IP's Plaform® Boxes Carry 500 Million Pink Lady® Apples from Tree to Consumer Every Year
The Cripps Pink apple was invented in Australia in 1973 by John Cripps who crossbred the Golden Delicious and the Lady Williams varieties. Today, licensed on 4 continents, Pink Lady® apples are easily recognizable to their two-tone skin as well as their pink, heart-shaped sticker and their bright pink packaging.
With an increase of 60% of its global production of “Cripps Pink” apples over the last five years, the Pink Lady® trademark is one of the biggest worldwide success stories of the fruit industry. In Europe, the sales volume of Pink Lady® apples has increased by 80%, reaching 91,000 tonnes in the 2007-2008 season.
Within Europe, Pink Lady® apples are grown mainly in France and Italy where International Paper supplied about nine million Plaform® trays during this last season. This represents about 80% of the total volume of Pink Lady® corrugated trays in these countries. The Plaform® boxes made by International Paper using the best in class material are recognized for their strength and resistance in cold and humid storage conditions.
Among the various International Paper box designs are the standard one-layer and two-layer trays, in addition to which International Paper France supplies also 1 million shelf-ready packaging or small “barquettes” that hold 6 fruits for the retail industry. All these corrugated boxes are printed with the exclusive design of the Pink Lady® brand. The design work is made in close collaboration of International Paper and Pink Lady®, as explained by Mélanie Bordet from Pink Lady® Europe:
"We are currently working on the renewal of our packaging range, so as to incorporate the new, modernized logo. The heart has been given a 3D effect as well as a more sustained, tangy pink color. As was the case in the past for the creation of the first plateau at the launch of the brand in Europe, International Paper is involved in the process and has proved to be reliable partner. The new range of trays and “barquettes” will be launched for the 2009 harvest."
For many years, International Paper has guaranteed the highest level services to Pink Lady® growers and packers. The company’s product offering also includes box erecting services to Pink Lady® and its growers and packers: a network of 42 erecting machines installed in IP erecting centers or directly at customer sites guarantees speed and flexibility of supply and packers don’t need to store large quantities of packaging material.
As the new harvest came to an end in our regions a few weeks ago, you can be sure to spot this year again Pink Lady®’s distinctive pink trays made by International Paper in the Espaly (France) and San Felice (Italy) plants on most market and supermarket stalls throughout Western Europe.
