Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes, from the creation of an entirely new process to the revamp of a traditional, accepted standard to meet new demands. As a standard practice, Garner, N.C.-based turkey processor Butterball had been using chub packaging with metal clips for its foodservice ground turkey products. Although the packaging was industry standard, metal clips presented a number of challenges, including keeping track of the clips and making sure they did not end up in finished dishes.

Looking to eliminate those challenges, Butterball turned to its long-term partner in ground turkey packaging, Sealed Air Food Care (Sealed Air), to explore alternatives to metal clip packaging. Sealed Air, having foreseen the issues with metal clips, had already successfully tested a clipless solution for beef and was able to quickly test the solution with ground turkey.

Sealed Air introduced Butterball Foodservice to its Cryovac clipless chub packaging solution and Butterball instantly recognized the safety and quality advantages. According to Richie Jenkins, Butterball’s senior director of National Accounts/Marketing, “Food safety is as much a priority for Butterball as it is for our operators, and our new ground turkey packaging meets that need while also allowing chefs to create delicious dishes for their diners.”

As the first turkey producer to move to Cryovac clipless chub packaging, Butterball Foodservice is, once again, demonstrating vision and innovation in its category — and it’s paying off. Both 5- and 10-pound foodservice packages are now safer from processor to distributor to back of house, with no risk of metal clips getting misplaced or inadvertently ending up in the meat and/or finished dishes.

Distributors and end users are pleased that the clipless packaging eliminates any potential risk, and the durable film stands up better to movement during shipment, preventing leaks and avoiding punctures while helping the ground turkey maintain its flavor and freshness.

Additionally, the new rectangular product shape is easier for foodservice operators to stack, meaning it takes up less of the operator’s valuable freezer space. The proactive move to Cryovac clipless chub packaging is another way Butterball Foodservice is reinforcing its leadership as an innovator that solves operator concerns. NP

For more information, visit www.sealedair.com/casestudies