29 May 2012 --- Linpac Packaging, Europe’s leading multi-material packaging manufacturer, has developed a new range of bakery containers in partnership with its customers to keep sweet treats spongier and fresher for longer.

The food packaging company was challenged with developing a product which significantly reduced the amount of moisture lost and thereby increasing the shelf-life of sponge and pastry-based products without using additional food preservatives. Current cake and bun containers allow a high level of moisture to escape from the pack meaning that products turn stale within a couple of days.

Linpac Packaging is hoping to tempt bakers, pâtissiers and confectioners with their new round and rectangular hinged cake containers which have been developed with the needs of their customers in mind and will keep cakes and buns fresher for several days longer than traditional containers.

Megan Ashcroft, European Bakery Marketing Manager at Linpac Packaging, said: “Our partnership work epitomises our Fresh Thinking ethos of communicating well with our customers, responding to issues they raise with us and working together to come up with a tangible solution.

“The quality and presentation of bakery items, and ensuring they reach our customer and their customer in excellent condition, is paramount. Nobody enjoys a dry, stale tasting cake or bun and the technology and innovation which has gone into developing our new containers will prevent that from happening for several more days than standard cake containers, helping everyone in the food chain to reduce food spoilage and waste.”

Ms Ashcroft added: “Our Fresh Thinking strategy runs through our entire company from how the initial idea is generated to the development of innovative, high-quality packaging solutions which use the minimum amount of material needed to effectively protect, preserve and present food.”

Linpac Packaging is also investing in research and development of ‘active’ packaging for the bakery sector to extend product shelf life through the use of food safe anti-fungal coatings. Like the new hinged containers, the coatings will help to keep bakery items fresher for longer.

Other products in Linpac Packaging’s bakery range include a range of recyclable PET transport trays to prevent damage to delicate bakery items during transit and the SmartBox which offers a unique packaging solution to ensure maximum impact in presentation and strong branding opportunities, without compromising on product protection and environmental concerns.