Amcor announces commercial debut of APEX hot-fill PET containers with metal lug closures

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Amcor Rigid Plastics, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rigid plastic packaging for food, beverage, spirits, home/personal care and healthcare industries, has announced the first commercial use of its unique APEX hot-fill PET containers with metal lug closures.

Leading Mexican food supplier MegaMex Foods, LLC—an Orange, Calif.-based joint venture of Hormel Foods and Herdez del Fuerte, S.A. de CV—has launched its newest LA VICTORIA organic salsa product in 24-ounce APEX PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic containers at Costco club stores on the westcoast.

The launch of the new USDA-certified organic LA VICTORIA Pineapple, Mango and Habanero brand salsa in a 24-ounce PET container is a first for the LA VICTORIA brand, according to MegaMex Foods brand manager Stephanie Bloch. “Since Costco has been at the forefront of trend-setting packaging developments, we thought it made sense to test our latest LA VICTORIA  brand salsa in a 24-ounce PET container at the club store level.”

PET is a highly viable option for retailers and consumers because it mimics glass yet offers lighter weight and improved sustainability advantages over glass, according to Bloch.

Amcor’s innovative APEX technology allows metal lug closures to be used with blowmolded 24-ounce hot-fill containers. Consumers who are familiar with the look and quality feel of a glass jar with a metal lug closure can now enjoy the same quality and reassurance of the fresh ‘pop’ of a metal lug closure on a lightweight, shatter-proof PET jar.

Featuring an advanced barrier system, the APEX system ensures that sealing integrity is maintained and meets the industry average for removal torque (ease-of-opening). Brand owners like MegaMex Foods can also maintain the same brand equity with the switch from glass to PET.

From a co-packer’s standpoint, APEX PET adds value at minimal risk of breakage, according to Sergio Macias, director of procurement for Olam SVI, a contract filler in Fresno, Calif. “PET is easier to handle, lighter and provides reduced transportation costs,” said Macias.

“APEX is a game-changing development which firmly positions PET hot-fill containers in the food packaging industry,” said Bunlim Ly, senior marketing manager for Amcor Rigid Plastics. “We’ve filled an important need for consumers and brand owners who seek the benefits of PET containers with metal lug closures, delivering the same quality and freshness associated with glass along with significant performance, manufacturing and sustainability benefits.”

The 24-ounce stock hot-fill containers, targeted for food applications such as jams, jellies, salsas, apple sauce and pasta sauce, are a drop-in solution for manufacturers, providing reduced total cost of ownership and environmental benefits such as reduced carbon footprint. The shift to APEX PET containers require minimal capital investment and can be adapted to existing capping and filling equipment.

The 24-ounce LA VICTORIA  salsa container is hot fillable up to 205°F (96°C) and features a 63mm finish with a functional “pop” tamper-evident indicator button on the closure. Key sustainability benefits are a 36 percent energy savings and a reduction of 2024 tonnes of CO2 emissions which is equivalent to electricity use for one year for 278 homes. Versus the glass container, the PET container results in an 85 percent material reduction per jar. The weight reduction results in major transportation cost benefits including the shipment of 30 percent more product by weight per truck.

MegaMex Foods will sell the 24-ounce salsa product in two-packs at Costco’s San Francisco Bay area stores in northern California and Nevada.

About MegaMex Foods LLC                                                    
MegaMex Foods, LLC opened its doors on October 26, 2009 in southern California. It is a joint venture of two giants in the food industry – Hormel Foods and Herdez del Fuerte, S.A. de CV. As a result, MegaMex Foods has the marketing, sales, and supply chain expertise that makes it an excellent partner for retail and food service companies. MegaMex Foods, LLC, offers a wide variety of Mexican food products and ingredients in the U.S., including salsa, sauces, peppers, tortillas, salad dressing, seasoning mixes, guacamole, and frozen food. For more information, visit www.megamexfoods.com.
 
About Olam SVI                    
Olam SVI (Spices & Vegetable Ingredients) is a food ingredients company with the broadest synergistic product portfolio in the industry, operating in three complementary platforms and over 15 product categories. Olam SVI sources and/or operates in 11 countries, manufactures in six countries, and sells to more than 70 countries. Headquartered in Fresno, Ca., Olam SVI is a leading global supplier of garlic, onions, capsicums, tomatoes, spices, and specialty vegetables. SVI has mastered the full supply chain from source to market, growing and sourcing the finest raw materials in vegetable and spice ingredients, with operations in the U.S., China, Egypt, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Olam SVI leads the industry in sustainable operations, processing technologies, and farming practices.
The company is committed to long-term investment in the sustainability of our global supply chain. Every effort is made to reduce consumption of natural resources and positively enrich the livelihoods of the people and communities we impact. For more information, visit www.olamsvi.com.

About Amcor
Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, focusing on a broad range of flexible and rigid plastic packaging that enhances the products consumers use in everyday life, with 95 percent of its sales into the food, beverage, healthcare and tobacco industries. The company employs more than 31,000 people worldwide, operating in 40-plus countries and across more than 190 sites. For details, visit www.amcor.com.