Online features
- Home page
- Products
- Technology
- Environment
- Profiles
- Corporate
- Investment
- Events
- People
- Countries
- Agenda
- Analysis
- Blog
Latest magazine
Products
Hungarian cheese producer looks to convenience buyers
Founded in 1997, Óvártej is one of the fastest growing dairy companies in Hungary. The company produces Trappista, Edami, Óvári, Gouda and Mozzarella type of cheeses, as well as low-fat seasoned cheeses, smoked cheeses and Ricotta. With a 10% market share of the national semi-hard cheese market, Óvártej strives to develop its products and processes in line with the latest market and consumer trends. A couple of years ago, the company used thermoforming to pack its cheese products, a technology that did not allow for consumer units smaller than 500 grams. Wanting to introduce smaller portions to better serve consumers looking for more convenient pack sizes, Óvártej decided in October 2006 to switch to the well proven CRYOVAC BDF® tray overwrap concept by Sealed Air Cryovac.THE MOST FLEXIBLE PACKAGING SOLUTION
CRYOVAC BDF® is the most flexible and cost-effective packaging solution for ultrafresh
food products. This barrier shrink overwrap offers the traditional store-wrapped appearance
consumers prefer, along with tray flexibility, high product visibility and extended shelf life. It
combines pack safety and modified atmosphere technology with a high level of flexibility in
accommodating a wide range of trays. This concept offers outstanding versatility with one
single machine adapted to many formats and changes of products and ensures high
efficiency, even for medium production runs.
The well proven Cryovac BDF® system advantages include:
Traditional appearance, shelf life benefits secured;
High production output and efficiency;
Flexibility in tray size and shape;
Outstanding versatility (one machine for many formats and changes of products);
A traditional presentation, similar to stretch PVC;
Improved shrink presentation vs. laminates;
Enhanced convenience;
Plus differentiation and innovation.
- 2 -
This solution was a perfect choice for Óvártej, particularly as it allowed the production of
fixed-weight cheese packs, a requirement that had come from retailers. Besides ensuring a
reliable packaging with extended shelf-life, thanks to the versatility of the system, the
packaging process became easier and more flexible. They now use the system to pack
cheese slices in transparent Cryovac BDF® film with a EPS tray, in fixed weights of 100g,
300g and 375g. The packs are labelled to display product information.
OPTIMAL RESULTS
Almost all major retail chains in Hungary are distributing the new product range: Tesco,
Metro, Auchan, Cora, Profi, Match, Smatch, Plus, CBA, Reál and Coop. The products are
placed at the fresh pack counter in the retail stores. Compared to the products packed in
PVC stretch, retailers enjoy the excellent product visibility, the fact that there is no longer
the need to pack backstore (packs are made at the producers’ site) and the fixed price per
pack. Thanks to these many benefits, the products are well appreciated by both retailers
and consumers and led to increased sales.
PROMISING FUTURE
“The flexibility of the system has fully convinced me. We are able to easily adapt our
production to the needs of retailers and consumers. To be innovative, flexibility is essential
and key. Trust, freshness and beauty – all these are provided by Cryovac BDF®”, said
László Kovács, CEO of Óvártej Zrt.
Driven by continued high, two-digit growth, Óvártej looks to a promising future. For
example, to further increase their presence on export markets, they plan to develop fresh,
pro-biotic, low-fat, low-calory, “light” products such as ricotta and mozzarella.
