Kurt Zuhlke, owner and president of Kurt Zuhlke & Associates, headquartered in Bangor, PA, will be exhibiting at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver, BC, on April 2-4. Zuhlke will be at the company’s booth to personally greet customers and prospective customers to the event.

He is particularly excited about the launch of the company’s new two- and three-compartment clamshells.

Kurt Zuhlke & Associates’ new two-compartment clamshell promotes repeat sales.“We are excited to introduce these new clamshells to Canadian retailers,” said Zuhlke. “They were specifically designed to motivate consumers toward repetitive sales. The one and one-quarter pint containers can hold, for example, three different colored tomatoes or three berry varieties — without the products coming into contact with one-another.”

He added that the clamshells hold just enough product for two people to enjoy berries, for example, for two breakfast portions. The freshness will motivate consumers to return often to replenish their supplies at least a few times a week.

“Shelf life is not an issue with these containers because the product is consumed within a couple of days,” Zuhlke noted. “Product that is typically sold in one-, two- or three-pints lasts a lot longer in consumers’ kitchens. Getting customers to return to stores more often is a goal that every major retailer would like to have happen.”

Kurt Zuhlke & Associates will also be displaying its full-line of clamshells, liners, films, corrugated materials and other packaging options.

“The CPMA convention committee does an outstanding job putting this expo together every year,” Zuhlke told The Produce News. “They put together programs that enable exhibitors and visitors alike to talk to and do business, and the venues are always in friendly atmospheres.

“We do a lot of business in Canada,” he continued. “Canadians are always upbeat, professional, well organized and very personable.”

Zuhlke is a strong advocate of environmentally sustainable practices, and he has designed and developed some of the most highly accepted packaging products known in the produce industry today. The company uses PET, an abbreviation for Polyethylene Terephthalate, in many of its packaging items.

“PET is commonly recycled from soft drink bottles and injection molded consumer product containers,” said Zuhlke. “When recycled, it is used in many applications besides packaging, such as in carpeting, clothing, automobile parts and is even used to manufacture trash and recycling containers.”

He added that people want high-quality products today, but they are totally tuned into the environment at the same time. Customers also want good service.

These elements are the top priorities for Kurt Zuhlke & Associates. Its priority has always been to service its customers and to ship on time.

“We will have our new divided containers at the show with product in them to demonstrate how attractive and useful they are,” said Zuhlke. “And to especially indicate how they will motivate consumers to return often to buy more product.”