SunOpta expands stand-up pouch packaging capabilities in its frozen fruit, roasted snacks and fruit snack platforms at its Buena Park, California, US frozen fruit operation, and in is Wahpeton, US roasted snack operation.
Stand-up pouch capabilities will also be added at SunOpta’s fruit snack operations in Omak, Washington, scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2016.
“Stand-up pouches are quickly becoming preferred by many consumers, with 90% of consumers influenced by the package and 45% placing packaging ahead of price in buying decisions,” says president and COO Rik Jacobs.
“The enhanced technology and added capacity has led to new customers and expanding order volumes from existing customers.”
In the frozen fruit operations, the addition of a second stand-up pouch line was necessary to accommodate additional demand for this specific package type, and the new pouch packaging capability in roasted snacks has led to supplying new products commencing in the third quarter.
SunOpta currently outsources pouch packaged volumes for fruit snacks, which, in hand with newly contracted business scheduled to commence in early 2016, will allow this volume to be packaged internally, improving efficiency and control over finished product.
Acquisitions
SunOpta has also significantly enhanced its consumer product goods portfolio with the recently announced acquisitions of Sunrise Growers and Niagara Natural.
The acquisition of Sunrise Growers is anticipated to close this fall.
The acquisition is expected to provide SunOpta significant scale in private label frozen fruit, a growing market segment that aligns well with consumer demands for healthy, nutritious and minimally processed foods.
The addition of Niagara Natural extends SunOpta’s market presence in fruit snacks and, importantly, gives the company fruit snack manufacturing operations in both the West and East Coasts of North America.
Both of these businesses have also recently invested in stand-up pouch capabilities.
