Novel film packaging for ice cream packaging

With the new OPP film packaging, the new frozen dessert produced by Ellsworth Ice Cream Co. maintains its advantages in appearance, production and moisture resistance, giving people a fresh feeling.

Ellsworth Ice Cream Company, a regional frozen dessert manufacturer based in Saratoga Springs, New York, has enjoyed a reputation for producing frozen products for over 70 years. When the company tried to use paper-packed ice cream to enter the single-serving frozen dessert market, it found itself being left out of the dealership. In addition, users of special labels for combined ice cream proposed the need to switch to film materials (they demanded that the packaging be converted to film materials), prompting Ellsworth to switch to oriented polypropylene packaging materials from ExxonMobil Chemical.

Customers strongly demand the use of film packaging

In 1933, Ralph and the Flew Ellsworth brothers created their ice cream company, selling 5-gallon cans of ice cream and hand-made pods at grocery stores and small shops in the Saratoga Spring area. Immersion chocolate skin ice cream sticks. Today, Ellsworth produces a large number of new products for ice cream and sorbet, and ships them to the distributors and distributors in various locations in the state of Maine and Florida.

A large portion of Ellsworth's business is a dedicated labeling business that supplies food packages with multiple packs of floral ice cream products. The company's president, Tabel Ellsworth, said it was these customer feedback that prompted the company to switch from dessert to film packaging. “Compared with paper packaging, film packaging has considerable advantages in appearance, production efficiency and moisture resistance, and therefore it is increasingly welcomed by the frozen dessert market.” He said, “Our customers basically require the use of film packaging. So nine months ago, we chose ExxonMobil Chemical as our partner because they know about the industry and specialize in producing films for ice cream.

ExxonMobil claims that its five OPP films designed specifically for packaging frozen products can increase the attractiveness of frozen products on the shelves, improve moisture resistance, and provide a platform for improving product images. After consultation with ExxonMobil, Ellsworth chose Oppalyte® 278 WOS-2 as a packaging material, which was treated on one side and sealed on the other side. The 1.8-millimeter-thick opaque white film with a special hollow core was used. Ellsworth believes that this film exhibits the desired hardness, has a low and compatible coefficient of friction, gives excellent sliding properties, and its sealing temperature can reach approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, making the product in multi-lane equipment. There is a good performance.

Ellsworth said that the new film packaging was well received by customers due to its ease of tearing and the addition of a moisture barrier. “Oppalyte films are easy to peel off and do not stick to ice cream sticks or sorbet products like paper packaging,” he said. “Our dedicated label customers are happy to see that their suppliers can supply products with easy-to-use packaging. No one wants to use packages that consumers don’t like.”

“The change of packaging materials from paper to film is highly appreciated by customers. The competitive market for proprietary labels is fierce, and we are always looking for a way to distinguish them from other brands. As a commitment to improve products and processes The quality suppliers, using film packaging, have improved our image. The new packaging has kept us away from the competition, and today it is difficult to do this.”

Conversion of packaging eliminates resistance from customers

When Ellsworth decided to use film packaging instead of paper packaging to attract private label customers, it also helped companies open a profitable market:

Single food product market. The continuous growth of the single-person edible frozen product market is mainly due to the strong sales of such products in convenience stores, gazebos, vending machines, stadiums and amusement parks. These are very impromptu markets, and consumers are looking for the kind of busyness. Mesmerizing hospitality. At these outlets, sticky, non-stick frozen foods compete with products such as those packed in films, fast-food packaging, and candy.

Two years ago, Ellsworth realized that there was an opportunity in the market for single-person food products. He invested in new types of filling equipment (purchased from an unknown manufacturer) to expand his ice cream production line. The initial effect was mixed, and potential customers were interested in Ellsworth's products, but they were afraid to shrink at the time of purchase.

“When we first entered the single-person food market, we were very competitive in terms of price and product, but nobody wanted to do business with us because we were still using paper packaging.” Ellsworth recalls. Say.

Greg Okun, product manager of Oppalyte at ExxonMobil, explains why film packaging is of interest to the frozen dessert market: “In the market competition, appearance is a selling point to distinguish products, and floral ice cream packaged in film is more likely to attract consumers. The attention, and therefore sales, increase. The winners in this market are those who have bright, smooth, and attractive outer packagings."

With the new film packaging, Ellsworth's single-use food products have been sold to a number of group markets such as schools and nurseries, as well as some small and medium-sized convenience stores.
"We managed to break into this market and we won in competition with national brands." Ellsworth recounted. "The competition point is film packaging, so our products must also use this kind of packaging. We understand that there is an opportunity in the market, and film packaging helps us grasp this opportunity."

ExxonMobil pointed out that in addition to improving the appearance and feel, Oppalyte 278WOS -2 film packaging can also greatly improve the moisture resistance of ice cream products, and its processing advantages far exceeds paper packaging. The OPP film has waterproof properties and is less prone to moisture damage than paper packaging. This shortens the production stoppage time and reduces waste on the packaging production line. “With the Oppalyte 278WOS-2, the productivity of the packaging process has been increased,” Ellsworth said with approval. “By replacing the film packaging, the loss of packaging line equipment has been reduced by 66%. Every day after work, there are many more products than before that are sent to the refrigerator and delivered to customers.”

The company tasted the sweetness

For regional companies like Ellsworth Ice Cream, it is wise to increase productivity by replacing paper packaging with film packaging, and to compete with national brands. Ellsworth also agreed with this view: "From making decisions to using film packaging, our investment recovery rate has significantly improved."

Okun, of ExxonMobil, said that he is happy to see businesses buoying just by changing their packaging materials. “Over the past few years, larger marketers have used OPP film to improve shelf appeal and refrigerated time,” he said. “We have witnessed a lot of small and medium-sized regional companies like Ellsworth. After changing their packaging materials from paper to film, the company has undergone great changes. See Ellsworth We are really happy that the company has done so well."