First‑year Nottingham Trent University product design student Ethan Smith secured the top prize and £600 cash award for Core Republic.

The tin, designed for the confectionery sector, impressed judges with its dual‑purpose design: a premium chocolate gifting tin that transforms into a fully functional fondue set.

Judges took note of three standout qualities:

1. Functional versatility — a domed lid doubles as a melting pot and can also be used as a night light, demonstrating how metal’s heat resistance and structural integrity enable safe, durable after‑use applications.
2. Manufacturing feasibility — judges highlighted that the concept could be manufactured with relative ease, showing brands how premium metal formats need not be prohibitively complex.
3. Classic branding — the tin’s clean, heritage‑inspired aesthetic aligns with luxury confectionery cues, reinforcing metal’s ability to deliver high‑quality decorative finishes.

Judges described the design as “a well thought out concept that superbly fits the luxury, high‑end market brief with a very novel and functional after use.”

MPMA runner‑up: ‘Mello’ — metal as a tactile, collectible brand asset

Runner‑up Srivatsan Ravi, also from Nottingham Trent University, received a £200 prize for Mello, a collectible marshmallow tin defined by its tactile embossing and classic simplicity.

For producers, the design demonstrates how metal packaging can:

• Create premium shelf appeal — deep embossing adds a tactile dimension that plastic or cardboard cannot replicate.
• Support collectability — metal’s durability encourages reuse and display, strengthening brand loyalty.
• Improve retail efficiency — the tin’s stackable form is a practical advantage for merchandising and inventory management.

Judges praised its “classic simplicity” and the way embossing elevated a simple product into a premium range.

Elevating luxury confectionery

The MPMA brief — which awarded eight Gold, four Silver and eight Bronze medals this year — underscores metal’s growing relevance in premium gifting. Producers increasingly value metal for its combination of aesthetics, performance and sustainability.

Key advantages include:

• High‑impact decoration — from embossing to advanced print techniques, metal delivers finishes that command attention in competitive retail environments.
• Circularity — metal is infinitely recyclable, aligning luxury gifting with sustainability expectations.
• Durability and protection — strong barrier properties preserve confectionery quality while supporting premium positioning.
• Multi‑use potential — as shown by Core Republic, metal enables functional after‑use concepts that enhance perceived value.

Jason Galley, MPMA director and chief executive, said: “Confectionery packaging has the scope to really demonstrate the best of innovation in metal packaging. Imaginative design, striking finishes, advanced print techniques and unique shaping all combine to create exciting concepts. Metal really is a dynamic canvas for creative expression.”

Supporting future design talentThe awards ceremony, held at London’s Barbican on 2 July 2026, brought students together with industry professionals and included an MPMA‑led panel on Design for a circular economy.

For more than 20 years, MPMA has sponsored the Starpack Students Awards metals brief, providing universities with specialist sessions on designing and manufacturing in metal.

Producers benefit directly from this pipeline of emerging talent: students are experimenting with formats, finishes and functionalities that can inspire future commercial innovation.