Food MArketing & Technology In India Food Marketing & Technology In India Vol 10 | Page 38

Packaging
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS IN
THE BUTCHER’S COUNTER
B
utchers and meat cutting
companies are increasingly faced
with the challenge of packaging
their products in materials that meet
the high requirements for shelf life
and product protection. The packaging
should not only look attractive, but it
should also protect meat and sausages
from external influences during
transport, storage and in the sales
counter. Their customers demand
high quality, a large product variety,
attractive product presentation and
easy handling of the packaging.
In addition, the target groups are
becoming increasingly sensitive to the
issue of sustainability. Is meeting these
demands utopian? Definitely not for
ALLFO. The Allgäu-based specialist
and European market leader for
vacuum bags made of PA/PE barrier
films responds confidently to this
particular challenge of meat companies
and butchers with its portfolio.
High availability
and fast delivery
The company, founded in 1966 by
Hans Bresele and now managed by his
son, not only convinces with product
diversity but also with the high
availability of its bags and fast delivery.
Around 200 bag types differing in
size, shape and material thickness are
available immediately and in large
quantities. They share around 3,500
pallet spaces in the company’s own
warehouse. The bestseller, the side-
seal bag with a film thickness of 90my,
alone, is available in 140 different sizes.
“Our range extends from attractive bag
solutions for the retail trade to large
industrial packaging and is therefore
particularly interesting for the meat,
cheese and fish industries”, states Hans
Bresele, Managing Director of ALLFO.
Spirit of success goes
international
The company scores with its strong
supply structure not only in Germany,
but also internationally. The course of
success beyond the borders of German-
speaking countries is dynamic.
ALLFO’s sales team has set its sights
not only on Europe, but also on global
markets. The company is aiming for
solid growth rates and has aligned
its entire production accordingly.
Ever since ALLFO has been united
with ALLVAC and BREVAC, the
two sister companies specialising in
the production of barrier films, the
company has been able to share the
required resources for bag production
with them.
Additional synergy effects
Due to the shorter distances at the
shared production site in the industrial
estate of Waltenhofen near Kempten,
customers benefit from improved
logistics processes, additional synergy
effects, faster response and shorter
delivery times. Around 270 employees,
including six trainees, work on almost
23,000 square meters of production and
storage space and in the 1,300 square
meter, three-story administration
building.
The company has also put a lot of
effort into product development,
which usually begins in the company’s
in-house laboratory and application
technology center. When devising a
new packaging solution, the company
starts with the respective product.
It should survive transport and
storage undamaged, arrive fresh and
appealing on refrigerated shelves or in
sales counters and retain its shelf life
for as long as possible.
The bags are primarily made of flexible
PA/PE medium barrier multilayer bag
film. The film is based on alternating
layers of polyamide and polyethylene,
produced by both casting and blow
extrusion.
High-performance vacuum bagsThe
various bag types offered in many
different sizes and film thicknesses
range from side-seal bags, shrink
bags, tubular bags to cook-in bags,
stand-up pouches and multilayer
bags. Customers benefit from the
high performance of the bags which
combine excellent barrier properties
Food Marketing & Technology
38
August 2019
and versatility. Practical opening
aids with tear notches and tear tapes,
such as VakTape, promise additional
customer benefits.
The classic, practical zipper is
implemented to reseal the bags by
applying light pressure. “The bag
can be reclosed almost liquid-tight
after opening. The aroma of the bag’s
contents, spices or tea, for example,
is also perfectly retained”, Bresele
explains. Parmesan and other grated
cheeses equally benefit from the
zipper closure, as the products can be
portioned practically and do not need
to be consumed all at once.
Food-safe Velcro closure
The latest innovation in this segment
is the HookVak, a food-safe Velcro
closure integrated into the bag
like the classic zipper. The vacuum
bag is first sealed airtight at the
sealing seam – usually located above
the reclosure – where it can be easily
opened again if required. Thus the
contents can be completely or partially
removed from the bag, which then can
be effortlessly sealed again by means
of the Velcro. Compared to the zipper,
the HookVak is easier to handle,
particularly with chunky or pourable
products.
Pre-cooked lunch meals
High-performance cook-in bags have
become increasingly interesting for
meat-processing companies. “Butchers
in particular often offer pre-cooked
lunch meals in addition to the classic
range of meat and sausages. The
customer only needs to heat them gently
at home”, Bresele notes. Meanwhile,