Anyone sell packaging for keeping food products cold in the post?

[snipe12]

I need to get hold of some packaging to send food items in the post. We already have the poly boxes but they are far too large for anything but big orders and terrible for the environment.

I literally want large envelope sized ones which will be able to carry a piece of cheese and a little ice pack without being really heavy.


Can anyone help?

 

[fisicx]

Are you allowed to send perishable goods through the post in this way?

 

[mycateringjobsdotcom]

These guys use the packaging you are asking for, maybe give them a call?

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=107934


Delivery info

http://www.mettricksbutchers.co.uk/i2/Delivery-Info/information.html


Tony

 

[mycateringjobsdotcom]

Are you allowed to send perishable goods through the post in this way?

I think you can if you can show the items will be kept at the right tempreature and arrive within a certain time.

 

[snipe12]

Are you allowed to send perishable goods through the post in this way?

Yep. So longs they can withstand two or is it three days worth of standing time in case of loss or delay but that is purely for insurance purposes. As I mostly send cheese which is quite safe as French cheese recommends 2-8 degrees it is a piece of cake.

We tested our boxes and they kept things cold for ages. One we filled with ice and it took 9 days to melt. Only issue I have is the boxes are big and bulky and have to be sent by courier which costs £6.95+Vat which prohibits a massive market who just want a few hundred grams for a few pounds.

Thanks mycateringjobsdotcom.

 

[fisicx]

I think you can if you can show the items will be kept at the right tempreature and arrive within a certain time.

And that's going to be the problem. Sending chilled food via Royal Nail won't guarantee transportation conditions or time of delivery. Suppose your package gets put in a sack and left in the sun for 6 hours? What happens if the package cannot be posted through the letterbox and is taken back to the sorting office?

(snipe beat me to it. But there is a massive difference between courier delivered coolbox and a package delivered by the postie)

 

[snipe12]

And that's going to be the problem. Sending chilled food via Royal Nail won't guarantee transportation conditions or time of delivery. Suppose your package gets put in a sack and left in the sun for 6 hours? What happens if the package cannot be posted through the letterbox and is taken back to the sorting office?

(snipe beat me to it. But there is a massive difference between courier delivered coolbox and a package delivered by the postie)

This is the issue really. The boxes can withstand sun and that kind of thing. They are thick, heavy and insulated which is why I have to use a courier as the box plus ice is around 8KG before we add the product. I can't remember the exact min box guarantee but it is something like 48 hours at 34 degrees or something like that so we always send first class and the only issues we have is heavy handed couriers damaging the boxes, never any temp issues.

The packets assuming I can find some wouldn't possibly fair so well so I would expect to have to re-send some where this would happen. I am purely trying to find out if this is possible. The whole delivery issue stops so many people getting the products. Often you would want to try something first so would buy a very small amount and with such high delivery costs, 99% wouldn't bother.

I would love to be able to send little bits in the post as this would fill in any quiet time during the day as well as help keep the stock moving.

 

[mpen]

What market are you targeting?

 

[paultnl]

Have you tried dry ice CO2 it is colder and lighter than water ice

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Are you allowed to send perishable goods through the post in this way?

Yes, you are. As long as properly packaged
But not hamsters.

 

[fisicx]

Yes, you are. As long as properly packaged
But not hamsters.

Does that mean my penguin, properly packaged, is OK but hammy isn't?

 

[snipe12]

What market are you targeting?

Just the general public. People who want just a bit of deli food. The items we sell are specialist but sensible priced, not normally found in England or at least not as high quality. No one or at least not many are going to pay £6.95 P&P for a 200g piece of cheese plus our boxes cost a few £ too. The public are a hard market to target if min orders are high or delivery costs are.

Have you tried dry ice CO2 it is colder and lighter than water ice

It would be a thought but no doubt someone would be stupid enough to ignore all the warnings and actually handle it with bare skin. I would likely get sued.

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

You could consider a parcel account that worked on weight rather than a flat rate, in this instance you would benefit. However, this would probably only shave a £1 or £2 off the package price which still wouldn't be enough to make it viable.

There are some deliveries that are just tricky, and this size/value is a perfect example.