Meat+Poultry - October 2019 - 66

PA C K A G I N G S O L U T I O N S

Cargill chose vacuum
skin packaging for its
new Turkey Skillet Kits
to help the product
stand out in the grocery
refrigerated meats section.

This type of package may cause consumers
to do a double take at the point of sale, based
on how fresh and premium the product looks.
"Depending on what is inside the package,
the resulting presentation can look absolutely
stunning and provides the consumer with the
impression of a high-quality product when
compared to standard packaging," Uebele says.
To achieve that look, he adds, the product
is typically placed on a rigid lower web to
support the product for presentation.
The billboard effect and package security
are especially important in pre-marinated and
pre-seasoned products, which continue to gain

MEAT+ POULTRY | 10.19 | www.meatpoultry.com

Cargill

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popularity for their flavor and convenience.
"Meats with dry seasoning or light marinade
can look beautiful on a flat or shallow pocket.
Wet, marinated or products which do not
hold their shape would benefit from a pocket
to contain the product while still providing a
package with the impression of high quality,"
Uebele says.
Sean Brady, new business development
manager for Charlotte, North Carolina-based
Sealed Air Corp. - which first introduced its
Cryovac Darfresh vacuum skin packaging
in 1989 -- affirms the attractiveness of a skin
package that also extends shelf life. "The
package holds in moisture and helps marinate
the product. From a consumer perspective,
it has tremendous benefits in quality and
appearance," he says.
There can be challenges when using this
format for some marinated and seasoned
fresh products. "Depending on the amount
of marinade or dry rub, you want to be sure
that the liquid doesn't evaporate or come
out," Brady notes. To prevent issues, Sealed
Air's experts like Brady work closely with
processors to check the viscosity and amount
of the marinade, as well as the type and shape
of the tray to be used with meat packaged in a
skin format.
A growing number of brands have turned to
VSP for protein products, including marinated
and seasoned items. For example, Maple
Leaf Farms, Leesburg, Indiana, has used skin
packaging for the past few years for its fresh
products, including boneless duck breast, in
marinades like Honey Orange, Southwest Style
and Roasted Garlic flavors.
More recently, Cargill, with a protein
business headquartered in Wichita, Kansas,
chose VSP for its new Turkey Skillet Kits from
the company's Honeysuckle White and Shady
Brook Farms brands. The kits contain four
seasoned turkey breast cutlets co-packaged
with a gourmet sauce packet, which include
Tuscan-Style Tomato Garlic Basil, Southwest
Style Chipotle Ranchero, Asian Style Orange
Ginger and Thai Style Coconut Curry varieties.
The flavor delivery, eye appeal, shelf life
and convenience are expected to help these
products stand out in the case when they are
rolled out in spring 2020. "The introduction
of Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook
Farms Turkey Skillet Kits reflects Cargill's
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