La Doria boosts filling capacity with SIG SafeBloc carton packs to meet consumer demand

20 Jun 2023 --- Italian food giant La Doria has expanded its filling capacity by investing in a third SIG Safe 12 Food Retort filling line for canned food products. Commercial production on the filling line started at the beginning of 2023.

The SIG Safe 12 Food Retort filling line has a high content of solid particulates. It makes it possible for La Doria to fill food products in SIG SafeBloc carton packs, which are ultrasonically sealed.

The cartons are then conveyed automatically into an autoclave, where the package and product are sterilized together.

The low weight and rectangular shape of SIG carton packs ensure manufacturers and retailers maximize transportation and storage efficiency and more effective use of shelf space, according to the company. 

In 2022, La Doria filled its food products in more than 100 million SIG carton packs, supplying many major European retailers. 

Ahead of the market 
La Doria says its partnership with SIG keeps it ahead of the market as more brands and retailers seek sustainable alternatives to traditional packaging, such as metal cans and glass jars, for canned foods. 

The Italian food company says that in Italy and across Europe, many customers and retailers increasingly appreciate carton packs' logistical, convenience and sustainable benefits for canned food. 

Innova Market Insights’ 2022 consumer survey revealed that 33% of global consumers perceive metal packaging as having good recyclability performance and that 42% perceive it as providing good product protection. 

“Investment in our third SIG Safe 12 Food Retort filling line at our Sarno plant gives us the best options for logistics, efficiency, flexibility and sustainability,” says Diodato Ferraioli, export sales director at La Doria. 

“We continue to work together with SIG’s expert team to provide our retailers and consumers with the most convenient and sustainable packaging solutions for our food products.”

SIG advances 
According to an LCA, SIG SafeBloc carton packs are a more sustainable packaging option than cans or glass jars and ensure products, such as vegetables and stews, are protected to retain high quality over a prolonged period. 

La Doria fills a wide range of pulses on the new SIG Safe 12 Food Retort filling line in SIG SafeBloc carton packs, from 200 ml to 500 ml.

“Carton packs continue to gain traction for food products thanks to their solid environmental performance and high level of convenience,” says Paolo Volpari, head of marketing Europe at SIG.  

“Our innovative solutions not only meet the changing needs of customers like La Doria, but also consumers who are now much more clued up on environmental matters and are looking for high-quality long-life products in more sustainable packaging.”

Edited by Louis Gore-Langton