With couriers under increasing pressure due to Royal Mail strike action during the busiest week of the year for fresh food deliveries, businesses need to take every precaution to ensure that their goods arrive with their customers in pristine condition. 

Sorbafreeze Business Unit Director, Michelle Ottolini shares her top four recommendations to help you prepare and pack your temperature sensitive produce for shipping this Christmas. 

1. Select the right sized box
   It sounds like common sense, doesn’t it? However, it’s an important factor as the correct size can better protect your product, reduce materials and in turn, reduce costs.  At Sorbafreeze, we have a range of off-the-shelf boxes in eight different sizes, ready for next day delivery. 
2. Prioritise time and space saving during this busy period
   Building boxes and inserting the insulation for each order takes up time and space that most people don’t have this week. Our Chilltek Fastfill box brings the outer box and the inner insulation liner as one ready-made solution. Just pop open and pack – it’s that easy! 

   With a choice of hydrated and non-hydrated ice packs you can select which works best for you. Hydrated ice packs save you time, just freeze and go. While our non-hydrated ice packs take up less space in your warehouse just soak then freeze! 

3.  Follow our best practice guide for packing
   Pack your goods with the correct ratio of ice to product and eliminate any gaps with void-fill to maximise performance of the insulation unit. Prevent the circulation of any free air as this will increase the temperature of your shipment. Ensure the insulation liner is sealed with tape to create a fully sealed chamber for your goods allowing them to travel temperature safe for up to 48 hours.The outer box is just as important. A minimal requirement of double wall corrugate fluting will create a super strength package to withstand courier handling.
4. Seek advice on how much ice to use
   The amount of ice required for your produce to arrive in the best condition will vary based on the temperature you wish to retain and the delivery timescales. At Sorbafreeze, we offer free consultation service and provide free samples for you to test.
    

As the only BRCGS accredited ice pack manufacturer in the UK, we’re here to help. If you’d like any support in finding the best shipping solution for your direct-to-consumer food & drinks business, please get in touch.