RPC takes pride of place in Marks & Spencer relaunch

26 Oct 2010

The major launch of Marks & Spencer’s new British Groceries range, with new branding for more 70 products, includes a plastic jar solution supplied by RPC Containers Corby.

RPC’s involvement is based on its close association with G’s Marketing, a renowned food grower that is Europe’s largest producer of beetroot. With a reputation for innovation and quality, G’s was keen to refresh the pickle market with a new range of great-tasting traditional products for the UK that would buck the trend towards picking and packing abroad.

Based on the company’s experience in the fresh beetroot sector, where products are processed in a glass-free factory, G’s looked into available options in plastic containers and approached RPC Corby.

The suggested solution was RPC’s standard 360 and 720 ml Thermic Ultra, a thermally stable polypropylene alternative to glass. This highly functional container offers significant benefits in terms of lightweighting and easy opening.

Trials confirmed the compatibility of the jar with G’s new product range, and the company approached Marks & Spencer – to whom G’s has supplied for over 50 years – about the possibility of launching the range.

This coincided with the retailer’s own plans for the launch of its new British Groceries range, which comprises a repackaging of existing products as well as new additions, with a view towards improving the consumer experience.

Marks & Spencer commissioned 18 products from G’s, all packaged in the RPC jar. The blow moulded polypropylene container marks an 80% packaging reduction compared to similar glass packaging, providing significant improvements in logistics due to lightweighting.

At the same time, the jar offers a higher resistance to shattering than glass for enhanced consumer safety, while its comfortable handling helps to assist Marks & Spencer’s commitment to “frustration free” packaging.

The jar is complemented with a unique and patented Twister closure system from leading closure manufacturer Bapco Closures. Introduced into the UK for the first time, the closure, which is three-part injection-moulded and includes an overcap and fused foil laminate, features an easy-grip, spiral ring pull mechanism which requires little force to open. It is also fully compatible with the RPC jar during G’s operations.

“The combination of G’s expertise in traditional British cooking, RPC’s lightweight jar and Bapco’s easy-open closure has helped create this exciting new packaging style for a selection of our British Grocery products,” comments Helene Roberts of Marks & Spencer.

Source: RPC Containers