability. That is, once the package is opened it cannot be re-sealed. Whilst this may not be a significant problem for individual portion sized comestibles it is not ideal for products which are provided in larger-than-portion sized formats.

Further, when flow wrapped products are opened it is often the case that the package is torn, and sometimes separated into two or more parts. This, together with the presence of the further elongate seam which extends between the crimped ends, has inhibited the use of the inner surface of the package for additional messaging, such as further branding, competition information or other useful and/or required messaging.

Some comestibles, for example chocolate products, are sold in larger-than-portion size formats meaning that the chocolate within the package is not intended for consumption by an individual in a single sitting but is rather intended for eating over plural sittings and/or is intended to be shared by plural individuals. For convenience, such chocolate products may be provided as a tablet, separated into rows and columns of individual portions, separable from one another along breakable lines to allow a consumer to separate one or more portions, for example a row or column of portions, from the remainder (these might be considered ‘portion control features’ of the product). For example, a chocolate product may be provided as a tablet in an array of 4 columns and 9 rows to yield 36 individual portions. For example, a consumer may separate a row of four portions from the tablet to consume at a time. With a chocolate product the features may be formed by moulding chocolate. It is known to package such comestibles using the afore-mentioned flow wrapping technique or to provide packaging where the chocolate is wrapped in a paper or paper/foil laminate sleeve which may be then secured in place with a tubular overwrap. The second method does allow for an element of resealability insofar as the paper sleeve can be folded about the reminder of the product and the inner side of the sleeve can be used for branding and so on. However, the use of two materials (the sleeve and the overwrap) is inefficient and leads to extra processing steps. Further, even when a sleeve is used without the overwrap, the join of the sleeve is at the rear of the product (to allow for the required branding on the intended front face) meaning that the consumer opens the package and sees the rear of the product. This limits the visual impact of the product, which may often bear designs intended to visually excite or inform the consumer.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a packaging which is capable of being resealed whilst also providing a potential site for extra branding or other messaging.

Additionally or alternatively, it would be advantageous to have a packaging which allows the consumer to see the intended front of the packaged product upon opening.

It would be especially advantageous to have a packaging which, once opened, exposed a portion or a portion sized amount of the product, especially with a product which has portion control features.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a packaging assembly comprising a package containing an elongate product, e.g. an elongate foodstuff such as a confectionery product, for example a chocolate bar, extending between a product first end and a product second end to thereby define an elongate axis, the package comprising a continuous sheet of material having a first end portion and a second end portion, a first side portion and a second side portion each extending in the direction of the elongate axis and between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the sheet of material is folded around the product and facing portions of the first side portion are secured to one another and facing parts of the second side portion are secured to one another and the first end portion and the second end portion are secured or sealed together to provide an openable seal at a location between the product first end and the product second end, preferably, on an intended front face of the packaging assembly and transverse to the elongate axis.

A second aspect of the invention provides a packaging assembly comprising a package containing a product extending between a product first end and a product second end, the package comprising a continuous sheet of flexible material having a first end portion and a second end portion, a first side portion and a second side portion each extending in the direction of the elongate axis and between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the sheet of flexible material is folded around the product and facing portions of the first side portion are secured to one another and facing parts of the second side portion are secured to one another with an adhesive or a heat seal which is capable of opening and/or resealing and the first end portion and the second end portion are secured or sealed together to provide an openable and resealable seal.

Preferably the openable and resealable seal is provided at a location between the product first end and the product second end. Preferably the openable and resealable seal is provided on an intended front face of the packaging assembly. Preferably, the product is elongate, having an elongate axis extending between the product first end and the product second end. Preferably the openable and resealable seal extends transverse to the elongate axis.

Advantageously, the feature of the openable and resealable seal, which extends transverse to the elongate axis of the product, provides a more intuitive opening and closing for the consumer. The product may be in block form, for example the product may be block-shaped. The product may be of substantially cuboid (e.g. a rectangular cuboid) form.

The product may comprise an intended front face and an opposing rear face. It may be that the front face and/or the rear face do not contact a seal that is parallel to the elongate axis of the product.

Preferably, the transverse seal is off set from a mid-point of the product, the mid-point being half the distance between the product first end and the product second end. For example the transverse seal may be located towards the product first end or towards the product second end.

