As Mr. Yang expected, online shopping started to develop in mainland China from 2011. Supermarkets went online with their fruit and started to discover the advantages of small packaging. The demand increased and Shuguole had the opportunity to provide reliable packaging solutions
Expanding production reduces prime costs
Shuguole already had 8 production lines. But in order to meet the demands of the market, Shuguole invested in two more large scale production lines in 2013 and 2014. Shuguole also built 100 000 dust-free lines to improve the production power and hygiene standards. "The investment cost may be big, but expansion not only brings a lower prime cost, but the production process also improves. This is a good move in the competitive fresh produce industry. An automated line can make a model in 2-3 seconds, so it prevents the PET material becoming white during modelling. So the cases are very transparent. The cases bring out the best in fresh fruits and vegetables," explains Mr. yang.
Expanding production reduces prime costs
Shuguole already had 8 production lines. But in order to meet the demands of the market, Shuguole invested in two more large scale production lines in 2013 and 2014. Shuguole also built 100 000 dust-free lines to improve the production power and hygiene standards. "The investment cost may be big, but expansion not only brings a lower prime cost, but the production process also improves. This is a good move in the competitive fresh produce industry. An automated line can make a model in 2-3 seconds, so it prevents the PET material becoming white during modelling. So the cases are very transparent. The cases bring out the best in fresh fruits and vegetables," explains Mr. yang.
The reduced prime cost and the increased quality helped Shuguole to attract good clients: supermarkets, online shops and market leading chain stores. They all cooperate closely with Shuguole. The production capacity of Shuguole has reached 6000 ton per year. The company has swiftly moved into the center of the fresh produce packaging industry, but supply still doesn't meet the demand.
dust-free workshops
Fully automatic machinery in the dust-free workshops.
Innovation and the diversification of packaging development
As development leaps forward, competition is not limited to quality and prime cost. Packaging also helps retail stores to distinguish themselves from others. "But when small transparent packaging becomes standard, all packaging will be quite similar. So future-minded retail shops already start to have demands in terms of customised packaging. We learned from the feedback of our partners and started research. In November, we will promote a new line of packaging."
The development trend of fruit slices
"One of the directions of development in fruit and vegetable retail industry is fresh sliced fruit. Sliced fruit not only looks more tasty, but it is easier for the costumer to eat. Some advanced fruit and vegetable enterprises in China already started to set foot in this field. But preservation and preventing oxidation are some key problems that still need to be solved."
Sliced fruit in China is usually packaged in membrane packaging or simple cases. The prime cost may be low, but it is unable to maintain freshness. "We observed foreign companies and found that there are differences with China both from the side of packaging as from the side of consumers. Chinese consumers are biased about fresh fruits. They believe that mostly fruit of low quality or freshness is sliced. They don't buy it. In packaging, foreign companies normally use air regulated packaging. The sliced fruit can remain fresh for 3 to 5 days, but the prime cost is high."
But difficulties like changing consumer opinions and cost reduction are common problems in the development of the industry. Consumers need to be given time to recognise the advantages of new things and the inadequacies of old products. Mr. Yang says that "we now do what we can to communicate and collaborate with fruit slicing companies. We explore development methods for articles suitable for Chinese sliced fruit."
Looking back at the last 6 years, Mr. Yang concludes: "We lower the prime costs while preserving quality. But we also keep innovating. That is the only way to provide costumers with packaging solutions when they need it. That is the only way to make products that everyone enjoys."
Mr. yang (first on the right) and Chinese and foreign partners at an exhibition.
But difficulties like changing consumer opinions and cost reduction are common problems in the development of the industry. Consumers need to be given time to recognise the advantages of new things and the inadequacies of old products. Mr. Yang says that "we now do what we can to communicate and collaborate with fruit slicing companies. We explore development methods for articles suitable for Chinese sliced fruit."
Looking back at the last 6 years, Mr. Yang concludes: "We lower the prime costs while preserving quality. But we also keep innovating. That is the only way to provide costumers with packaging solutions when they need it. That is the only way to make products that everyone enjoys."
Mr. yang (first on the right) and Chinese and foreign partners at an exhibition.
For more information,
Mr. Wang
Shanghai Shuguole Online Services
www.shuguole.com.cn
Telephone： (+86) 186 1686 4175
Wechat：186 1686 4175
Email：Eric_yang1988@126.com
www.shuguole.com.cn
Telephone： (+86) 186 1686 4175
Wechat：186 1686 4175
Email：Eric_yang1988@126.com