Warren Packaging's Mike Dittenber Discusses Growth and Demand for New Materials
ONTARIO, CA - As our industry continues to walk the fine line between the food safety plastic provides and the increasing need to leave plastics behind in our packaging, Warren Packaging is helping to bridge that transition.
“We specialize in corrugated boxes and displays, in addition to folding cartons and custom labels—including PLU and clamshell labels,” Mike Dittenber, Business Development, shares.
From avocadoes and tomatoes to onions and mandarins, the products Warren accommodates continues to expand, as well as the ground it can cover.
“We are currently providing corrugated cartons to several brands that help display and market their product at retail. Often times, this will be in the form of display trays or shipper boxes,” Mike says. “The possibility of bulk bins with interchangeable sleeves is in the near future for melons, onions, and other heavy commodities.”
He explains that Warren Packaging serves anything that can use the materials it is using. No plastic at all except for the occasional window is how Mike explains what he and the teamwork with, saying they are almost there in the move towards no plastic.
“Retailers are moving more and more towards paper and away from traditional clamshells, which has created more and more opportunities for us,” he tells me. “We are mostly on the West Coast with some customers that ship to the East Coast from what we give them. Most of our operations are California, Nevada, and Arizona, but we are slowly expanding throughout the U.S. with some shipments going as far as New York.”
When I ask about the best part of the job, Mike lights up talking about the innovative nature of the process.
“I most appreciate how we react to trends going on and how we can make our offering fit. We’re always redesigning and searching for ways we can help the customer or improve our offering. That’s how we have grown so much, we are constantly changing and that innovation is my favorite part of the job,” he says.
Now the team’s primary focus is its growth in the produce industry, trying to help current and prospective clients generate something new to widen their customer base, increase their sales, and improve what they already offer.
I, for one, am excited to see where these next steps take the company. AndNowUKnow will certainly be around to report on this and other processes rising within our industry.
