instore - March 2018 - 47

In addition, Inline's recently launched
range of small Safe-T-Fresh PagodaWare
packs, ranging in size from 8 to 16 oz, are
perfect for grab 'n go, Hobson says. All of
Inline's grab 'n go items, she says, have a
highly recognizable "family" look, and all
feature the company's Safe-T-Fresh tamper-evident, tamper-resistant and leak-resistant technology.
Grab 'n go is so hot, Hobson says, it's the
focus of Inline's 2018 product development
plan. "We currently have additional items in
development addressing this specific market, most of which will launch mid-year,"
she says.

Convenience, smaller
households drive demand
Two Placon lines in particular - Fresh 'N
Clear GoCubes and Crystal Seal reFresh
and Tamper Evident - translate well to
the grab 'n go category, which has evolved
over the years as consumer needs have

changed, Brummerhop says. Take shrinking household sizes, for instance. "Placon
has always focused on a full line of standard offerings for family serve, catering,
traditional deli, etc.," he says. "Recently,
our focus has shifted to single-serve product line offerings to provide better options
for freshly prepared foods for the individual in grab 'n go environments including convenience stores, quick-stop restaurants, and airport kiosks."
Placon also has tweaked its product roster to meet demand for multi-compartment
packaging, Brummerhop says. Multi-compartment, he says, helps ensure consistent
portion sizing, spotlights specific ingredients and keeps food looking better and tasting fresh longer.
Tamper-evident is another trend Placon has
addressed with new pack options. Dyer says
the demand for tamper-evident has especially picked up in the past couple of years.
The list of foods that can be packed in grab
'n go packs from Placon are basically endless, Brummerhop says, but some of the

popular retail foodservice grab 'n go items
include salads with toppings, entrees and
fresh-prepared full meals. "Our food packaging containers give the merchandiser or
chef unlimited options to create exciting,
delicious and nourishing snacks, light fare,
or hearty meals for consumers and families
with time-crunched schedules," he says.

"Preparing meals isn't the same as it
used to be. We're looking for a quick
bite and too often do not have the time
to sit down and really enjoy a meal.
With that, we are constantly looking for
new ways to present foods in a fresh,
appealing way to drive sales for our
customers."
SARAH HOBSON, INLINE PLASTICS CORP.

One of Placon's most recent innovations is a
perfect fit for retail foodservice. The HomeFresh Entrée hot food product line, made
with microwave-friendly polypropylene,
adds diversity to the company's product roster. "We can now do hot and cold preparation in these containers designed for entiremeal convenience and functionality."

Multi-compartment has
been a big grab 'n go
focus for Placon Corp.
Photos: Placon

commissary INSIDER * MARCH 2018 * 47

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