The R&D department of the Turkish company Aypek is currently working in the development of antimicrobial modified bags, as well as in a new type of modified-atmosphere packaging with a multi-layered material that, reportedly, helps to extend the shelf life by 20% more than conventional modified atmosphere packaging.
According to Levent Çakmak, the economy is playing a big role in motivating such developments, since the “the trends favouring fresh and natural products are boosting the growth of exports, and in order to reach new markets, new technological developments are needed that will allow us to provide consumers with fresh products, even if they are out of the production season. Now, for example, people can find fresh cherries every month.”
He explains that this is clearly to be seen in the retail sector. "With supermarkets becoming experts in the sale of fresh products; thus, we are now providing our customers with better ways to keep their products fresh in order to sell them, because even though consumer interests are about purchasing in small quantities, they also are looking for quality.”
The plastic packaging materials that Aypek is implementing are environmentally-friendly, because they re-use materials that are not producing any cellulose. “Aypek is already a leading company in the modified-atmosphere market around the Mediterranean countries, and as you know, these countries are important producers for the fresh market. Last year, Aypek started exploring the Asian market, but now our focus will be in Latin America,” explains Levent.
“Aypek has the mission of supplying first quality products with the best prices and services. For that reason, we can be easily reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since our users and distributors are not just customers for us, they are our partners. We know it is our responsibility to allow our customers to have access to fresh products from the beginning of the distribution process until these reach their homes,” he concludes.
Aypek will be attending Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong as an exhibitor and also the Fresh summit in Orlando. Last weekend they were in Greece and then will be at Macfruit in Italy with its partners.
