Packaging /
KFC food bucket wins further award for International Paper Foodservice Europe
At the 2017 KFC Supplier Awards, held recently in London, International Paper Foodservice Europe won the Breakthrough Supplier of the Year Award in recognition of its work to develop the innovative, grease-resistant food bucket.
Over a two-year period, working closely with KFC UK and Ireland, the in-house team at International Paper Foodservice Europe’s headquarters in Winsford, Cheshire, designed, manufactured, trialled and successfully brought this pioneering food bucket to market. The result is a product that meets KFC’s specification, enhances its brand values, boosts environmental performance and is truly unique in the market.
The food bucket uses a robust, resistant lining which prevents the build-up of excess oil to improve food presentation and removes plastic from the construction of the product.
Further development work targeted the outer of the container to give it extra visual impact. KFC UK and Ireland wanted a glossy finish, but that needed to be achieved without the addition of a plastic coating. Building on its earlier investment in the latest print technology, International Paper Foodservice Europe developed a clay-coated finish that brings extra vibrancy to the print.
Commenting on the award win, Mike Turner, Managing Director of International Paper Foodservice Europe said: “These awards are attended by some 400 suppliers to KFC and the Breakthrough Supplier of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious. It has taken determination, technical capability and expertise to develop this truly unique, pioneering product and bring it to market. To be recognised with such a prestigious award is an accomplishment the entire team at Winsford – across all disciplines – should be very proud of.”
Dayo Akinlabi, Supply Chain Manager at KFC UK & Ireland, said: “Our bucket is a truly iconic piece of packaging, but we’re always looking to innovate when it comes to the presentation of our food. It was great to be able to recognise the International Paper Foodservice European team with this well-deserved award. Their collaborative approach led to them delivering an excellent final product – congratulations again to the whole team.”
This is the fourth industry recognition for the food bucket, which has already won the Sustainable Innovation in Packaging Award in the 2016 Foodservice Footprint Awards, received a ‘highly commended’ in the Foodservice Packaging Association’s Innovation Award and was a finalist in the Innovation of the Year category of the UK Packaging Awards.
