The packaging had to protect both the product and the next order.
Leakage complaints affected 3.2% of shipments and triggered retailer penalties. Materials had failed EU 10/2011 migration checks, putting the exporter’s retail contracts at risk.
Supply timing made the problem harder. Supplier lead times averaged nine weeks against a six-week order cycle. The buyer needed suitable materials, more dependable packaging and a supply arrangement that matched how it ordered.
- The buyer
- A food exporter in Agadir, Morocco, shipping approximately 1,200 tons of dried fruit a year to EU retailers.
- The product brief
- Resealable stand-up pouches in eight sizes, using laminated PET/AL/PE film: polyester, aluminum and polyethylene. Food-contact suitability and supporting compliance documentation were part of the brief.
Connect material checks with a workable supply plan.
The review addressed packaging performance and supply timing together. The quality manager approved the compliance criteria; supplier and sample decisions followed those requirements.
Screen 16 packaging suppliers
We reviewed suppliers and food-contact compliance documentation against the project’s EU 10/2011 and FDA-related requirements.
Compare 24 film structures
We coordinated barrier and migration testing to support the material decision, rather than selecting the pouch by appearance or price alone.
Bring lead time closer to the order cycle
We negotiated a five-to-six-week lead time with a buffer-stock agreement to support replenishment.
Consolidate eight sizes across two suppliers
A smaller supplier group simplified QC and traceability across the pouch range.
Look beyond the printed surface.
Material construction, seal quality and the intended food use need to be considered together. For a new order, connect the approved pouch sample to its specification and supporting records.
- Material and barrier
- Identify the laminate construction and the performance needed for the product and storage conditions.
- Seals and closure
- Agree pouch dimensions, zipper, seal areas and the checks used to assess the finished pack.
- Food-contact evidence
- Match the supporting documents and test scope to the specified material and intended use.
For a new EU-bound product, review the European Commission’s food-contact framework with your quality team and testing specialist. For US sales, the FDA’s component-status guidance explains how authorization depends on the substance and intended use. This project’s checks do not establish blanket approval for other foods, constructions or markets.
Requirements first.
Approval before commitment.
- The quality manager approved the compliance criteria.
- The sample was approved after one revision.
- The buyer approved the final two suppliers.
Those decisions connected the material and supplier review to the buyer’s own quality requirements.
The records behind the decisions
- Food-contact compliance documentation.
- Migration test reports.
- Supplier comparison matrix and price schedule.
Exporter identity, confidential costs and supplier contacts are withheld from this public project record.
Less leakage.
Supply closer to demand.
Leakage fell below 0.5%, an approximately 84% reduction, and retailer penalties were eliminated. Consolidating volumes reduced packaging cost by 8%, with an approximately $31,000 annual saving recorded for the project.
| Measure | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Leakage rate | 3.2% | <0.5% |
| Average lead time | 9 weeks | 5.5 weeks |
These are the results of this operation. New material, order and stock arrangements require their own quotation, approvals and schedule.
What this project shows
Packaging selection combined barrier performance, migration testing and supply timing. Bringing eight sizes under two suppliers simplified traceability and inspection, while the buffer-stock arrangement helped align replenishment with the exporter’s order cycle.
Specify the food, the pouch and the order cycle.
Send a current sample or drawing, then explain what must improve. Existing test reports and leakage records help define the work before suppliers quote.
Explore packaging and printing sourcing and support for packaging buyers for the wider procurement process.
- Product and destination
- Food type, intended use, storage and contact conditions, shelf-life target, destination markets and retailer requirements.
- Pouch construction
- Sizes, material structure, thickness, zipper, seal details, printing, artwork revision and agreed performance checks.
- Demand and replenishment
- Quantity by size, order cycle, required delivery dates, budget range and any proposed buffer-stock arrangement.
- Evidence and approvals
- Samples, drawings, compliance documents, test reports, supplier details, problem records and the person approving changes.
Support for your next packaging order
- Custom packaging and labeling
Coordinate packaging specifications, artwork, sample revisions and production requirements.
- Quality-control coordination
Define product checks and follow findings against the approved specification.
- Factory verification
Review the manufacturer’s identity and production capability before placing an order.
Based in Morocco? Explore China sourcing support for Moroccan importers and the sourcing process and buyer approvals.
