More than 90 packaging technologists, engineers and designers came together for the 2014 AIP/IGD Shelf Friendly Packaging (SFP) training which was held across two states and four Woolworths sites over two weeks in March.
It was the third AIP & Woolworths SFP training initiative and by popular demand, a second day was offered for In-DC Training. Sessions were led by a trainer from IGD in the UK, and were open to everyone in the industry.
The AIP added Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) SFP training this year to focus on SFP performance through the DCs and reported that this training was a huge success. SFP causes problems, it stated, when transit and DC performance is compromised to achieve 'The 5 Easies,' the essential requirements for good shelf friendly packaging. Regional Distribution Centres are among the least accessible and understood parts of the supply chain for packaging technologists and the extra training session showed them the true rigours of their SFP designs in DCs.
In-store SFP Training at Preston and West Ryde focused on SFP performance through the last 50 metres in Woolworths stores. SFP that achieves 'The 5 Easies' for store and shopper has the potential here to increase the productivity of scarce replenishment labour, improve on-shelf availability and appearance, and increase sales and loyalty.
Many packaging technologists have not seen their SFP designs in distribution and on shelf. Many have not experienced its functionality in-store and many stores have yet to see fully fit-for-purpose SFP designs coming through.
The training analysed the spectrum of SFP designs currently on the market – good, bad and ugly, so that technologist could incorporate new understanding into future work.
