How to reach new markets for your fresh and chilled food
2020 has been an incredibly tough year for everyone, individuals and businesses alike. As a country we are navigating through a winter of localised lockdowns, with the elderly and vulnerable shielding where possible.
If you are selling fresh or chilled food, now may be the right time to investigate thermal packaging. It can help you to deliver your produce to local customers unable to visit your store, as well as creating up the opportunity to sell your goods online.
Thermal packaging (also known as temperature-controlled packaging) is specifically made for the transportation of ambient, chilled and frozen products. It ensures perishable goods are delivered to your customers in perfect condition.
These clever packs, when used with a coolant, can ensure that a consistent cold temperature is maintained whilst your goods are in transit for up to 48 hours. The special thermal layers stop cold from escaping, as well as heat entering the pack.
This extends the amount of time you can keep perishable goods out of refrigeration, whether you are doing a localised delivery round or sending the packs via Royal mail or a courier.
RecycoolMe, an all paper insulated pack, is 100% curb side recyclable, making it easy for your customers to dispose of their packaging responsibly in household recycling bins.
Preparing your products for their journey
When shipping temperature sensitive product, it is important to have a controlled packing process to make sure your goods reach the customer within the desired temperature range.
Have your packaging primed ready to fill – boxes should be assembled with box infill, coolant and tape at hand. This minimises the amount of time products sit outside of refrigeration waiting to be packed.
Your chilled products should not sit outside of cold storage for longer than 20 – 30 minutes before being packed. If the temperature of your products reduces significantly, there is a risk that it will warm the coolant temperature, this will reduce the viable transit time.
Low temperatures can be better maintained if all gaps between your products are filled with a void fill material. Place your coolant at the top of the pack, this allows the cool air to flow down onto the goods.
As a rule of thumb, the following coolant should be used:
- For goods to arrive ambient – ice sheets that have been conditioned to 20°C will help prevent the temperature from rising or falling quickly
- For goods to arrive chilled – use ice sheets or gel packs
- For goods to arrive soft frozen – use gel packs or duration ice sheets
- For goods to arrive frozen – dry ice should be used
In order to extend the length of time your goods are at their desired temperature, parcels ready for dispatch should be stored in a refrigerated/freezer environment until the delivery vehicle is ready to load.
If you would like to find out more about temperature controlled packaging for your perishable produce, our team of experts are on-hand to help. View our range of temperature controlled packaging and contact us today.