Preferably, the elongate product is located within the package such that a front face of the elongate product is adjacent the openable seal.

Advantageously, the packaging assembly may be opened at the openable seal to reveal at least a portion of the product.

Beneficially, when providing the openable seal on the intended front face of the packaging assembly (which intended front face may typically be denoted by the type, form or prominence of branding information), the consumer is, upon opening the openable seal, able to see at least a portion of the intended front face of the product, providing a new and different visual impact upon the consumer.

Moreover, with an elongate product and a transverse openable seal, the openable seal may be located to, upon opening, reveal a desired portion of the product. For example, if the product is a chocolate bar, and say the chocolate bar is formed as a tablet comprising a plurality of rows and columns of individual portions, the package may be openable to reveal one or more rows or one or more columns of individual portions. One or more of the individual portions may bear indicia or other markings, or may be arranged to generate a visual impact upon the consumer. For example, the package may be openable to reveal a single portion, or a single row or column of individual portions. This can assist in portion control, thereby providing health benefits to the consumer.

The packaging assembly may comprise a first side and a second side. The first side and the second side may each extend between a first end and a second end of the packaging assembly, the openable seal being located between the first end and the second end. The first end and the second end of the packaging assembly each may be provided by a fold in the continuous sheet of material. The packaging assembly may comprise a first fold at or adjacent the first product end. The packaging assembly may comprise a second fold at or adjacent the second product end. The first fold may denote the first end of the packaging assembly. The second fold may denote the second end of the packaging assembly.

The package does not include a seal extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. Advantageously, this means that the entirety of the internal surface of the package is available for providing indicia, insofar as there is no elongate seal, such as a flow seal, providing a discontinuity in a major surface of the package.

Preferably, the openable seal extends from the first side to the second side of the packaging assembly.

The openable seal may be re-closable. The openable seal may be opened by a consumer using one hand. The openable seal may be located towards the first end of the product. Preferably, the first end portion and the second end portion are sealed together using an adhesive. The adhesive may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as a cold seal adhesive, which can be used to at least partially re-seal the first end portion to the second end portion during use. For example, self-adhesive thermoplastic materials can be used which stick to each other upon application of moderate pressure. In some embodiments the adhesive (e.g. the pressure-sensitive adhesive) is a polyurethane or a latex adhesive.

One or both of the first end portion and the second end portion may bear adhesive.

The first end portion and the second end portion are preferably secured or sealed together using a fin seal (otherwise known as a ‘fold-over seam’) or a lap seal, preferably a fin seal.

In an embodiment, the first end portion or the second end portion may be folded back on itself to form a return. The uppermost surface of the return may bear adhesive. The return may be secured to a facing portion of the first or second end portion respectively. For example, a first peripheral portion of the return, adjacent or proximate the first side portion, may be secured to the facing portion of the second end portion. Additionally or alternatively, a second peripheral portion of the return, adjacent or proximate the second side portion, may be secured to the facing portion of the second end portion.

The first end portion of the sheet has a distal end. The first portion distal end may be shaped to provide a gripping flap. The first portion distal end may comprise a curved portion or a noncurved portion, for example the first portion distal end may extend perpendicularly to the first side portion and/or the second side portion.

The second end portion of the sheet has a distal end. The second portion distal end may be shaped to provide a gripping flap. The second portion distal end may comprise a curved portion or a non-curved portion, for example the second portion distal end may extend perpendicularly to the first side portion and/or the second side portion. The second portion distal end may be complementarily shaped with the first portion distal end.

At least a part of a distal end of the first end portion may protrude beyond at least a part of the distal end of the second end portion.

Advantageously, said at least a part of the distal end of the first end portion which may protrude beyond said at least a part of the distal end of the second end portion may provide a gripping portion for a user. The distal end of the first end portion may be free from adhesive and/or may extend beyond the adhesive used to secure the first end portion to the second end portion.

In one embodiment, said at least a part of the distal end of the first end portion which may protrude beyond said at least a part of the distal end of the second end portion may be formed as a gripping tab, extending only partway along the first end portion. Alternatively, the entire distal end of the first part may protrude beyond said at least a part of the distal end of the second end portion. The distal end of the first end portion may protrude beyond said at least a part of the distal end of the second end portion by a length of from 2 to 10 mm, for example 2 to one of 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 mm. In an embodiment we have found that a protrusion length of from 2 to 5 mm is adequate.

