How does BDN Food use the Modified Atmosphere Packaging MAP solution

Summary

Marco Denuzzo, head of BDN Food, shares the journey of his family business that evolved from a cheese packaging company to an event catering and prepared food producer. The company specializes in Italian-inspired dishes, such as lasagna and stuffed pasta, distributed through various channels, including supermarkets and connected fridges. To maintain product quality and extend shelf life, they use a protective atmosphere packaging method. With the support of Air Liquide, Marco highlights how the company has optimized production, minimized waste, and is now expanding into a larger kitchen to meet growing demand.

Takeaways

• 😀 Marco Denuzzo is the head of BDN Food, a family business that has been running for 20 years.
• 😀 The company originally started in the cheese packaging industry before evolving into an event catering service.
• 😀 The pandemic prompted a significant change, leading the business to pivot towards prepared Italian dishes, particularly fresh pasta.
• 😀 BDN Food offers a variety of Italian pasta dishes, including baked lasagna, classic pasta, and stuffed pasta.
• 😀 The company distributes its products through three main channels: large supermarkets, connected refrigerators, and family-sized meal boxes.
• 😀 Shelf life is crucial for the business, and once dishes are prepared, there is a race against time to distribute and sell them while maintaining quality.
• 😀 BDN Food uses modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to extend the shelf life of its products by replacing air with a specific gas mixture.
• 😀 The gas mixture used for pasta-based dishes is ALIGAL 15, which consists of 50% nitrogen and 50% CO2, extending shelf life to 13 days without compromising taste, texture, or appearance.
• 😀 The MAP process is carried out using a semi-automatic sealing machine, which uses gas injection and thermoforming to preserve the products.
• 😀 The company relies on the expertise of Air Liquide for the gas mixture and packaging process, ensuring quality, hygiene, and food safety standards.

Q & A

What is the main focus of BDN Food?

BDN Food specializes in producing Italian prepared meals, including fresh pasta, lasagnas, and stuffed pasta, primarily for B2B and B2C distribution.

How did BDN Food adapt during the pandemic?

During the pandemic, BDN Food shifted from event catering to producing prepared meals, allowing them to continue serving customers while adhering to pandemic restrictions.

What is the significance of the company's use of modified atmosphere packaging?

The use of modified atmosphere packaging helps BDN Food extend the shelf life of their meals without artificial preservatives, preserving freshness for up to 13 days.

What gas mixture does BDN Food use for packaging its pasta-based dishes?

BDN Food uses the ALIGAL 15 gas mixture, which consists of 50% nitrogen and 50% CO2, to extend the shelf life of their pasta-based meals.

What are the key distribution channels for BDN Food's products?

BDN Food distributes its products through large and medium-sized supermarkets, connected refrigerators, and family meal boxes distributed by external services.

Why is the choice of gas mixture important for BDN Food's products?

The gas mixture is crucial for preserving the quality, texture, and flavor of BDN Food's products by protecting them from oxygen, which can spoil the ingredients.

What role does Air Liquide play in BDN Food's operations?

Air Liquide provides BDN Food with the necessary gases for packaging, as well as expertise in ensuring the packaging process is efficient, safe, and effective in preserving product quality.

How does BDN Food ensure the hygiene and quality of their packaging process?

BDN Food ensures the hygiene and quality of the packaging process by using high-quality thermosealing machines and ensuring the films used for packaging are impermeable, preventing contamination.

What steps is BDN Food taking to support its growth?

BDN Food is constructing a larger, more modern kitchen specifically designed to meet the increasing demand for their prepared meals, further supported by their partnership with Air Liquide.

How does BDN Food manage the logistics of distributing 4,000 trays per week?

BDN Food has invested in semi-automatic sealing machines, which help efficiently package their products. The use of connected refrigerators also helps streamline product distribution to different locations.