Time temperature indicators make headway with retailers
New products, lower costs and increased concern over food wastage are rapidly eroding UK retailers' resistance to time temperature indicators (TTIs), say suppliers.
Dr Malcolm Butler, manager of the Polymer Centre at Sheffield University, says: "It's at breakthrough stage," adding that he knows that least one system is being trialled by a major UK retailer. The range has also broadened, with different technologies and complexities available, he reports.
Timestrip contrasts its own 'once open use within' smart label with traditional TTIs, which tend to track products through storage, distribution and retail. A year ago, the company announced Nestlé's adoption of Timestrip indicators on foodservice products. Today, it says, it is "in talks with" UK retailers about consumer packs.
Equipment supplier Bizerba is marketing a device based on an ink activated by ultraviolet light for Ciba Speciality Chemicals' On Vu system. While the printed label itself is not expensive, says the company, the system does require higher initial investment in an all-in-one applicator and activator. Bizerba says it is running trials with German retailer Edeka.
TempTime has been supplying its Fresh Check TTIs to Monoprix in France for several years now. Carrefour is using the system on fresh produce sold online.
