It was almost two years ago now that Ficacci Olive Company launched its PaperTray® offering. Free of preservatives, the fresh-forward, sustainable innovation has rocked the specialty olive space with 100 percent recyclablity. Now, the company is expanding the lineup with the debut of its Mediterranean Olive Platter.
The newest offering, weighing 1.65 pounds, is perfect for gatherings or an Italian-style aperitivo. It features a tray with three types of pitted olives: Castelvetrano, Kalamata, and an Italian Olive Mix with Sweet Peppers, with no preservatives and no liquids. The paperboard is made from 89 percent paper, highlighting its eco-friendly features.
Besides carrying premium olives, a crucial feature of the line is the sleek design, perfect for display. Designed with user-friendly features, the top and bottom plastic films can be easily removed, while the paper bottom can be recycled with other paper waste, a press release explained.
An increasing number of retailers are using Ficacci's PaperTrays in their coolers, in line with guidelines aimed at reducing waste. In the United States, the packaging can be found at Rouses Markets, Harris Teeter, Mariano's, Eataly, Dierbergs Markets, Associated Wholesale Grocers, and Costco. For Costco members, Ficacci has designed the custom-made Paper Board. In Mexico, Ficacci products are also available at H-E-B.
The PaperTray reduces the amount of plastic by 85 percent, manufactured with certified paper by the Forest Stewardship Council or PEFCTM Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Giuseppe Ficacci, Marketing and Export Sales Director, explained that the technology used since 2021 for 100 percent recyclable eco-friendly paper packaging will help reduce plastic usage by 70 percent by 2030.
Awarded at SIAL Paris in 2022 and the Summer Fancy Food Show in 2023, the PaperTray line offers a range of delicious and crispy olives from the best cultivars, including the famous Gaeta. The range includes various options such as Cerignola, Castelvetrano pitted and unpitted, Bella Italia pitted mix, and the latest addition: Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives.
I look forward to seeing all of these items for myself at the Winter Fancy Food Show next month! For more specialty food news, you know where to find us.
