Small Portions, Big Taste are Features of New Microwave Tray From Graphic Packaging

Individual serving sizes and ease of preparation continue to be important considerations for consumers as they shop for food.

01/02/06 MARIETTA, Ga. -- Individual serving sizes and ease of preparation continue to be important considerations for consumers as they shop for food -- so Graphic Packaging International (GPI) is helping Raw Seafoods, Inc. of New Bedford, Massachusetts respond with a special tray that can cook smaller portions of 400 grams, or 14 ounces, in a microwave quickly and evenly, while leaving the food moist and tender.

"The deep, molded tray is made of a material called Microrite(R) that consists of aluminum and polyester laminated to a paperboard base," says Eric Metcalf, manager of market development for Graphic Packaging.

"It cooks food evenly, thoroughly, and quickly across the tray surface, without making the food dry or hard to chew -- results which historically are only achieved through lengthy cooking times in a convection oven."

Raw Seafoods is using the 400 gram Microrite(R) tray in grocery stores nationwide for five skews of its gourmet-quality seafood products -- shrimp with penne pasta, shrimp and scallop scampi, jumbo stuffed shrimp, lemon dill tilapia, and salmon fillet.

During the second quarter of 2005, Raw Seafoods introduced the Microrite(R) tray in a size that could accommodate 900 grams, or 32 ounces, of food.

Adds Scott Hutchens, vice president of Raw Seafoods: "This new smaller tray should continue our great success in the marketplace with Microrite(R) trays because we can now deliver outstanding cooked food quality in an individual serving portion."