In order to make better use of lemons and offer alternative products with a longer shelf life, the Spanish company Belsán, from Murcia, has created a new gourmet format under its own brand: Li, which consists of dehydrated slices in a lemon-shaped packaging made from biodegradable materials.
Francisco Vicente Gea Belmonte, Director of Belsán.
"Li is our way of extending the shelf life of lemons and bringing them closer to the world of design, functionality, and care for the planet," says Francisco Vicente Gea Belmonte, director of Belsán. "We have been producing and marketing fresh lemons for many years; a perfect product, but also highly perishable. We wanted to supply lemons with a longer shelf life and came up with the concept of dehydrated lemon slices, which can be used for tea, cocktails, and soft drinks or as a condiment in cooking and which retain all the essential oils in the rind."
"For the packaging, instead of plastic bags, we have opted for an iconic lemon-shaped container designed by Eduardo Fraile. It is an eye-catching container made of biodegradable plant-based polymers. It looks like plastic, but it's not. In fact, if you bury it, it will turn into compost in about 6 months," says Francisco Vicente. "Moreover, the packaging can be put to different uses once the contents have been consumed."
"With Li, the brand name for this product, we are making better use of our lemon production and giving more options for consumption," says the Director of Belsán. "It's a format for a more gourmet niche market. For example, we are targeting the food departments of Harrods, Lafayette, and the Club Gourmet of Spanish retailer El Corte Inglés, among others." From June 16, Li will also be available in Belsán's online store.
This month, the domestic lemon campaign is coming to a close for this Murcia-based company with the harvest of the Verna variety. It will then continue straight away with the first lemons from overseas to be able to provide a year-round service.
"It has been a spectacular season for us, with growth both in terms of volume and in the number of clients and turnover. We are currently expanding, and that's why we are going to invest around 2 million euros in September to install some new packaging lines in preparation for the growth we are expecting next season. We are also close to obtaining the necessary patent to produce and market a new variety of seed," says Francisco Vicente Gea.
For more information:
Francisco Vicente Gea Belmonte
Belmonte Sánchez Belsán S.L.
Vereda Rincón de Gallego 16
Tel.: +34 630 943670
30579 Torreagüera, Murcia. Spain
www.belsansl.com
[email protected]