Working with Ultimate Packaging and QV Foods, ASDA has become the first retailer to launch Viridiflex packed potatoes into UK stores this summer, which has significantly increased the shelf-life of Extra Special Cornish Crystal Potatoes when compared with conventional packs.
Viridiflex film works by drawing moisture away from fresh produce, creating an environment that can help to prevent decay. The film has good oxygen barrier qualities that can be manipulated using Ultimate Packaging’s Adapt MAP laser technology, modifying the film to create packaging that can optimize the shelf-life of various types of fresh produce.
Adapt MAP laser perforation patterns specified by the Ultimate technical team were used to adapt Viridiflex potato film, to increase gas transmission through the film and manage oxygen levels to reduce the risk of the Cornish Crystal Potatoes “greening”.
Jon Wynn, ASDA Produce Category Technical Manager, comments, “I am delighted with the performance of Viridiflex film and the Extra Special Cornish Crystal potato pack. ASDA customers have benefited from a significant increase in product life and end of life product quality, highlighted by a 92% year on year reduction in complaints in the first five weeks of the Extra Special Cornish Crystal Potato season.”
Viridiflex is a laminate structure that has been designed by Ultimate’s technical team, who works with Innovia Films and users involved in the harvest and packing of fresh produce to supply retailers across Britain. According to Ultimate Packaging, using Natureflex film from Innovia as a component makes Viridflex suitable for extending the shelf-life of a range of fresh produce.Viridflex is transparent, glossy and strong, which can be formed into bags or used as lidding film.
Chris Tonge, Ultimate Packaging Sales and Marketing Director, says, “Ultimate Packaging is driven by customer needs with over 70% of our product delivered into the fresh and chilled food sector. This has seen the company take major technical leaps to advance their offering of innovative films to the marketplace. This experience together with technical knowledge and first rate testing facilities has perfectly positioned Ultimate to establish a new leading edge range of packaging that can extend shelf-life.”
Source: www.adsalecprj.com/Publicity/MarketNews/lang-eng/article-67007511/Article.aspx
