Asda signs banana container agreement with IFCO

Asda has signed an agreement with an international logistics provider to use its new banana crate. The retail giant will use IFCO’s banana crate as standard packaging for their pre-packed bananas. This agreement gives Asda IPL exclusive rights in the UK until April 2012 for the packing of bagged bananas at source. According to IFCO, over the past two years it has developed a brand new crate design for the banana market in close cooperation with the “world’s leading banana vendors” in line with its strategies to widen the reusable packaging solutions for fresh products.

Asda IPL purchasing manager Darren Surry said: “We are pleased to announce the rollout of plastic crates to our banana category and to work alongside IFCO and the vendors in providing this solution.

“The reduction in cardboard usage across Asda’s 400 plus stores is a significant step forward in removing card waste and will ensure better merchandising across the fixture, improve case fill and drive better product presentation.”

IFCO chief executive Karl Pohler said: “We are very pleased that Asda has chosen to use our banana crate to optimize its supply chain."

“This encourages us to believe that our new application is perfectly designed to meet the market needs for a cost effective packaging solution to deliver superior quality bananas to the consumer.”

For more information visit www.packagingnews.co.uk.