The random weight, resealable bags contain six 4- to 6-oz trimmed, individually vacuum-packed portions, each with a coded use- or freeze-by date. Shelf life is 14 to 17 days. The 2-mil polyethylene preformed outer bags are extruded and converted with resealable zipper by Star Packaging (www.starpackagingcorp.com), which supplies the bags wicketed. Pressure-sensitive 60# paper labels are printed flexo in six colors by Mid Atlantic Label (www.midatlanticlabel.com).
The packaging is done at Coleman’s Mount Joy, PA, plant, where the inner packs are filled and vacuum sealed at a rate to 30 packs/min on f/f/s machinery from Spain’s Ulma Packaging (www.ulmapackaging.com), according to Coleman’s vice president of sales Tom O’Connor.
The line is expanding from a plain chicken version that has been available regionally since 2005 to include four marinated products such as lime salsa. Products sell for between $5.49 and $5.99 per lb.
The ready-to-prepare refrigerated products permit consumers to freeze them at home, according to Rob Siegal, director of new product marketing: “This format saves products from freezer burn and consumers from having to wrap or bag the portions.”
“Feedback has been very positive,” says O’Connor. “Consumers love that they never have to touch the product.”
Quick Hits
FMI SERVES UP PACKAGING FEAST
For years, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) show has helped launch innovative food and beverage products in enticing packaging shapes and colors. The FMI 2006 show in Chicago last month was no exception. Greeting visitors as they entered McCormick Place’s South Hall was a New Product Showcase with display cases filled with imaginative packs of bakery, beverage, sauce, dairy, “shelf grocery,” pet, and health-and-beauty products.
On this page, Packaging World reports on two of the more creative packs spotted on the show floor: Coleman Natural Foods’ resealable packs of chicken breasts, and McCormick Finishing Sauce in pourable pouches.
The FMI show was co-located with four other shows at McCormick Place May 6-9 that combined were billed as “The Power of Five.” Besides FMI, the other shows were the Spring Fancy Food Show, United Produce Expo and Conference, the U.S.Food Export Showcase, and All Things Organic.
