Preferred Packaging, a division of York, Pennsylvania-based C-P Flexible Packaging, and Seattle, Washington-based Northwest Frozen have collaborated to launch a new line of refrigerated, prepared meals with extended shelf life for retail distribution.
The new items include a frozen croissant-shaped gnocchi pasta product called Crocchi that was chosen as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for the 2022 holiday season. The pasta is cryo-frozen and packaged in high barrier, modified atmosphere containers. Northwest Frozen also producesfrozen meals as private label items for a large grocery retailer in the U.S.
The new design delivers hermetically sealed meals with a specific, low oxygen atmosphere inside the package to help keep the food fresh. The company worked with Northwest Frozen to provide a lidding film that could seal on high-speed machines to crystalized polyester trays and through contaminants such as sauces. Seal integrity is critical throughout the distribution cycle. The meals are frozen and then sold in refrigerated temperatures at retail stores.
“We feel honored to work with such an entrepreneurial company as Northwest Frozen…From the very beginning of the project, they worked diligently on creating a system to assure the best performance and consistency,” said Chadd Floria, VP of sales at Preferred Packaging.
Other applications for Affirm lidding films include all natural foods that are packaged and processed with high pressure pasteurization.
“The team at Preferred Packaging helped us launch our new line of products within a very tight timeframe. They not only supplied us…film that worked best but they also provided expertise in modified atmosphere packaging and shared valuable experiences,” said Kevin Peterson, director of operations at Northwest Frozen, d.b.a. Banzai Sushi.
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