Food Packaging: Pouch adds convenience to value-added poultry
“People don’t like to touch chicken, and when they buy large portions, they don’t like to wash and wrap the parts before storing them in their freezers,” explains Gudjon Olafsson, marketing manager of new products for the $1.4 billion processor. After Fresh & Easy fillets are hand trimmed, they go through an ozonated-water rinse and then are portioned into vacuum-sealed pouches. Those pouches subsequently are sealed in an easy-tear, zippered outer bag. Half a dozen breast fillets totaling about 2.5 lbs. and a dozen thighs weighing about a kilogram are packed into each master pouch. Suggested retail prices are $4.99 and $3.99 per lb., respectively.
“Nothing has really changed in the chicken case in years, and the idea behind Fresh & Easy was to add a lot of incremental changes that produce added value and more convenience for consumers,” he adds. An unanticipated benefit of the inner vacuum pack is the retention of natural juices. Instead of evaporating in the cooler, those juices are retained and keep the fillets moist throughout the cooking process.