COLPAC has announced it is working with customers to develop ‘adaptable’ packaging solutions to meet the needs of the hospitality sector as it prepares to reopen following the lockdown period.
With firms having to adapt to new social distancing and hygiene measures, Colpac said it has seen a ‘significant increase in demand’ for room service and take-away packaging solutions.
“Our European teams have responded to the evolving demands from international hospitality customers and created solutions to meet these needs, and we are now seeing this demand filtering through to the UK market,” said Kate Berry, Colpac’s head of marketing and product.
Hotel chains are exploring different ways of delivering meals to guests, including increased in-room dining and pre-prepared food boxes stored in a refrigerator. Colpac said major chains need quality packaging solutions to instil confidence and deliver food hygienically.
To meet this demand, Colpac is developing hotel dine-in or take-out packaging solutions, including adapting its paperboard platters to create a room service tray. The platters enable hotels to move away from re-using traditional trays and cutlery.
Colpac’s range includes pillow packs for wraps and paninis, souper pots for porridge or soup and multi food boxes for hot and cold dishes. Each item can be sealed once filled in the kitchen, and the platter sleeves encase the entire base, eliminating any contamination risk.
Hotels that have remained open for key workers have adopted concepts such as the creation of pre-made boxed meals. Colpac revealed this is set to be rolled out across many hotels with demand for disposable carry packs rising. Featuring easy-to-carry handles, food items are sealed both at the macro level of the outer packaging and the micro for the inner packaging. The carry packs and multi food boxes are also said to be in demand by restaurants and bars where there will be a greater emphasis on take-away food.
