More consumers are shifting their buying habits towards high value produce, focusing on quality and convenience. Maglio Companies said it has responded to this demand, in the category of high volume sliced watermelon, with the creation of the readyripe® pouch.
Innovation
Sam Maglio, president and CEO of Maglio Companies developed a gusseted pouch concept for fresh quartered watermelon that he says benefits both the consumer and the retailer. “The development of the patented pouch took several years and significant field-testing in order to perfect it,” says Maglio. “We wanted to get the technology just right.”
Pouch Technology
The specially formulated pouch regulates oxygen and water vapor transmission rates. This respiration process creates an enhanced atmospheric environment, resulting in the quartered watermelon staying fresh for a longer period of time, according to the company.
Retailer benefits
The pouch is said to reduce watermelon production time. Maglio said the overwrap method can take up to three times longer than the pouch to wrap quarter slices of watermelon for display in the store, and during busy watermelon season, retailers are looking for solutions to their labor challenges.
The idea is that grocers can stop cutting the tips off the melon quarters to prevent tearing of the overwrap film which Maglio said improves weight, yield and reduces labor while increasing profit. Additionally, fewer quarter watermelons will be discarded as the pouched melon enhances shelf life and appearance.
“There is also an additional benefit,” explains Joe Delgadillo, Product Innovation Manager at Maglio. “When you cut your production time in half or more, you can use the extra time to produce more quarter watermelon and satisfy peak season demand, or use the extra time for other produce offerings that yields an additional stream of revenue and profit.”
“In 2017, we delivered millions of pouches to the market enabling retail grocers to fulfil in-store quarter watermelon programs with this innovative approach to packaging. With this solution, category sales have increased,” added Delgadillo.
Consumer opinion
When Maglio representatives surveyed consumers in-store about their experience, they said three things rose to the top. Convenience, freshness and no mess. The company said the pouch is designed so that consumers take the sliced watermelon out and cut the portion they are going to use and place the remainder back in the pouch and reseal it for later use.
For more information:
Janet Hoffer
Maglio Companies
Tel: +1 (910) 612-6932