Indian pickles are exported in glass jars, PET or other plastic jars, stand-up pouches, and bulk pails or drums for food service. Glass gives the best barrier and a premium look. PET is lighter and does not break. Pouches are cheaper and save space, but need care with oily, sharp-edged pickles.
The right pack depends on your channel, shelf life, freight cost and how much breakage or leakage you can accept.
The main pack types
- Glass jars: strong barrier to oxygen and oil, easy to see the product, but heavy and can break in transit.
- PET jars: light and shatterproof, widely used in ethnic retail. Barrier is lower than glass, which can matter for long shelf life.
- Other plastic jars and tubs: used for value ranges and larger sizes.
- Stand-up pouches: multi-layer laminated pouches, light and cheap to ship. Oil, acid and hard spice pieces test the seals and layers.
- Bulk pails and drums: food-grade plastic containers for restaurants and repackers.
Common problems
- Oil leakage: oil creeps past caps or seals, staining cartons and labels.
- Breakage: glass jars break if cartons are weak or loading is poor.
- Swollen packs: gas from fermentation pushes up lids or puffs pouches.
- Corroded closures: acid and salt can attack metal caps that are not lacquered properly.
- Labels: oil stains or poor adhesive make labels peel or look dirty.
What to specify
- Jar or pouch material, size and closure type, with samples approved.
- An inner seal, such as an induction seal, to reduce leakage and show tampering.
- Fill weight, and the drained weight or solids ratio if relevant.
- Carton strength and dividers for glass jars.
- Lot code and best-before date on each pack.
- Food-contact compliance of jars, caps and pouches for your market.
Packaging that touches food must meet the food-contact rules of your market. Ask the supplier for declarations of compliance from their packaging makers. Retail packing options in general are covered in whether suppliers can pack retail pouches, jars and boxes.
Shipping and loading
Pickles travel by sea, often through hot ports and long transits. Heat thins the oil, which increases leaks. Glass and heavy jars need strong cartons, careful stacking and good stowage in the container. A pre-shipment check should include opening a few cartons from different parts of the lot to look for leaks, breakage and swelling.
Loading practice for packed foods is covered in how processed foods should be loaded to avoid damage.
Agree in the contract how leaking or broken packs will be counted and handled at arrival. Photographs of cartons at loading and on opening the container make any claim much easier to settle.
How we help
We help you choose a pack and closure that suits your product and route, and check the factory's sealing and carton quality. Our inspectors open sample cartons before loading and supervise container stuffing. Ask for a free sourcing review.