Clip the strip to hang up sales

Ishida says Lancashire-based contract packer Strategy Group is the first UK firm to install its new flexible strip pack applicator (F-SPA) system for applying hanging strips to products.

Ishida's UK distributor Index says hang-strips boost sales through impulse buys and allow products to gain first retail listings because they don't take up shelf space. The firm claims a correctly merchandised strip can deliver up to 30% increase in sales.

"Placing packs on to strips used to be a very labour-intensive operation," explains Strategy's sales manager Melanie Norcross. "In addition, packs usually had to be adapted with the inclusion of a hole or Euro slot to enable them to be placed on the strips and the strips themselves could be quite heavy and bulky.

"All this generated extra costs, which could not be reflected in the selling price of the pack, making strip packs something of a loss leader. Now we have a cost-effective operation take on a more pro-active marketing role."

Strategy is now pursuing new opportunities in retail sales.

Contact: Ishida
Tel: 0121 607 7700