From left to right, Witold Gaj, Dorota Wojcik and Adam Sikorski from Polish packing company SoFruPak.
SoFruPak specialises in the packaging of soft fruits and had been nominated for their SoFruBox® cardboard Systems, which are flatpack, making them easy to transport. The boxes can be constructed in two clicks and used as an advertising medium, with graphics printed directly onto the box. Perhaps most importantly, the boxes were designed with the berry cooling process in mind, extending the shelf life and berry quality.
"We started by offering 1 and 2 kg packaging SoFruPak®. The SoFruBox® for the 1 kg SoFruPak® is offered bottomless making the cooling process faster and more efficient. In addition, we designed the box to maximise its display; the boxes can be tilted once in the shops increasing their appeal to consumers."
The trays that the boxes are kept in are 30x 80cm, making them easy to palletize, but also, the unusual size helps grab the attention of consumers walking by. They are easy to stack on a pallet as well, with 4 columns wide and a maximum of 16 layers tall.
Cardboard is an important material for keeping the berries in optimal condition because berries that are enclosed in plastic can keep too much moisture, increasing the chances of quality issues. This makes the boxes ideal for exporters because they are well suited for long distance travel.
Keeping the end user in mind
"90% of the fruit purchased in shops is by women, which is why we also thought it was important to design the packaging specifically with the end user in mind. There is a tab integrated into the SoFruMiniPak® so that the boxes can be easily lifted from the tray and they have been sized so they fit perfectly in the palm of a woman's hand. The idea is that once she picks it up, she won't want to put it back down again!" shared Adam.
Adam said that it is important for growers to think about their end customers when choosing packaging, because he thinks it is just as important as considering the cooling process.
Patricia Pacak presenting the packaging from Sofrupak in the hall displaying the Innovation Award nominees.
The SoFruBox® System is patent pending in Europe and the USA, and offers a lot of potential for various markets, especially the organic sector.
"I think that our innovative Packaging System Solutions are a perfect fit for the organic sector, where something like plastic packaging doesn't fit with the product being offered. We believe that our packaging is the way of the future and we have been looking into expanding into new markets like USA and South America countries, but we also think that there is demand for a product like ours closer to home, in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Germany. We are also looking for serious partners to cooperate in our dealer network in UE countries." concluded Adam.
For more information:
Adam Sikorski
SofruPak
Tel: +48 725 591 457
Email: adam.sikorski@sofrupak.com
www.sofrupak.com