More desserts on each pallet

Christmas is just around the corner and for the Danes this means that a special rice dessert is in season. This year dairy producer Arla Foods puts it on the market in a new pot which optimises pallet space.

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Even though its name could sound a bit French, risalamande, based on rice, cream and almonds, is a typical Danish dessert served during the Christmas season. While the dessert is most likely known in Denmark only, food producers in any country will recognise the packaging issue which Arla in cooperation with RPC Superfos has successfully dealt with for the season’s dessert.

From 360 to 684 pots per pallet
Before, each pallet stacked with risalamande carried a lot of unused space because of the shape of the pots. Now, with the new design, a pallet can carry significantly more units because of the improved stackability: almost twice as many as with the previous shape.

The Packaging Manager of Arla Foods, Ida Jeppesen, explains that time was ripe for replacing the filling line used for the Christmas dessert; in that connection Arla Foods approached RPC Superfos. She says:

“RPC Superfos assisted us with the development of the new packaging solution. It works in the best possible way on the filling line and the new improved shape of the pot means that we are now able to exploit pallet space to the full.”

Better shape for a better place
Optimised pallet utilisation entails a better logistics all the way through the supply chain: it means that fillers can take full advantage of storage space and transportation is more efficient thanks to the tightly packed pallets which have now replaced pallets full of empty spaces.

At the occasion of the new shape and due to environmental considerations, the previous tear-off lid of aluminium has been replaced with one made of PET. Another change is that the new pot is a little taller and more slender than the former one. 

On the wish list
Arla Foods produces risalamande in two sizes, 150gr portion sizes with cherry sauce at the bottom and 450gr without sauce. It is the larger pot which has been redesigned and the new shape matches the smaller one very well. Both sizes are found next to each other on the supermarket shelves.

“The pots look good together as regards shape and size but we are aware that the graphic design should be refreshed. Therefore, In-Mould Labelling and a catchy graphic design for risalamande is on our wish list for Christmas 2012 and we will turn to RPC Superfos for this,” Ida Jeppesen says.