Canned fruits, vegetables come out of the can

A new plastic, resealable jar for CanGro Foods, Inc., a leading Canadian processor and marketer of canned fruits and vegetables under the Del Monte brand, cuts weight while enhancing convenience. The container, from Graham Packaging Co., L.P. (www.grahampackaging.com), working with Bapco Closures, Ltd. (www.bapcoclosures.com), of the U.K., is a clear polypropylene jar with an innovative design said to improve the bottle structure and overall product performance. The neck threading has been removed and incorporated into the Bapco three-part closure system, which includes an overall foil membrane that's completely welded into position. The foil creates a secure vacuum seal, providing a tight, leak-resistant package. The membrane may be removed by the consumer using an easy-to-use pull ring. The container is resealed with a screw-on overcap. The cylindrical jar has a wide-mouth opening for easy filling and convenient access to the contents.

“We had been making a similarly sized jar for CanGro, but wanted to respond to their market's desire for a wider opening and to 'lightweight' the container and minimize packaging waste,” says Terry Keener, business development manager for polyolefins in Graham Packaging's food and beverage business unit. The new 82-mmm closure system is exclusive to Bapco Closures, and saves about 20 percent of the previous container's weight, Keener adds. The original CanGro package was a first-generation in moving from a metal can to consumer-friendly plastic, notes Moe Fedyszyn, Graham Packaging's director of sales for Canada.

The large jar opening gives CanGro manufacturing efficiencies while avoiding the potential breakage of glass, he says. Mark Hagar, director of research and development and quality for CanGro Foods, says he was particularly pleased with the packaging system's sealability and opening size. “The system seals on one surface and peels or opens on a separate one,” he explains. “This eliminates the tradeoff that occurs with conventional conduction sealing where peeling and sealing occur on the same surface. The large opening is great for the processor to fill the food product and for the consumer to remove it.”