Strauss Group Launches Fresh Cut Salads Using SLB Technology

Hefestus, Israel, completed a successful installation of its automatic packaging-solution system using SLB technology for the Strauss Ltd. fresh-cut salads line in Israel.

Oct 28 2010 --- Strauss Group Ltd., Israel, launches its fresh-cut salads line using Hefestus’ innovative packaging system solution with SLB technology (Shelf Life Booster) to overcome shelf-life challenges.

Hefestus, Israel, completed a successful installation of its automatic packaging-solution system using SLB technology for the Strauss Ltd. fresh-cut salads line in Israel. Strauss, one of the world’s largest food companies, examined multiple advanced packaging solutions for extending the shelf-life of fresh-cut vegetables and salads. They set several strict parameters to help them determine the right system:

* Extension of fresh-cut vegetable and salad product shelf life dramatically to enable significant savings and improvement across the entire supply chain, from manufacturer to consumer
* Fewer returns or discards, lower costs, reduced impact on the environment and increased satisfaction from consumers
* Keeping freshness ‘look & feel’ in fresh-cut salads
* Packing trays fast and efficiently

“Strauss had a fresh-cut salad line that did not match the retailers’ and consumers’ high expectations for freshness and long shelf life,” explains Oded Shtemer, Hefestus President & CEO. “Hefestus’ SLB technology enables them to meet these expectations and maintain their leadership in the fresh-cut salad products market.”

Fresh vegetable consumption in Israel is one of the highest among western countries, at 180 kg per person per year. The fresh vegetable salads market in Israel is estimated at NIS436 million and the fresh-cut vegetables market at NIS76 million.

“Many manufacturers and marketers of fresh-cut vegetables face serious obstacles in marketing their products,” notes Shtemer.”We’re able to provide a comprehensive packaging solution that significantly extends fresh-cut salad product shelf life and answers the consumer’s needs for fresh and tasty, ready-to-eat salads.”

Although fresh-cut salads are becoming a mainstream in the market, in most cases they have short shelf life, leading to quick degeneration and decomposition of the product and an undesirable look with negative palatability. SLB technology overcomes this challenge by providing extended shelf life and maintains the delicate texture and freshness of the vegetables. The advanced packaging system implemented at the Strauss plant includes a state-of-art machine for the salad preparation and sealing, including use of modified atmosphere (MAP) technology. As a result, it dramatically decreases the time required to pack the fresh-cut salads as an outcome of moving from a manual packaging machine to an automatic packaging system, significantly improved the entire supply chain due to fewer returns or discards, lower costs and satisfied consumers.