The company, formerly known as Paccor, built a factory in Siemianowice Śląskie, in 2000, focusing on thin wall rigid plastic pots for the margarine and dairy industries and has extended its offering to ice cream, fresh meat and produce market segments.
Green salads
Joanna Grochowska, marketing and development director, Coveris Rigid Polska, told FoodProductionDaily it wanted to move from polystyrene to PP trays to meet market demand.
“PP trays provide better presentation, resistance in a whole supply chain and longer shelf life for fresh meat and poultry,” she said.
“We captured a market growth as well as a major change which we faced during last year. The model changed from retail-packed products to industrially packed fresh red meat and poultry. The rigid plastic trays meet the requirements of both industrial and retail business partners.”
Coveris Rigid products include printed and sleeved pots as well as DuoSmart, a combination of the appearance of paper cups with the functionality of polymers. Customers include Unilever, Danone and Zott.
Since 2013, the company has been developing products for pre-packed soft fruit, fresh cut, green salads and other produce.
Market growth
“We see a growth potential within this market so we will continue to develop a product range for different fresh food applications. We also plan to invest in extrusion and forming manufacturing in both our factories in Poland, Skierniewice and Siemianowice,” said Grochowska.
The PP trays were designed by the Coveris Rigid R&D department based on market research and input from its business partners. They come in dimensions of 182 x 142mm and two depths: 50mm and 70mm.
The launch was preceded by tests to customize the shape and functionality of the trays and they are available in blue, black or transparent colours to enhance the visible freshness appeal of the product on the shelf.
Grochowska said the firm is now creating a range of soft fruit punnets following feedback across the European market and other sizes of PP trays and PET/PE trays are under development.
“We are building up our market presence with rigid PET/PE sheets for From-Fill-Seal applications,” she added.
“This fits well with top lidding films offered by the Coveris Flexibles Division. In Poland we see a growing demand for this and the key issue is to protect the fresh food and make the shelf life longer so the trend is functional, protective packaging.”
