Designed to compete with traditional zip lock and other re-sealable options, Milk Link claims the new system sets a new a ‘gold standard’ in cheese packaging.
‘Hook and loop’
The new Grip Step technology features ‘hook and loop’ self gripping fasteners made from heat sealable polyethylene.
Milk Link worked with APLIX to apply the ‘hook and loop’ technology to food packaging. It has previously been used for other non-food applications including as a sealant in the aerospace industry.
The new format is being rolled out across the UK on certain Sainsbury’s cheese products and Milk Link’s Cadog and Lockerbie regional cheese brands. Milk Link has an 18 month exclusive deal with APLIX on the use of the technology in food packaging.
Customer research
To test out the Grip Strip on the market, Milk Link sought out the help of Leatherhead Food Research. Consumers were asked to compare the new format with existing packaging formats such as the zip-lock or standard wrap.
70 per cent of consumers questioned said the Grip Strip was the easiest to reseal, citing the width of the seal and ease of alignment as key advantages.
A spokesperson for Milk Link said there is no need to line up the seal as closely as you would for other re-sealable packs, making it easier to close for less dexterous people. The Leatherhead research found that 80 per cent of respondents thought that Grip Step to be the easiest type of packaging for the whole family, including children and elderly people who struggle with fiddly packs.