The board used for packaging hot liquids such as soup must be able to withstand hot filling and heating in a microwave oven, and ensure the shelf life of the contents. Once a difficult problem to solve, Stora Enso is now able to offer a solution to these demands.

Packaging is important for creating a brand image in any market where products are competing for a share of the market. In the US, the ready-made soup market is worth some 3.8 billion dollars and fresh soups are currently the rising trend. In the UK the fresh soup share is increasing by almost 10 per cent a year. The value of the market is estimated at £52 million. New Covent Garden Soup Company is the market leader with a value share of 39.8% (source: IRI MAT Jan '99 v Jan '00).
New Covent Garden Soup Company markets cartons in three sizes; 2 litre cartons, 568g cartons and 320g cartons. The two litre cartons are specifically for the catering trade and the 320g cartons are ideal for lunches and snacks. The 568g cartons are the most popular and are designed to serve 2/3 people.
The product range includes a total of 21 ever changing flavours. In addition four 'organic gourmet' recipes are available. "Fresh soup should be a taste experience, which combines the freshness and wholesomeness of homemade soup. The package should be designed so that consumers can enjoy a gourmet experience even during a busy lunch break," says Kate Raison, Marketing Director at The New Covent Garden Soup Company.
The soups are packed at a temperature of about 85°C in gable top cartons manufactured from Stora Enso's Natura Barr board. The hot fill method makes it possible to package the soup rapidly and hygienically. The soup carton is sealed and then cooled. After hot filling the carton is delivered through the cold chain to stores. The product, which has a shelf life of 21 days can be heated in a microwave oven. According to Kate Raison, another benefit of the carton is its portionability as some of the soup can be left in the carton for later consumption.
Stora Enso's Natura Barr board can be also used for packaging juices, wine, yoghurt and washing agent. The boards high barrier coating ensures excellent gas, aroma and grease barrier properties, thereby improving the products sell by date and hygiene. The thickness of the coating can be varied according to the requirements of the application. The New Covent Garden Soup Company's converter is Field Packaging, based in the UK.

For further information, please contact:
Stora Enso Oyj
Marja Jukkara, Mill Manager
Special Food Packaging Boards
FIN-55800 Imatra
FINLAND
Tel: +358 2046 121
Fax: +358 2046 26774
E-mail: marja.jukkara@storaenso.com

Stora Enso UK Ltd
Mr Roy Bray
12th floor, Newland House
49 Mount Street
GB-Nottingham, NG1 6HE
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 115 948 43 48
Fax: +44 115 948 43 28
E-mail: roy.bray@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Interamericas, Inc.
Mr Mikko Jaatinen
8750 Doral Boulevard
Suite 270
Miami, FL 33178
U.S.A
Tel: +1 305 716 9799
Fax: +1 305 716 5441
E-mail: mikko.jaatinen@storaenso.com

Stora Enso North America Corp.
Mr Michael Walsh
Two Landmark Square
3rd Floor
Stamford, CT 06901-2792
U.S.A
Tel: +1 203 356 2300
Fax: +1 203 356 2340
E-mail: MWalsh@storaensona.com
Stora Enso Australia Pty. Ltd.
Mr Juhani Ellenberg
Level 17, NCR House
8-20 Napier Street
AUS-North Sydney 2060
AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 2 9955 4855
Fax: +61 2 9955 7933
E-mail: juhani.ellenberg@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Italia
Renato Somekh
Via A. Volta, 16
1-20093 Cologno Monzese
ITALY
Tel: +39 02 251 514 50
Fax: +39 02 251 514 59
E-mail: renato.somekh@storaenso.com

Stora Enso France
Alain Piattier / Maila Grastilleur
15/25 Blvd de l'Amiral-Bruix
F-75782 Paris Cedex 16
FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 53 64 7900
Fax: +33 1 53 64 7990
E-mail: maila.grastilleur@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Nederland B.V.
Dhr J.W.F.Klarenbeek
Postbus 12386
NL-1100 AJ Amsterdam
THE NETHERLANDS
Tel: +31 20 650 5555
Fax: +31 20 650 5622
E-mail: jan-willem.klarenbeek@storaenso.com
E-mail: tom.alfthan@storaenso.com
Stora Enso Scandinavia
Packaging Boards
Joakim Stockhaus
Kanikenäsbanken 10
S-652 26 Karlstad
SWEDEN
Tel: +46 54 22 2700
Fax: +46 54 22 2720
E-mail: joakim.stockhaus@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Southern Africa
Mr Vesa Pärssinen
P.O.Box 12900
N1 City
7463 Cape Town
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 21 595 0942
Fax: +27 21 595 1688
E-mail: vesa.parssinen@storaenso.com

Stora Enso (HK) Ltd
Mr Donny Chan
Rm 3605-6 World Trade Centre
280 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
HONG HONG S.A.R.
Tel: +852 2312 1223
Fax: +852 2576 1480
E-mail: donny.chan@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Singapore Pte Ltd
M.D. Tom Alftan
360 Orchard Road #11-01 International Building
SG-Singapore 238869
SINGAPORE
Tel: +65 235 3485
Fax: +65 737 4278
E-mail: tom.alfthan@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Korea Co., Ltd.
Mr Francis Cha
11F Haesung 2 Bldb., 942-10
Daechi-dong, Kangnam-ku
Seoul 135-283
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Tel: +82 2 3453 2323
Fax: +82 2 34534488
E-mail: francis.cha@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Malaysia
John Winter
Block 154-2-11
Kompleks Maluri
Jalan Jejaka, Taman Maluri
55100 Kuala Lumpur
WEST MALAYSIA
Tel: +60 3 9818122
Fax: +60 3 9873122
E-mail: john.winther@storaenso.com

Stora Enso (Middle East)
Martti Harju
R/A 8 - HB1
Jebel ali Free Zone, Dubai
Mail: P.O.B. 61265
Dubai
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tel: +971 4 8836 819
Fax: +971 4 8836 826
E-mail: martti.harju@storaenso.com

Stora Enso Brasil Ltda
Timo Petteri Vuorio
Alameda Vicente Pinzon, 144, Suite 93
BR-04547-130 São Paulo
BRASIL
Tel: +55 11 3846 1611
Fax: +55 11 3846 9757
E-mail: storaenso@uol.com.br

New Covent Garden Soup Company
Nikki Martin
35Hythe Rd
London, NW10 6RS
ENGLAND
Tel: +44 20 890 2229
Fax: +44 20 8960 2130
E-mail: pr@new-covent-garden.co.uk

Press release images