Maglio Companies has responded to consumer demand for high-value produce by focusing on quality and convenience in Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa (EMEIA), along with Asia Pacific (APAC).
In the high-volume category of fresh cut watermelon, their award-winning readyripe® watermelon pouch is now available to grocery retailers in two sizes with three levels of technology and a new pricing structure to satisfy the unique needs of each retailer. Also, in 2020 Maglio has created the “retail shipper offering” where retailers can display the patented readyripe pouch adjacent/on the whole watermelon bin, and retail individual pouches to consumers for in-home use. This technology can be used for chunked fruit, ½ cut honey dew, half cut cantaloupe and pineapple.
Sam Maglio, President and CEO of Maglio Companies launched this gusseted pouch concept for fresh quartered watermelon in 2015 and retailers are getting on board. “The development of the patented pouch took several years and significant field-testing to perfect it,” said Maglio. “We wanted to get the technology just right.”
Rick Butera of Maglio Produce at Fruit Logistica 2020.
The specially formulated technology of the pouch regulates oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor transmission rates. The natural respiration of the melon creates an enhanced atmospheric environment, resulting in the quartered watermelon staying fresher, longer.
Retailer Benefits
Time and motion studies with leading grocers have shown that the readyripe® pouch reduces watermelon production time. The overwrap method can take up to three times longer than the readyripe® pouch to prepare quarter slices of watermelon for display in the store, and during busy watermelon season, retailers are looking for solutions to their labor challenges.
“There is an added benefit when you cut your production time in half or more,” explains Rick Butera, Director of Business Development. “Retailers can use the extra time to produce more quartered watermelon to satisfy peak season demand or use the extra time for other produce offerings that yields an additional stream of revenue and profit.” Furthermore “the readyripe pouch/technology comes in a 1lb Chunked fruit pouch, a ½ cut honeydew and cantaloupe pouch, and new to 2020 – as Maglio drives towards sustainability, is the ¼ sliced watermelon - recycled pouch.”
Consumer Opinion
In-store pilot programs have shown that consumers prefer the readyripe® pouched quarter watermelon and are willing to pay up to 20% more per pound. When Maglio representatives surveyed consumers in-store about their experience, four things rose to the top. Convenience, food safety, freshness and no mess.
The pouched quarter watermelon gives customers a superior product and retailer’s options for increasing productivity and profits. The shopping experience is more enjoyable for the consumer who can more easily carry, handle and store the quarter watermelon while the retailer can increase productivity and meet consumer demand for convenient produce options.
For more information: 
Rick Butera
Maglio Produce
Tel: +1 (262) 671-2104
Email: RAB@maglioproduce.com
www.maglioproduce.com