Tetra Pak has introduced what it says is the first carton package designed for shelf-stable tuna, offering an alternative to the metal can that has traditionally defined this category.
Created in partnership with Spanish seafood company Jealsa, the new format is based on Tetra Recart, a retortable carton system used for various ambient food products. The tuna pack made its debut in Sweden through retailer Axfood in a 200ml Mini format and is now available to food manufacturers and brands in markets worldwide.
For tuna producers, the development extends well beyond changing the appearance of a retail pack. Tetra Pak has designed the solution to address manufacturing, processing, logistics and retail needs while giving brands more options for presenting tuna products to consumers. It also reflects wider food manufacturing trends and advances in food processing technology.
An alternative to traditional metal cans
Metal cans have remained the standard format for shelf-stable tuna for decades. By contrast, Tetra Recart uses a rectangular carton profile, giving manufacturers broader printable surfaces and a distinctive appearance on the shelf.
The package can accommodate several tuna formats, including shredded and flaked products, chunks and tuna salads. Its flat panels create additional room for brand graphics, nutrition details, sourcing information and other messaging. This flexibility may support evolving food and drink marketing strategies and respond to changing food and drink consumer trends.
The carton’s shape may also improve supply chain efficiency. Packs can be positioned closely together, and Tetra Pak reports that certain configurations can hold up to 20% more units per pallet. The format is also suited to online retail and home delivery, where its geometry can simplify picking, packing and order fulfilment. These benefits align with emerging food distribution trends.
Retort processing supports shelf stability
A central consideration for manufacturers is whether a carton can provide the food safety and extended shelf life associated with canned tuna.
Tetra Recart is engineered for retort processing, enabling the filled package to undergo the high temperatures and pressures required for ambient products. Tetra Pak describes the system as a highly durable material structure developed to withstand those demanding processing conditions.
As a result, the launch represents more than a visual packaging update. It gives producers another route for manufacturing and commercialising shelf-stable tuna while maintaining the characteristics required for distribution and retail.
New possibilities for tuna brands
Tetra Pak says the carton contains up to 71% FSC-certified paper, sourced from responsibly managed forests and other controlled sources. The company is positioning the format around carbon reduction potential, competitive costs and more efficient logistics, areas increasingly influenced by food and drink sustainability priorities and food and drink regulations.
The tuna range includes 100ml and 200ml Mini packs. These sizes are intended for individual servings, on-the-go occasions and household use. According to Tetra Pak, formats weighing between 100g and 200g represent more than 60% of the worldwide shelf-stable tuna market.
For manufacturers, adopting the carton would involve more than substituting one container for another. The change could influence package design, filling and retorting operations, pallet configuration, warehousing, distribution, e-commerce performance and product positioning. It also demonstrates how food and drink industry innovation can support established categories.
The Jealsa launch offers an early example of how new food and drink packaging technology can refresh a mature market without sacrificing the long shelf life that continues to underpin the commercial appeal of ambient tuna.