Among recent German successes for Clondalkin group company LPF Flexible Packaging is a range of convenience foods in standup pouches for Müller's Mühle. And of cuisine-conscious France, marketing manager Mathijs Preenen said: "Surprisingly, perhaps, it's one of our biggest markets for retort pouches and tray lidding." But he added: "The UK is not so big for Clondalkin or LPF, and the pouch market appears to be saturated."
The pouches for Müller's Mühle incorporate LPF's microwave-friendly barrier option of silicon-oxide-coated polyester rather than aluminium. The easy-open pouches are gravure printed in up to nine colours. "Of the various retortable materials, I'd say that pouches are the most cost-effective, especially taking transport efficiencies into account," said Preenen.