Sharon Derbyshire

Sharon P. Derbyshire is the founder of Contract Market Research (www.contractmktres.com), a consulting firm focused on the packaging and specialty chemical industries.Contact her at (919) 931-1358 or at spderbyshire@nc.rr.com.

Sharon P. Derbyshire is the founder of Contract Market Research (www.contractmktres.com), a consulting firm focused on servicing the packaging and specialty chemical industries.Contact her at (919) 931-1358 or at spderbyshire@nc.rr.com.

Sharon Derbyshire, principal of Contract Market Research in Cary, NC, predicts further progress in flexible packaging for pet foods and canned consumer foods.

"Semi-moist treats in stand up pouches were introduced some 10 years ago for pets. Now, canned wet foods in retort pouches are established," Derbyshire says.
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Derbyshire also points out that products in pouches are superior in quality to canned because during the retort process food must be heated to a certain temperature in the center. That temperature can be reached sooner in a flat pouch than in a metal can. Consequently, consumers get a premium product from a taste, texture and nutritional standpoint because it doesn't degrade as much.

Derbyshire also says that offering visibility is an important development. "Partially printed pouches using windows offer increased shelf value. Personally, I'd rather be able to see, for example, the color and size of diced tomatoes," she says.
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Replacement as discussed by Derbyshire is one of the Rs of sustainable packaging. Think of the now familiar eight truckloads of cans to one of pouches.