At least a portion of the first end portion and/or at least a portion of the second end portion may comprise a frangible portion, for example a portion denoted by a line of weakness. The frangible portion may be arranged to separate from the reminder of the respective end portion(s) upon opening of the openable seal, thereby providing a tamper-evident feature. The frangible portion may be located towards or about the mid-point of the first end portion and/or second end portion. If both the first end portion and second end portion comprise frangible portions the frangible portions may not be in registry prior to opening of the openable seal. The or each frangible portion may be formed by a laser or other techniques known to the skilled person.

The first side portion and the second side portion may extend in parallel relations.

Preferably, a major part of, for example an entire first portion of the first side portion is in facing relations with a corresponding part, for example an entire second portion, of the first side portion to form the first side of the packaging assembly. The first and second portions of the first side portion which are in facing relations are preferably secured or sealed together, for example using an adhesive or using a heat seal. One or both of the first portion and the second portion of the first side portion may bear adhesive. The adhesive may extend along at least a portion of the first part and/or the second part of the first side portion. Preferably both the first portion and the second portion comprise adhesive.

The adhesive may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may be usable to at least partially re-seal the packaging assembly. The adhesive may be usable to open and reseal the packaging assembly plural times.

Preferably, a major part of, for example, an entire first portion of the second side portion is in facing relations with, a corresponding part, e.g. an entire second portion, of the second side portion to form the second side of the packaging assembly. The first and second portions of the second side portion which are in facing relations are preferably secured or sealed together, for example using an adhesive or using a heat seal. One or both of the first portion and the second portion of the second side portion may bear adhesive. The adhesive may extend along at least a portion of the first portion and/or the second portion of the second side portion. Preferably both the first portion and the second portion comprise adhesive. The or each adhesive may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may be usable to at least partially re-seal the packaging assembly. The adhesive may be usable to open and reseal the packaging assembly plural times.

Accordingly, the packaging assembly may be opened and re-sealed plural times.

The adhesive provided on the first side portion and/or second side portion may have a bond strength which varies along its length, for example it may comprise a first area of higher bond strength and a second area of lower bond strength and/ or it may areas of relatively high bond strength interspersed by areas of relatively low bond strength or vice versa. Advantageously, the provision of areas of high and low bond strength may allow the opening of the packaging assembly to be indexed, for example to correspond to portions of the product.

The adhesive provided on the first side portion and/or the second side portion may be the same or different to the adhesive which is used to seal together the first end portion and the second end portion.

With the packaging assembly sealed at the first end portion and the second end portion and the first side portion and second side portion sealed, the product is securely retained within the package.

In use the first side portions and the second side portions may be rolled or folded back upon themselves to reveal more of the product.

The package may be at least partially flattened or flattenable, for example by folding about the first and/or second fold. Thus the package may partially or fully expose the product and/or be used as a platter for the product. The package may have an inner surface for facing the product and an outer surface.

The inner surface may comprise branding or other written or drawn messaging or indicia.

Advantageously, because the package may be folded flat, the entire inner surface of the package may be useable for graphical or written messaging.

Advantageously, because the packaging assembly is configured as set out above the entire inner surface of the sheet material is available for the display of written or visual indicia. Accordingly, because there is no elongate seam extended from one end to the other end along the middle of the package, the inner surface provides an uninterrupted canvas for the display of written and visual indicia.

The continuous sheet of material may be formed from a flexible material, for example a thin flexible material. The continuous sheet of material may be formed from a plastics material or a paper-based material. If the sheet is formed from a plastics material it may comprise at least a portion or recycled material. For example, the sheet may comprise polypropylene, preferably comprising at least a portion of recycled polypropylene, for example chemically recycled polypropylene. The sheet material may be paper based. The inner and/or outer surface of the sheet may be coated.

Since the package of the invention may be formed from a sustainably sourced material, such as paper or chemically recycled flexible plastic, it enables improved sustainability over existing packaging.

