Timestrip develops smart shelf-life label with Nestlé

In packaging their products food processors are looking at smart labels as a means of communicating more information about nutrition and shelf life in a better fashion to consumers. Shelf life is abig concern given the increasing emphasis on food safety in the market. "This is an opportunity to demonstrate that our technology delivers brand differentiation in a crowded market place while delivering a unique benefit to the end user," said PaulFreedman, Timestrip's joint chief executive. Nestlé's Foodservices UK unit plans to integrate the Timestrip smart label into the packaging of an unnamed branded product. Timestrip's smart labels contain a liquid which migrates across the label, enabling users of perishable food and other products to monitor for how long an item has been open or in use. Thetechnology can be used as an external label or can be fully integrated into products and product packaging. Timestrip markets label technology for accurately measuring lapsed time. The commercial trial is scheduled to start this autumn. "The adoption of Timestrip's smart-label technology is an exciting packaging development that we are confident will deliver a meaningful point of differentiation for our products byassisting restaurants and caterers to manage their perishable foods with confidence and ease," said Mike Carter, Nestlé's innovations manager. "Applied to product packaging and factory activated, Timestrips can augment the existing range and multitude of static dates that are provided in an inconsistent format on the product,"the company stated. The company has previously announced deals with Ocado, an online grocery supplier, and with Germany-based Crown Zeller, a packaging company. Timestrip plans to release its interim results for the six months ended 30 June on 23 September 23. External links to companies or organisations mentioned in this story: Timestrip