European suppliers of machinery and materials are increasingly relying on contract packers to bring the benefits of their products to the attention of food brands.
A new co-operation agreement between board producer Stora Enso and Budelpack is a case in point. Powders and solids can now be filled into airtight paperboard cups in sizes between 125ml and 750ml on the co-packer's Dutch food site. Jalliina Järvinen, manager for food solutions at Stora Enso, says: "Many brands want to have a testing place for their products, and start small without making a major investment."
Debbie Hayler, national account manager at Budelpack March in the UK, says: "Brands are looking much harder at a focus on core manufacturing, and in other areas want cost-effective routes without staff or other overhead costs."
Budelpack March is understood to be filling the new squeezable Marmite pack for Unilever.