Istanbul-based company HSG has opened a fully automated apple processing and packing line that has been installed specifically for the company’s new APPY line of fresh and healthy apple snacks.
HSG is aiming to market the brand in supermarket fresh cut sections, bakery and confectionery shops, retail food outlets and petrol pump stations, as well as through private label marketing upon client request, having well established relationships with a number of fresh cut marketing partners.
HSG Group is a joint venture company established by CEO Haluk Okutur between Turkish retail chain Simit Sarayi and a young team of Turkish entrepreneurs. Though this joint venture, HSG will be able to promote APPY fresh cut apple bags through Simit’s existing franchise shops in Turkey, the Middle East and Europe.
The fresh cut apple bags are available in 100g, 250g and 500g sizes in flexible packaging. Simit has easy excess to be able to offer APPY bags to 500,000 retail customers every day who already buy fresh prepared and packaged food items at Simit shops.
HSG was able to implement the automatic apple processing line project thanks to the guidance of leading companies from Turkey (HIPOMAK), Italy (PND) and Germany (FOOD freshly).
A particular issue was to remove listeria and other common germs and bacteria from apple surfaces. After several listeria recalls of apple snacks throughout the last year in North America, HSG used FOOD freshly’s 3-PPP concept based on Process Water Analysis Method (PWAM©) for their local processing plant, with the focus on preventing any future cases of listeria.
The 3- PPP concept is flexible and, in the case of HSG, has been adapted to meet the company’s
requirements, specifically for processed products.
Using a combination of freshness retainer and FCA sanitiser, a desired shelf life of seven, 10 and 14 days, (and for apple snacks, 21 days) is not just achieved optically, but also from a microbiological point of view. The process water, and the final packaged products, are completely free of E-coli, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Listeria.
Further, HSG is also using FOOD freshly’s newly developed dosing and measuring system, which ensures a constant required dosage of the freshness retainer in the process water. Any overdosing or under dosing of the freshness retainer can be fully avoided through this application.
For both products, the special Freshness Retainer Formulation (FRF) and Fruit Cleaner Antiox (FCA) have been throughly tested at Istanbul University. Both products are also registered with the Turkish FDA and customs authority.
A co-operation agreement has been signed between HSG and FOOD freshly to establish a long-term and strong partnership, which will ensure that HSG has instant access to FOOD freshly’s entire patented knowledge PWAM©, as well as new freshness retainer formulations and other services.
Looking ahead, HSG is also planning to launch frozen apples and dry apple chips parallel to a number of fresh cut convenience items, including baby carrots.
“Through cooperation, HSG and FOOD freshly are creating a synergy effect to develop positive and successful future business – this is win-win situation for both companies,” added Simit CEO Haluk Okutur and CEO Sukhdev Singh at the inauguration event in Istanbul.
Source: FOOD freshly