Oishii, a premium indoor-grown strawberry brand, is rethinking the traditional berry pack. The company launched its stay-fresh top-seal packaging for the Nikko Berry in a 7.5 oz. pack.
This new format moves beyond the conventional clear plastic clamshell with a hybrid paperboard-and-film structure designed to better align with both product and brand priorities.
At the core of the new format is a SBS paperboard tray from Aptar, paired with a lightweight, heat-sealed lidding film. The format also includes a plastic-based liner to manage moisture transmission. Oishii confirmed that the film provides barrier and controlled gas exchange properties, which is crucial for its “stay-fresh” claim.
The shift away from rigid plastic clamshells allows Oishii to reduce plastic material usage by 80%.
According to an Oishii spokesperson, graphics are printed directly onto both the tray and the top-seal film, eliminating the need for secondary labels or a separate belly band. Instead, the design uses strategic print and window placement to create the visual impression of a banded pack, preserving a recognizable brand cue without adding extra materials. The tray is printed on sheet-fed offset in 3 inks and black. The top seal film is printed with flexo printing in a 7-color extended gamut process.
The format was also engineered with retail performance in mind. The company says the pack offers a cleaner, more uniform shelf presence compared to bulky, hinged clamshells.
Engineered for Freshness and Protection
With the new packaging format, Oishii also introduced its first freshness guarantee. Printed directly onto the back of the tray, the program promises freshness for 10 days after harvest. Freshness information is coded with a harvest ID to enable traceability.
“Oishii uses an inkjet printer to place a harvest ID onto each tray which allows us to track the harvest date, farm unit, and farm operator for that particular tray,” an Oishii spokesperson said. “We ask consumers to upload a receipt so we can determine how long it’s been since the berries were harvested in order to qualify them for the Freshness Guarantee.”
The tray is also designed to protect fragile fruit with a fruit pad. Product protection was validated with stress testing including sending the package through the standard supply chain, different refrigeration levels, and monitoring shelf life.
Automation Enables the Shift
To support the new format, the company implemented an ILPRA Speedy VG tray sealer, integrated with a conveyor system and a Videojet printer to create a streamlined, inline process from sealing through coding.
After installing the top-seal machine, integrating equipment described above, and adjusting packaging workflow and operator tasks, Oishii reports more than a 40% improvement in packaging labor efficiency for its Nikko Berry operations, along with greater consistency in pack quality.
A Measurable Sustainability Upgrade
In addition to the 80% plastic reduction, an Oishii spokesperson said: The Nikko top seal pack extends the shelf life of strawberries, keeping them fresher for longer, hence also reducing food waste.”
The tray itself is recyclable and the package has clear instructions printed on the tray to facilitate ease of recycling. Instructions tell the consumer to remove film and fruit pad, separate the tray’s interior liner and discard all three. Recycle paper tray. There is also a recycle logo printed above the instructions.
“Sustainability is part of Oishii’s DNA,” an Oishii spokesperson said. “While some of our products require plastic packaging to protect our most fragile and premium berries, we had always planned packaging innovation to improve sustainability. We tested numerous different formats but landed on the Nikko topseal because of its ability to protect our berries and improve shelf life. With this new packaging, we continue to execute on our sustainability mission while we continue to find solutions for our other berry varietals.”
According to Oishii, retailers have appreciated the Nikko top seal and Freshness Guarantee because of the more sustainable format it offers.
