The Ossid 500im allows Best Choice Meats to perform quick changeovers for the company's various meat products.
Photo provided by Ossid
To meet retailer expectations for quality, consistency, and shelf life, meat producer Best Choice Meats has upgraded its packaging line with new overwrapping and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems, according to equipment supplier Ossid.
The Chicagoland-based meat producer is humming along with over four decades of meat manufacturing and distribution behind it, with a track record of finding market niches. It’s product offering includes halal and kosher options, and it offers co-packing services for other meat producers to extract maximum value from its equipment investments.
Overwrapping equipment avoids leakage
Best Choice Meats’ recent equipment investments stem from a longstanding commitment to customer satisfaction, according to Jay El-Kareh, the company’s owner.
“I learned early on that having a good seal on poultry products is critical to preserving relationships with retailers,” El-Kareh says. “A standard overwrapper that just seals the edges can lead to the product leaking juices. The market manager has to then wipe the whole case down with bleach, so it doesn’t stink. That creates more work for them, and they stop buying the product.”
El-Kareh entered the market for a tray overwrapping machine a few years ago, seeking an equipment solution for his low- to midsize speed requirements, with a limited footprint and a focus on quality. Best Choice Meats only needed one machine, which meant savings in cost and space on the packaging floor, but it put added pressure on that machine to perform reliably.
After tapping the shoulder of a longtime associate in Brian Guillaume, a regional sales manager for Ossid, El-Kareh selected the Ossid 500im Leak Resistant End-Seal Overwrapper.
It’s a compact unit capable of running 35 trays per minute. It delivers a leak resistant seal as it handles the wide variety of poultry, beef and lamb products the company offers. Further supporting Best Choice Meats’ wide product portfolio, the system offers quick changeovers; a changeover on the system takes just a few minutes, compared to the industry standard of 35-40 minutes, Ossid says.The overwrapper seals in fresh meat to avoid leaking issues for retailers.Photo provided by Ossid
Because the operation relies on a single overwrapper, uptime and service support were critical factors. Downtime on the 500im has been minimal so far, with any problems quickly resolved.
“The service department is reliable, capable, and efficient,” says El-Kareh. “You can tell by talking to anyone on the Ossid service team that they genuinely want to help businesses solve their problems.”
Big retailers can be a major part of business for companies like Best Choice Meats, but competition is tight among meat producers to keep these accounts. Imperfect products and missed deadlines are a quick way to lose a major income source in this space, but the new Ossid overwrapper helps the brand avoid these headaches.
Watch the below video from Ossid to see Best Choice Meats' new equipment in action.
MAP Tray Sealer adds shelf life, minimizes waste
After implementing the overwrapping line, El-Kareh turned his attention to modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), another technology to help deliver quality and preserve business relationships.
MAP displaces oxygen in the package with other gases to extend the shelf life of fresh meat, slowing spoilage and discoloration. In turn, it reduces waste and increases sales opportunity for retailers.
Best Choice Meats' new Reepack tray sealer support modified atmosphere packaging extend shelf life.Photo provided by OssidEl-Kareh turned to Guillaume once again for a solution. The resulting machinery investment came as a ReeMatic 250 Series Tray Sealer from Italian OEM Reepack. Distributed in North America by Ossid, the machine offers MAP and lidding functionality while integrating smoothly into the existing packaging line.
For El-Kareh, the added protection translates to even stronger relationships with retail customers. It also means continuing the strong service relationship with Ossid.
“Brian [Guillaume] comes in several times a year to check in on the machines and make sure we have everything we need. That’s unique for our equipment providers, and I appreciate it,” says El-Kareh. “With the relationship and trust I have built with Ossid, I wouldn’t buy tray wrapping equipment from anyone else.”
With new packaging systems now in place, Best Choice Meats is well positioned to grow and partner with retailers nationwide, including mom-and-pop shops and large chains, and deliver the product quality these partners expect.
Welcome to the inaugural Packaging World/ProFood World Innovations Report on liquid food packaging, drawn from nearly 300 PACK EXPO International booth visits (Chicago, Nov. 3–6, 2024). Our editors highlight the most groundbreaking equipment and materials—supported by video demos—that promise to transform how liquid foods are processed, packaged, and delivered.
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