Combining quality Australian fruit and vegetables with packaging solutions that meet today’s marketplace needs
SPC’s solid reputation for quality, consistency and value is complemented by its dedication to providing food solutions that meet the demanding requirements of the modern market, as the brand continues to evolve to better meet the needs of today’s foodservice professionals.
In recent years SPC has developed innovative value added products such as SPC ProVital in easy-open snacking cups and is currently trialling a number of different packaging solutions with foodservice operators. To find out more about SPC’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions we spoke to Head of Foodservice & Ingredients Abbey Jones.
“We’ve recently created a new business unit called SPC Food Solutions across both our foodservice and ingredients businesses, which underscores our commitment to providing solutions for our customers,” Abbey tells us.
Abbey Jones
“ Today’s customers are looking for packaging solutions which are easy to open and preferably resealable, as well as easy to dispose of. ”
“Over the past 12 months we’ve been meeting with foodservice end-users as well as seeking feedback from our distributors at all points of the supply chain, so that we can bring to life what’s really needed in the marketplace.”
Abbey explains SPC has moved away from the traditional foodservice approach of supplying fruits and vegetables in bulk 3kg tins: “We’ve realised 3kg is really too big for many of our smaller end-users – we know that many foodservice outlets are pressed for storage space, they’re looking for product they can store more easily and they don’t want to hold too much stock on hand because they don’t want to have to decant it.
“In the old days you needed a pretty strong build to open a 3kg tin with an old-fashioned tin opener and no one wants to have to stop and do that in the middle of a shift! Today’s customers are looking for packaging solutions which are easy to open and preferably resealable, as well as easy to dispose of.
“It’s difficult to find an end to end recycling solution for tin cans so we’re now looking at recyclable plastic packaging.”
“We’re also working with packaging suppliers to develop innovative solutions which will transport better and can also be more easily disposed of and recycled. We know from talking to customers that if they order in a pallet of tinned fruit they might find it difficult to dispose of, whereas a bag-in-box solution or a TetraPak format is not only easier to store but easier from a waste management perspective too.”
Packaging that’s fit for purpose
While SPC is best known for its tinned fruit range, in recent years the business has been moving to innovative value added products, such as its SPC ProVital in easy-open snacking cups – an award-winning design developed with input from Arthritis Australia. These have proven very popular in the health and aged care market.
“We’ve received several accolades and awards for the SPC ProVital cup design which is easier for people who have arthritis and other physical limitations to open.”
“We’ve received several accolades and awards for that design, which went through multiple stages of development and features a textured and lengthened pull tab, a decagon shape for easier grip and an optimised seal to reduce force – making it easier for people who have arthritis and other physical limitations to open.
“As a business we’ve recognised that if we actually consult with our end-users and make the capital investment up front, we’re then able to create a product that’s not only what the customer wants but is packaged in a way that’s a better fit for purpose.”
More recently SPC has transitioned its fruit juices from 850g tins to 1 litre resealable TetraPaks. “They’re now easily pourable from a spout and can be resealed and stored for further use, whereas formerly you’d have to open the tin, decant it into another storage vessel and take note of the use-by date on the original packaging – the new solution is far simpler.”
Solutions that meet today’s marketplace needs
SPC’s manufacturing heartland has always been in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, widely known as the state’s food bowl, and the company has announced ongoing capital investment in its Shepparton manufacturing plant.
“In the next six months or so we’ll start to see the rollout of new product solutions.”
“In the next six months or so we’ll start to see the rollout of new product solutions, including different pack sizes and configurations which are fit for purpose as opposed to the old approach of one size fits all.
“We know that the needs of cafes are different from those of hospitals or aged care or restaurants. Hence our investment in R&D and our partnership with the CSIRO and international natural food and beverage ingredients business Doehler to look at new flavours and ingredients.
“Our aim is to establish a point of difference by combining the great quality of Australian fruit and vegetables with packaging solutions that meet today’s marketplace needs. Certainly with the COVID lockdowns we’ve found there’s a real demand for Australian made, because as international supply chains have been affected the market has increasingly turned back to local produce. We know from talking to end-users that they do prefer to buy Australian made, they do want to support local producers, but it needs to be the right product in the right format for them. So that’s our focus – to create the best products we can, in the format our customers need.”
For more information on the SPC foodservice product solutions range visit https://spc.com.au/food-service/
