A Window for Buffalo Mozzarella

20 Jul 2007 --- Alba Mandara is part of the third generation of Mandara's, and the company's strong cultural background in the production of buffalo mozzarella helped to achieve leadership in this strong niche market since the 90s.

With its string-like texture, Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese is famously Italian, and most of us know it as a delicious pizza topping. But for Italian market leader ILC Mandara, there is more to this 2000 year old delicacy that meets the eye and they searched for packaging to literally show it off!

ILC Mandara is a family owned company who produces authentic Buffalo Mozzarella from its Mondragone manufacturing facility and is joined by Alival since 1997. Situated in the heart of Italy's Mozzarella producing area, Mandara only used the highest quality cheese produced from the best buffalo milk! Mrs Alba Mandara explains about this special cheese, 'Italians have been making and enjoying Buffalo Mozzarella for over 2,000 years, it really is legendary! Its name mozzarella literally means hand-cut, and there is much skill in making authentic buffalo mozzarella.'

Alba Mandara is part of the third generation of Mandara's, and the company's strong cultural background in the production of buffalo mozzarella helped to achieve leadership in this strong niche market since the 90s. Although Mandara has sold its mozzarella in Pure-Pak cartons for 15 years, it launched the first ever window carton in 2000. The reason for this innovative package was down to the consumer.        

'We found that the consumer wanted to see what he was buying, and that made him feel more confident that this was a high quality product. When we first launched the window cartons we saw an increase of sales of almost 15%. It was a much more modern looking package and totally new in the market!' says Alba Mandara.

In 2006, the company redesigned the package and asked Elopak to produce a more contemporary carton. The result is an oval window, which reinforces the image of this traditionally rounded cheese and strengthens its quality image. And a quality product this truly is, from a long tradition of cheese-makers and its production is a real craft.

Alba Mandara explains, 'The manufacture of authentic mozzarella is centuries old and is now protected by European Commission Law, through Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) legislation. This means that only mozzarella cheese made in the specified manner and in the specified regions of Italy can now be sold as authentic mozzarella di bufala! You can tell the difference!

This is fresh string textured cheese, with a delicate taste and when it is cut a typical watery fluid with a hint of milk oozes out. This is the mark of the best quality buffalo mozzarella in the world! For this quality, a superior package is essential, and having worked with Elopak now for over 20 years we can trust them to deliver an excellent product.'