Increased Shelf Presentation Boosts Demand For Premium Herbs

Tasman Bay Herbs have improved the shelf presentation of their modified atmosphere packaging and boosted demand for their premium range of packaged cut herbs.

The Motueka-based company introduced their new highly visual laminated bags on September 5th and say the new packaging has increased sales and helped prepare them for their planned expansion into export markets next year.

The newly packaged Tasman Bay Herb range includes a 125 gram pack of watercress and individual 100 gram packs of salad greens, rocket and basil.

According to Tasman Bay Herbs' managing director Don Grant, the new packaging design has combined well with the re~fresh modified atmosphere technology the company has been using for the past four years. As a result packs of Tasman Bay Herbs not only offer a guaranteed minimum shelf life of ten days, but they now sit better on shelf and are more attractive to consumers.

Tasman Bay Herbs began using modified atmosphere bags in 1997 after reading an article in Horticulture News about Convex Plastics' re~fresh packaging. Since then they have worked closely with the Hamilton packaging company to progressively improve their packaging, and now believe it is almost as good as it can get.

Don says, "We've always wanted to keep improving our packaging and presentation so we're really thrilled to have this bag. As of next year we are looking to expand again and then we'll be ready to export."

Tasman Bay Herbs already know that they have a potentially huge export market just waiting for their premium packaged cut herbs.

Don says trial shipments to Hong Kong using re~fresh modified atmosphere packaging earlier this year was so successful that demand instantly exceeded the young company's production capability.

He believes next year's planned expansions will enable them to overcome this barrier, and will also allow them to seek export markets even further afield due to the proven long life extension benefits provided by their packaging.