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While seeking a packaging solution for its fresh strawberries and raspberries, New Zealand grower and supplier Best Berries turned to flexible packaging and lidding film supplier KM Packaging.

Best Berries required a fully printed re-close lidding film with macro ventilation holes for its APET 250g and 454g punnet of strawberries. 

The punnets also needed to have a tamper-evident seal from the point of packing, through to the consumer first opening the pack.

After extensive evaluation of its options, Best Berries chose to implement K-Reseal, which is KM’s lidding film range that can be repeatedly opened and resealed to the tray, as it met all of Best Berries’ requirements. 

“Our customers were interested in re-close lidding options, and KM Packaging were able to provide the solution,” said Boman Zakari, owner of Best Berries.

“One of the challenges of this project was that Best Berries’ tray sealing machinery settings had no waste film allowance between each lid, on a four-across tooling layout. 

“We were concerned about the tight tolerance on our sealing machine tool, but the team from KM Packaging advised on the settings and we had no issues.” 

After the successful eye mark trial, KM Packaging supplied the fully-printed order and shipped it by a combination of air and sea to coincide with the start of the customers’ picking season. 

Best Berries is now able to offer its customers the security of tamper evidence, along with the convenience of easy opening and re-close lid. 

The lidding film also offers the added advantage of being a mono laminate PET, which matches the tray, ensuring that the whole pack is designed for recyclability.

“Our customers are happy with the packing innovation, and it really looks great,” Zakari added.

“It has been an excellent experience working with KM. The team are very helpful and try their best to provide solutions to any problems.” 

The K-Reseal range is compatible with most tray sealing machines and is suitable for chilled and ambient storage. It seals to rPET, APET and CPET trays, and options include mono-material, anti-fog and high barrier.

The range can incorporate print designs for improved pack presentation and shelf appeal, and can also include macro holes, hot needle or laser perforation for advanced packaging solutions, such as when the products need to respire. 

According to KM Packaging, its K-Reseal lidding film offers multiple benefits, including improved consumer convenience and pack presentation, extended shelf-life; reduced food wastage, and reduced pack weight.

The packaging solution is suitable for multiple market sectors, including fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, bakery and desserts, dairy and cheese, and plant-based protein.

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