A further aspect of the invention provides a sheet material for forming an elongate package, the sheet material comprising a first end portion, a second end portion a first side portion and a second side portion, a principal axis extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, a product receiving portion being located between the first end portion and the second end portion and which product receiving portion is located between a first nominal or actual fold line and a second nominal or actual fold line, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are both shorter than the length of the product receiving portion but the combined length of the first end portion and the second end portion is greater than the length of the product receiving portion and wherein one or both of the first end portion and the second end portion comprise a first adhesive to secure the first end portion to the second end portion to form an openable seal transverse to the principal axis and wherein at least a portion of the first side portion and the second side portion comprise second and third adhesive respectively to secure facing portions of the first side portion and facing portions of the second side portion.

The first side portion between the first nominal or actual fold line and the second nominal or actual fold line may comprise the second adhesive. The second side portion between the first nominal or actual fold line and the second nominal or actual fold line may comprise the third adhesive.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of forming a package assembly comprising a package and an elongate product having a front face and a rear face, the method comprising forwarding a flexible material having a first edge and a second edge in a machine direction and securing the first edge to the second edge to form a tubular structure, wherein the first edge and the second edge together provide an openable seal, locating the elongate product within the tubular structure such that the front face of the product is adjacent openable seal and the openable seal extends transversely with respect to the elongate product, securing the elongate product within the tubular structure by sealing facing portions of the flexible material either side of the elongate product.

The method may be performed on a flow wrapping machine. Preferably the openable seal is formed, and the elongate product is inserted, such that the openable seal is located towards one end of the elongate product.

The product is preferably a foodstuff. The product may be confectionery. The product may be a chocolate bar. The product may comprise lines of weakness or other indicators to define a portion and/or to allow the product to be sub-divided. For example, when the product is a foodstuff (e.g. a chocolate bar) the foodstuff may have indicators thereon or formed therein to subdivide the product into distinct portions, for example columns and/or rows of distinct portions. Each distinct portion may represent a mouth-sized or bite-sized portion. The product (e.g. a foodstuff such as a confectionery product) may have more portions than is intended for an individual (single person) helping of the product.

Accordingly, the package of the packaging assembly may be opened at the openable seal to reveal at least a portion of the product. The package may be opened fully (that is at the openable seal and the first side portion and second side portion) to reveal the entirety of the product. The package may be fully opened to cause the package to lie substantially flat. The package may be re-closed after opening. The package may be subsequently re-opened and re-closed, for example using adhesives present on the first end portion, second end portion, first side portion, second side portion.

As stated above, the adhesives used in respect of the first and second side portions may not have the same bond strength along the length of the first and second side portions. In an embodiment the adhesive strength may alternate between areas of relatively high bond strength with areas of relatively low bond strength. This arrangement may facilitate the package being preferentially openable in distinct and known regions to provide an indexed peal back or opening of the package, for example to expose known parts or regions of the product. As such, in use, the packaging assembly may be opened to reveal at least a portion of the product and then resealed, for example after having removed at least a part of the product.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with references to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is plan view of the packaging assembly according to the invention;

Figures 2a to 2c provide plan views of the packaging assembly as it is opened;

Figure 2d indicates various components of the opened packaging assembly; and Figure 3 is a second embodiment of packaging assembly according to the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 , there is shown a packaging assembly 1 comprising a package 2 and a product 3 (best seen Figure 2d) having a first end 3a, a second end 3b and an elongate axis E, and an intended upper surface 3u, in this case a chocolate bar comprising 36 individual portions P provided as an array of columns C and rows R (4 x 9).

The packaging assembly 1 has a first end 1a and a second end 1 b and a first side 1c and a second side 1d. An openable flap 4 comprising an openable seal is located between the first end 1a and the second end 1 b. As shown, the openable flap 4 lies transverse the packaging assembly 1 (and product 3) and is located closer to the first end 1a than to the second end 1b, the reasons for which will be explained below.

As can be seen form Figure 2c, the package 2 is formed from a sheet of material 5 having a first end portion 5a and a second end portion 5b (as is most clearly seen in Figure 2c). The sheet of material 5 has an inner surface 5i and an outer surface 5o, the inner surface 5i facing the product 3 and the outer surface 5o providing a decorative surface and indicia such as branding information. The wrapping of the package 2 about the product 3 is such that the first end 1a and the second end 1b of the packaging assembly 1 correspond, respectively, to a first nominal fold 6a and a second nominal fold 6b in the sheet of material 5. The sheet of material 5 has a first side portion 5c and a second side portion 5d. The first side 1c of the packaging assembly 1 is formed by facing portions of the first side portion 5c of the sheet of material 5 and second side 1d of the packaging assembly 1 is formed by facing portions of the second side portion 5d of the sheet of material 5.

