Strawberries sold in UK-based Tesco stores will be packaged in tamper-proof and resealable containers, using Marcfarlane Labels' Reseal-it system, which is designed to keep the fruit fresh and has a lower unit cost than the previous packaging used to hold the strawberries.
Glasgow-headquartered Macfarlane Group has been supplying Reseal-it for several years to the US and continental Europe and launched the labelling system in the UK last year with Walkers Shortbread products.
The packaging manufacturer and supplier was approached by S&A Produce and Sampak about the possibility of combining the labelling system with Esterpeel lidding film to provide an alternative to the traditional lid used on soft fruit packaging.
S&A Produce group technical manager Paul Shepherd said: "This dramatically reduces packaging waste compared to the conventional plastic lid and offers reseal capabilities, which have not been available on traditional sealing film. Customers are now able to reseal the strawberry pack to maintain optimum freshness."
Macfarlane Group chief executive officer Peter Atkinson said that the Reseal-it packaging system would be introduced for another Tesco product within the near future.
