Rexam and Nestle - Instant Success!

Rexam, the global consumer packaging company, and Maggi, the Culinary unit of Nestle, Germany, have worked together to develop a new range of microwaveable ready-meals under the Maggi ‘Topfinito’ brand. Launched in April this year, the range comprises four exciting flavours.

The stock 99mm top-diameter high-barrier plastic containers are produced using Rexam’s unique Rotary ThermoForming (RTF) technology. The containers, formed in the melt-phase so there is no in-built stress, have superior retort and barrier performance. The cups are closed with a double-seamed easy-open aluminium end, over which an injection moulded lid is placed. The packs are filled on a modified high-speed can-filling line at Nestlé’s factory in Conow, south-east of Hamburg, and are decorated with insulating shrink labels, providing immediate product recognition on the super-market shelves.

Alexandra Weston, Maggi’s brand manager, said "This is an important product launch for Nestle in Germany. Working with Rexam, we have developed a modern and convenient single-portion pack for a flavoursome and nutritious meal for people ‘on the go’. The 380g meals can be heated in a 600W microwave oven for only 3 minutes and can be readily consumed, directly from the container. The packs have a minimum shelf-life of a year without the need for refrigeration or freezing, so the meals can be stored and used anywhere. Initial trials, with Rexam’s European team in attendance, were held at our Application Group in Singen and these were then scaled up for factory production. We are very pleased with the result and our working partnership with Rexam".

Rexam’s European Sales and Marketing Director for food containers, Nick Brewin, is delighted to be working with Nestle in Europe. "We have worked with Nestle in the US for some years,’’ he commented ‘’and this development perfectly fits our strategy of working with global partners wherever they are in the world, as they grow their market positions and develop new high-quality, ambient foods."