Apple handle bag designed to be different

Handle bags are becoming a common sight on supermarket shelves, with producers opting to give consumers the convenience of a 'grab 'n go' experience. One company has come up with a unique apple handle bag that has been carefully designed with premium products in mind. 

There are some key differences in Vortex Packaging Niagara's apple handle bag, as Phil Short - the company's president - explained, "Our apple handle bag is the only poly plastic fruit bag out there with the design that it has," he said. "Vortex has won awards for the innovative design, relating to the 'Red Prince' bag. The bag has a rounded top which is different to the common square topped design, along with the hoop handle. Additionally, it is gusseted along the bottom so that it stands up by itself."

Short said the company has had this design available for 10 years now, and it came about after some careful and lengthy design process. "The end result stemmed from my background in manufacturing and design, as well as my time in retail," Short began. "I remember seeing the regular 'tie-closed' bags in stores when they came out. I noticed they were all laying down, causing bruising to the fruit, food waste, and otherwise looking untidy. I knew there had to be a better design so I wanted to have a stand-up handle bag for apples, able to stand up and support itself."

"The design process took 3 years," he continued. "The gussets needed to be a certain width to support the weight and this took a long time to calculate and get right. We also wanted it to be completely layer-organized, and designed in such a way as to be fill-able by hand to get the ideal count and weight. After 3 years of patience, we finally perfected it."

The bags hold 2.5lb of apples, which Short said is a great balance and was ahead of its time. "At the time, we were told it was crazy as most of the majors were carrying bags of 3lb and above," he said. "However, over the years, bag sizes have decreased and 2.5lb is now broadly accepted. We came up with 2.5lb because we felt it was different and with less in there, was more competitive for sales, while also providing enough fruit for the customer."

Vortex manufactures the bag with the premium producer in mind. Short said the rounded edges give the bags a premium look and feel, while the company have also opted for a slide-lock opening. 

"It's much easier and cheaper to make a square top bag and that is why the majority of handle bags are designed that way," he noted. "However, we wanted to make the bag stand out on the shelf with the intension of both presenting the product with a premium look and feel, as well as to grab the attention of the customer. The rounded top requires more tooling to fabricate, which is more effort. However, we like it as it really stands out."

"We also decided to go with the slide-lock opening, instead of the zip lock," Short continued. "The cost difference was negligible, and it's a very convenient way to open and close the bag, adding to the premium design."

Short suggested that the bag is perfect for what might be considered 'special' produce, such as a unique variety or organic produce. He said the company would be interested in working with grape producers and potentially even peach growers.

"Although currently made to hold apples, the handle bag is ideally suited to a number of different fruits," Short observed. "We see it for a company wanting to exhibit a special variety fruit and would love to work with organic grape growers, for example. The message we want to give is that in this bag, produce will be easily identified by the customer in the store."

"This handle bag would also be excellent for peaches," he continued. "Peaches are starting to be sold in bags and it's a growing market. They are already readily available in clamshells. However, these are expensive and we see a great opportunity for peaches in the stand up handle bags. Because we can't compete with the widely produced square top bags, our handle bag is aimed at the premium producer willing to spend a little more in order to stand out on the shelves."

For more information:

Phil Short

Tel: +1 (905) 562-4857