The first side portion 5c, is nominally subdivided into a first region 5ci extending from the first end portion 5a to the first nominal fold 6a, a second region 5cii, extending from the first nominal fold 6a to the second nominal fold 6b and a third portion extending from the second nominal fold 6b to the second end portion 5b. The second side portion 5d is similarly nominally subdivided.

The first side portion 5c and the second side portion 5d each have first and second adhesives A, A’ respectively applied along second regions 5cii and 5dii (indicated by dashed lines). As will be appreciated, the first adhesive A and the second adhesive A’ are located on the inner surface of the part of the sheet material 5 which is intended to form the rearmost surface of the packaging assembly 1 and each adhesive A, A’ extends along the respective second regions 5cii and 5dii from (or proximate to) the first fold 6a to (or proximate to) the second fold 6b.

Additionally, the first side portion 5c and the second side portion 5d may each have adhesives (not shown) applied along respective third regions 5ciii and 5diii, which adhesives may extend from or proximate the second nominal fold 6b to the second end portion 5b. Further, the first side portion 5c and the second side portion 5d may each have adhesives (not shown) applied along respective first regions 5ci and 5di, which adhesives may extend from or proximate the first nominal fold 6a to the first end portion 5a. In the packaging assembly 1 (best seen in Figure 2a), a portion of the first adhesive A is covered by a facing portion of the first side portion 5c (corresponding to the third region 5ciii of the first side portion 5c) and a portion of the second adhesive A’ is covered by a facing portion of the second side portion 5d (corresponding to the third region 5diii of the second side portion 5d) to provide a container which covers the majority of the product 3.

The remainder of the first adhesive A is covered by a facing portion of the first side portion 5c (corresponding to the first region 5ci of the first side portion 5c) and a portion of the second adhesive A’ is covered by a facing portion of the second side portion 5d (corresponding to the first region 5di of the second side portion 5d).

Additionally, the second end portion 5b of the sheet 5 is folded back on itself to form a return 5r which bears a transverse adhesive A”. The inner surface of the first end portion 5a of the sheet material 5 is brought into registration with the adhesive A’” to secure the flap 4.

Preferably, the first end portion 5a overlies, and has a distal end 5a’ which extends beyond, the adhesive A”. In this way the first end portion 5a provides a gripping portion which may be grasped by a consumer to facilitate opening of the transverse flap 4 and the package assembly 1 . The first end portion 5a may extend beyond the adhesive A” by a length of 2 to 10 mm, for example 2 to 8mm.

As shown, the distal end 5a’ of the end portion 5a has a curved form. In some cases only a region about the mid-point of the curved form may protrude beyond the adhesive A”, thereby providing a gripping tab for manipulation by the consumer to open the openable flap 4. In other cases the entirety of the curved from may protrude beyond the adhesive A”.

As can be seen from Figure 2d, for example, the inner surface of the sheet material 5 bears indicia I . It will be appreciated that the inner surface of the sheet material provides a continuous surface for the presentation of indicia (e.g. visual and/or written indicia) which provides a unique and visually pleasing appearance.

The package assembly 1 may be manufactured using a flow wrapping machine.

For example, the package assembly 1 may be formed by forwarding a continuous length of flexible material having a first edge and a second edge in a machine direction and securing the first edge to the second edge to form a tubular structure, wherein the first edge and the second edge together provide the openable seal. The product 3, which is longer than it is wide, is located within the tubular structure such that the front face 3u of the product 3 is adjacent the openable seal and the openable seal extends transversely with respect to the product 3. The product 3 is secured within the tubular structure by sealing facing portions of the flexible material either side of the product 3.

In use, the consumer is presented with the packaging assembly 1 , as seen in Figure 1. The consumer is aware of the intended uppermost surface of the packaging assembly 1 by the branding or other indicia as well as the location of the openable flap 4. By pulling on the flap 4, for example using the protruding portion of the first end portion 5a, the consumer will separate the first end portion 5a of the sheet material 5 from the return 5r bearing the transverse adhesive A” and the first region 5ci of the first side portion 5d and the first region 5di of the second side portion 5d from the respective regions 5cii and 5dii bearing respective adhesives A, A’ to reveal a portion of the product 3, and especially a portion of the upper surface 3u of the product 3. It will be appreciated that after separation, some adhesive may remain on the first end portion 5a, the first region 5ci of the first side portion 5c and/or the first region 5di of the second side portion 5d.

