The line encompasses 23 seafood species from cod to sockeye salmon and includes natural products on soaker pads as well as breaded products. All are packed in 12-oz netweight expanded polystyrene trays wrapped and heat-sealed by a newly installed Ossid Model 750 stretch wrapper sealer.

Priced from $4 to $11, depending on the item, the products are shipped frozen in eight-count cases. Then, as needed, the frozen packs are slacked out in retailers’ refrigerated cases where they have a five-day shelf life.

“We offer our customers a case-ready program so they do not have to weigh or price the items at store level,” says Sea Star president James Faro. “We wanted to produce a better refrigerated package for them.”

“This saves time and labor for our customers,” adds Stuart Strong, vice president of marketing. Those include Hannaford Bros. and Jewel Foods. “It’s a better-looking package than an overwrapped tray, and the leak-proof seal prevents any moisture from escaping, which is beneficial to the customer.”

The labels adapt a redesign done last year by Wright Design for Sea Star Seafood’s existing line of frozen, vacuum-packed seafood. Strong says the idea was to provide an “eye-popping” design. The labels include species-specific recipes and promote the company’s Web site. —Rick Lingle

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