KM Packaging designs lidding film solution for global food leader

Chosen by a global chilled food producer for its industry leading reputation for supplying reliable flexible lidding solutions, KM Packaging Services Ltd has helped a multi-award winning, high street supermarket chain launch a pre-prepared, straight to oven casserole range.

Unlike other ready meal casseroles, this latest creation combines raw meat, fresh chunky vegetables and rich gravy in a deep aluminium foil tray/dish that can be placed straight into the oven. KM Packaging’s role was to design and supply a lidding film solution that would be highly process tolerant and deliver superior shelf appeal.

To recreate the impression of a ‘home-cooked’ meal, the pre-prepared casserole is oven-cook only and has a longer cooking period than traditional ready meals of over 1? hours. This has a big impact on the performance of the lidding film required, as it needs to stay sealed to the aluminium base dish for most of the cooking period but also have a smooth hot peel so it can be removed for the last half an hour of oven time.

Renowned for its technical competency, KM Packaging quickly set to work and carried out meticulous product trials to carefully assess the compatibility of various films to the chosen lacquered foil dish, monitored the reaction of films during the gas flush process and examined their behaviour throughout the cooking cycle.

From these material tests, KM Packaging was able to custom-design and develop a strong lidding film able to provide maximum product security, taking into account the unusually heavy weight of the product and prolonged oven times.

KM Packaging’s UK and Ireland’s sales manager, Alan Lockhart, commented: “KM Packaging is thrilled to have been able to play such a vital role in delivering this unique and exciting new casserole concept. Nike x Fragment Women