As can be seen in Figure 2a, the proportions of the packaging assembly 1 can be chosen such that, for a multi-portion chocolate bar a first row R of the chocolate bar (and specifically an upper surface 3u of the first row R of the chocolate bar) is fully revealed with the openable flap

4 in an open condition providing a new and unique revelatory experience. The consumer can break off a first row R for consumption without having to handle the remainder of the chocolate bar, thereby limiting the chance for dirt or other matter coming into contact with the bar.

If a further portion of chocolate is required, the consumer can either squeeze the second end 1 b of the packaging assembly 1 to cause more of the chocolate to be exposed or can peel back the sheet material to expose more of the chocolate, as shown in Figure 2b. Indeed, the consumer can peel back the entirety of the sheet material 5 to reveal the entire chocolate bar, as shown in Figure 2c. As shown in Figure 2c, the sheet material 5 forms a convenient platter on which the chocolate bar is located and from which portions of the bar (e.g. successive rows R) can be removed, without the bar coming into contact with the underlying surface.

As explained above, the inner surface of the sheet material 5 bears indicia I which can provide extra messaging, competition information, marketing information and so on. In a flow-wrapped product it is not possible to provide such a surface for indicia because of the presence of the elongate seam.

Further, by peeling back the sheet material 5 to reveal row R after row R of the chocolate the removal of row R after row R can expose sequential steps of portions of a message or other indicia which might be used for entertainment purposes.

Once the consumer has consumed the desired amount of the chocolate, the steps are reversed to reseal the packaging assembly 1. Because the adhesive A, A’, A” retains its tack or is otherwise configured to re-seal it can be used to reseal the packaging assembly, thereby facilitating effective storage of the chocolate bar for later consumption. In order to ensure that the product 3 is securely retained with the package 2 the adhesive A, A’, A” used will have the necessary bond strength. The adhesives A, A’, A”, which may be the same or different, may have the same or different bond strengths, for example the bond strength of adhesives A and A’ may be greater than that of transverse adhesive A”.

For example, Adhesives A and A’ may have varying bond strengths along their lengths, in a direction toward the second fold line 6b. If the bond strength of the adhesive has peaks and troughs it may encourage the sequential peal back of the upper layer in registration with location of the rows R of chocolate.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 which shows an alternative packaging assembly 1 T, with similar integers indicated with the same number and prefix 1 .

The packaging assembly of Figure 3 differs from that of Figures 1 and 2.

Firstly, the distal end 15a’ of the first end portion 15a is extends in a direction perpendicular to the side portions 15c’ and 15d’. The entirety of the distal end 15a’ will preferably extend beyond the adhesive 1A” to allow manipulation and facilitate ease of opening the flap 14 by the user.

Secondly, the return 15r, which extends a distance D may be secured to a facing portion of the first side 11c and/or the second side 11d of the packaging assembly 11. This may be achieved by adhesives, a heat seal or other means.

Thirdly, the return 15r may be provided with a frangible portion 15f defined by a line of weakness. The line of weakness may be provided by a laser or by die cutting. Upon opening the openable flap 14 the bond strength of the adhesive 1A” may be sufficient to cause the line of weakness to break and cause the frangible portion 15f to separate from the remainder of the return 15r and adhere to the inner surface of the openable flap 14. Such a configuration will provide the packaging assembly 11 with a degree of tamper evidence.

Further, where the frangible portion has been removed, it may provide the consumer with a site to aid in the folding or pealing pack of the package to reveal more of the product.

Alternatively, a separate tab may be provided on the distal edge of the second end portion.

Some or all of the features of the packaging assembly 11 may be used with the first packaging assembly 1.

Although the above description specifically mentions chocolate, the package 2, 12 may be used with products which are not chocolate, such as other confectionery or snack products, especially those which may be portioned such as toffee or sweets. Further, although multiportion tablets are discussed in the above description, the packaging assembly 1 , T of the invention may be used with smaller bars of chocolate and other products which are intended for consumption in a single sitting.