The deal has extended LINPAC’s reach into the Middle Eastern market, through a contract to supply its new Vacuum Skin Pack solutions (VSP) to the Saudi poultry company, whose identity remains unknown at this point.
The deal comes with the chicken producer’s investment in two Mondini VSP packaging lines, for which LINPAC will supply PET skin trays. The company states there is also the prospect of extending production to a further four lines.
Adam Barnett, Vice President of Sales at LINPAC Packaging, said: “This is a very significant partnership we are creating and further extends our footprint in the Middle East, which is rapidly growing economically as shoppers adopt a more western approach to retailing.”
The technology that LINPAC Packaging has developed means that its range of trays can deliver multiple packaging material formats on one tray sealing platform. The most crucial element of the technology, however, is that one single machine can skin pack a normal tray for sliced and cooked meats; protruding skin packs for steaks, chops and chicken breasts; and super protruding for joints and whole chickens.
The new range of rigid Vacuum Skin Pack (VSP) solutions from LINPAC offer improved product protection and extend the shelf-life of meat by as much as three days. This is an important figure for retailers as it brings improved inventory and order management, as well as production efficiency.
And production efficiency is key in a region where consumer demand for poultry is high. Saudi Arabian poultry consumption is a massive 45kg per person per year, second only to Qatar, which has the highest consumption in the world. The market is also moving rapidly from frozen (largely imported) birds to fresh poultry, locally produced and slaughtered according to Islamic standards.
As Barnett further explains: “Our innovative rigid and foam vacuum skin pack solutions provide enhanced consumer appeal, shelf space efficiency and maximum protection to products during transit and in store. The preformed tray also gives a higher quality look and feel to packs and this, combined with the extended shelf life provided by this design, means our customers are getting the very best from their packaging.”