Food packaging company Tetra Pak has introduced a paper-based carton packaging format for shelf-stable tuna, in partnership with Spanish seafood producer Jealsa
Using the Tetra Recart packaging design, the product line first entered the commercial market in Sweden through the retailer Axfood in a 200ml size format. Now it is being positioned for global distribution to food manufacturers.
The development comes amid projections that the global shelf-stable tuna market will expand to an estimated 12.4 billion units by 2030.
Compared to traditional round cans, the new packaging option offers a rectangular, flat-surfaced design of the carton format that allows tighter placement on retail shelves and increases the volume of product that can be displayed and transported.
The updated design also aligns with e-commerce supply chains by simplifying warehouse storage and the picking and packing processes for online grocers and meal-kit delivery services.
Tatiana Liceti, EVP of packaging solutions at Tetra Pak, said the innovation positions the company to offer the industry’s first carton for shelf-stable tuna, providing a cost-competitive alternative to traditional cans with paper-based packaging.
Jesús M Alonso Escurís, president at Jealsa, noted that the company saw strong market momentum after successfully launching in Sweden.
Last year, Tetra Pak acquired Latvian-based Bioreactors.net, a company with more than three decades of experience with bioreactors.
The company believes that bioreactors will play a vital role in addressing the challenges of climate change and feeding a growing global population.
