Canned: Canadian food manufacturer switches to cartons

The company’s ‘Canton’ brand fondue bouillons, traditional ‘canned classics’, will now be sold in carton packs with more products to follow.

Tim Kirchen, head of marketing and business development at SIG Combibloc, North America, said awareness was developing in the US in how people judge food packaging.

He added consumers no longer see packaging as just a protective container and handy shipping unit for food. Foods in convenient portion sizes, in packaging made from eco-friendly materials derived from renewable resources, are more in demand.

“This is where aseptic carton packs for foods and beverages come into play – carton packs tick those boxes. Lassonde’s decision to go for the carton pack is representative of the packaging trend in North America, which is moving from food metal cans to carton packs​,” he said.

Foodproductiondaily.com​ recently reported worldwide sales within the canned food market are forecast to reach nearly $80bn (approximately €60bn) by 2014. However, only three out of eight sectors in the canned foods industry grew in 2011.

According to Euromonitor International's market report, 'Canned/Preserved Food Packaging in the US​'​, the fastest growing category was canned fish, due to a rise in fish consumption, improvements in sustainably-sourced products and an influx of value-added products within the sector.

Despite this increase in value, the canned foods industry is in decline in volume terms.

 ‘Greener’ packaging​

Stefano Bertolli, VP Communications, Lassonde, said the choice to switch to cans was influenced by a lighter, more practical and ‘greener’ packaging that preserves the flavour and quality of its fondue bouillons better.

“That’s the end of the can for our bouillons​,” he said. “With the filling machines, we’re able to fill a very wide range of food variants and package them for long life; liquid and more viscous products can be processed just as safely and gently as products with a high particulate content​.”

Cartons are among the most environmentally friendly packs for long-life foods, because they are made up to 75 per cent from wood and they have a smaller environmental footprint than all other packaging alternatives for long-life food products.

“Because of their square base and light weight, carton packs are also the ideal logistical choice during transport, in warehouses and on the sales shelf​,” added ​Bertolli.

“Carton packs stack well, and secondary packaging can be kept to a minimum​.”