The UK’s largest food retailer Tesco has launched its new re-branded “Healthy Living” range packed in a unique new paperboard tray produced by Alexir Packaging. The Alexipack tray combines the use of a bespoke material developed in conjunction with Stora Enso and state-of-the-art tray-forming technology.
Tesco’s “Healthy Living” range includes 48 different recipes of chilled ready meals. Each of the recipes is packed in the new Alexipack tray. It is a patented folded tray with an optional lid produced on a proven packing line system specifically designed for ready meals.
“After three years in development, this is a great new product that works fantastically well within the supply chain. All of us at Alexir are thrilled to be working with Tesco and food producers Bakkavor, Samworth Brothers and Kerry Foods as clients,” says Tom Sene, Sales Director at Alexir. The company produces 150 million cartons per annum, the majority of which is for the UK retail and single-use food service markets.
Stora Enso is the leading European supplier of packaging boards for food trays with its Trayforma product family. “We have developed the special board grade for Alexipack in a close cooperation with Alexir, and we are convinced that this new packaging solution will make a major impact on the tray market in the UK,” says Marcus Weise, Trayforma Product Manager at Stora Enso.
Significant weight reduction
Brand owners and retailers today face the challenge of reducing their total consumption of packaging materials. Alexipack offers excellent opportunities for weight reduction since it consists of the board tray and film lid only. Tesco used to pack its ready meals in plastic CPET trays with a film lid and a board sleeve. By the switch to Alexipack, the total weight of packages was reduced by as much as 35 percent. Being recyclable and mostly made from the renewable wood fibre are also significant environmental benefits of the new tray.
“The development of Alexipack presented many challenges, foremost being able to offer the required leak-resistant qualities of packing chilled ready meals within a board substrate. Substantial testing was carried out to ensure shelf life, transit and that the product met with Tesco’s requirements,” Mr Sene says.
The wide, clear surface of the tray offers excellent branding opportunities and its specific flat flanges were created for ease of production at the sealing stage. The PET coated board provides the required moisture and grease barrier and functionality for reheating, freezing and chilling.
For further information
www.storaenso.com/trayforma
www.storaenso.com/productnews
http://www.storaenso.com/
Stora Enso Consumer Board, Marcus Weise, Trayforma Product Manager, tel. +49 40 35 09 90
