Ardagh wins gold for canned tomatoes

Glass and metal packaging company Ardagh Group won gold at this year’s Cans of the Year Awards in Scotland.

Ardagh produced a partial internal lacquer in a DWI can for ConAgra Foodservice’s Hunt’s tomatoes in the US, and was recognised in the Food Two-Piece category at the awards.

The internal lacquer of DWI cans – which is partial at the top and bottom - is considered essential to the protection of tomato products from oxidation.

The unlacquered portion of the can interacts with the product, giving it a unique flavour and colour equivalent to a bare tin can.

Testing took place at Ardagh’s R&D Centre in Crosmieres, France, to find the proper lacquer type and application process.

“The coatings selection process for ConAgra was primarily driven by the desire to eliminate all BPA from any food-contact surface,” Ardagh's Mike Gentile said.

“The coatings also had to achieve the desired flavour and colour profile as well as achieving a minimum shelf life of two years.”

Ardagh Group invested in two new DWI can-making facilities in 2013, as part of a supply agreement with ConAgra Foods.

Ardagh Group Australia now operates under the trading name of Jamestrong Packaging - Australia & New Zealand.