Single-Serve Coffee Producers Find a New Tool in FIBCs

The increasing sales of single-serve coffee brewing machines, coupled with Americans opting for quick-and-easy single-cups, present a new challenge to both coffee growers and roasters.

The single-serve cups that are at the heart of this ever-growing format require the transport of increasingly higher volumes of ground coffee. This is where Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs), from Fres-co, come in.

“Traditional methods of transport are not adequate for such large amounts of coffee,” observes Fidan Labbe, manager of FIBCs for Fres-co. “Given that FIBCs are used globally for the efficient and economical shipping and handling of a wide range of dry, flowable products, FIBCs fulfill the requirements for coffee shipment quite naturally.”

Chris Burger, Fres-co manager of the coffee market, agrees. “Fres-co’s goal is to provide solutions to help deliver the freshest coffee possible to roasters. To accomplish that, we’re exploring new methods and developing the most cutting edge technologies to provide barrier performance and package integrity. FIBCs fulfill those needs as they protect coffee while it’s transported first from the producer to the roaster, and then to the packer.”

Both Fidan Labbe and Chris Burger view Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs) as a highly useful tool within the coffee industry. Consider first that FIBCs can carry up to 1,500 lbs. of ground coffee very efficiently. Older and more traditional methods typically handle much less weight, as they tend to be limited in the amounts of ground coffee they can transport.

The bottom line is that Fres-co FIBCs may increase shelf life from 10 days to 45 days.

Labbe adds that these economies of scale also help reduce overall operational costs, such as labor, shipping and storage space. Additionally, as a global commodity that is produced in many countries, larger bags produced by Fres-co can be U.N.-approved.

Mr. Burger also states that, “FIBC technology goes far beyond traditional methods when it comes to protecting ground coffee while in transit. In the end, the consumers receive the freshest coffee possible, because we may increase shelf life from 10 days to 45 days.”

Fres-co System USA, Inc. is making exciting advances in the use of FIBCs as part of the company’s commitment to a full range of offerings in coffee. Roasters and other coffee professionals are invited to contact Chris Burger, an experienced business leader in the coffee market, at cburger@fresco.com. Fidan Labbe is Fres-co’s FIBC & Liner Commercial Manager. She joined Fres-co in 2013 with more than a decade of experience in the global chemical, food and agricultural markets. Fidan Labbe can be reached at flabbe@fresco.com.

For more than 40 years, Fres-co System USA, Inc. has manufactured high-performance flexible packaging systems and invented dozens of innovative breakthroughs including degassing valves, modified atmosphere technologies, and reclosure systems.

Topics: Coffee Packaging

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