The international fruit ingredients supplier Cobell has just opened a new juice-blending and aseptic packaging facility which is expected to create a big stir in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry.

The £ ½ million plant will provide chefs, restaurateurs and caterers with an in-house juice blending service where they can create their own bespoke recipes. Their unique juice is then packaged in aseptic wine-box style containers giving a 9 month ambient shelf life. Once opened the juice has an impressive 21 day shelf life (refrigerated) which is up to 7 times longer than a traditional Tetra Pak.

Cobell is targeting its new facility at chefs and proprietors of upmarket restaurants and hotels who, it believes, will be keen to create their own blends using locally sourced produce which can be sold to customers under their own brand or under the “JuiceBox” brand.

Cobell’s Managing Director Nick Sprague says: “We will be able to source the ingredients, work directly with our clients to create their own special blends and then package them in our aseptic plant, which is the key to the increased shelf life. Our ability to pack modest quantities is our strength as many packers look for large volume runs which currently make bespoke blends a commercial impossibility to smaller establishments.

"But we’ve taken the aseptic packaging one step further for our customers with our juice box container, which works very much like a wine-box using a self-sealing tap. It’s available in: 3, 5, 10 and 20 litre sizes which means that we have a box that suits everyone!

Nick explains; “The juice can be stored in an ambient stock room until required and our clever box design can fit comfortably and conveniently in both commercial and domestic fridges. This not only makes economic and business sense to people in the catering industry but also gives them the option of branding their own juice recipes.”

Juice is often overlooked by restaurateurs and hoteliers but if you enjoy a fine dining meal and stay the night the breakfast offering has to equal the quality and care put into the food and wine the night before. Too many upmarket hotels use the wrong juice for their breakfast and this can spoil an otherwise perfect dining experience.

The new aseptic facility is based near Cobell’s South West headquarters in Exeter and is headed up by Production and Quality Manager Chris Baker who explains the aseptic process; “As part of the aseptic packaging system, bags are opened, filled and sealed in one continuous process which utilises steam sterilising. This results in the bags remaining totally sterile on the inside and we are then able to gently pasteurise our juices.

“The direct impact of this is extended shelf life. In comparison to a standard opened tetra pack, which has a refrigerated shelf life of approximately 3-4 days, the new packaging offered by us provides a 21 day opened and refrigerated shelf life.”

Chris continues; “While trialling this concept, the catering industry has been particularly impressed. Their menus invariably change on a weekly basis. So, using juice from the previous style tetra packs for anything from ‘the smoothie of the week’ to a ‘special raspberry dessert’, often resulted in increased waste because the product did not stay fresh for long enough. Whereas now, we are able to offer up to 3 weeks to use our product once it’s opened.”

All of the aseptic juice box containers have been designed to fit in any commercial or domestic fridge and are currently available in: traditional orange; natural cloudy apple; naturally fresh pineapple; grapefruit; apple and mango; apple and English damson; as well as a host of bespoke recipes for individual catering establishments.

ENDS

About Cobell

• Established in 1999 to meet the growing demand for processed fruit supply, Cobell has become the fastest growing processed fruit supplier in Europe.
• Sourcing fruit ingredients from around the globe, and supplying variables such as organic, non-gm, fair-trade and super-fruits, Cobell also packages in bespoke containers for more cost-effective options for businesses ranging from small local bakeries to large drinks suppliers.
  
• Cobell supplies fruit ingredients for soft and alcoholic drinks, ice cream, sorbets, ready meals, desserts, yoghurts, patisseries, baby food, soups, preserves, pies, bakeries, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
  
• The company operates under stringent quality and ethical guidelines.

Note to Editors: For further information or photographs please contact Annette Richman at KOR Communications on 01392 466733
Cobell Ltd, Alphinbrook House, Alphinbrook Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter EX2 8RG Tel: 01392 430280