Noticed something different with Ica’s chips? This is why

The year was 1917 when Hakon Swenson started the Hakon company, which is the basis of what is known today as Ica.

“The idea was to let individual merchants with stores join together in purchasing centers in order to achieve the same economies of scale as chain companies through joint purchases and other collaborations,” writes the food giant on its homepage.

And so it has been. Figures from The ICA traders’ association shows that approximately 1,500 traders run roughly 1,300 stores around the country, with roughly 50,000 employees.

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ICA has produced its own goods since the 1920s

Ever since the 1920s, Ica has produced its own goods. It all started with Hakonbolaget’s own coffee brand Luxus and then Ica-Sill and Ica-Lill.

“The can was already invented in the 19th century, but it was during the 40s and 50s that it had its breakthrough among Ica’s own products. Among other things, Ica’s own brand series Ica-sill and Ica-Lill were packaged in cans. Practical!”, writes the company.

Since then, a lot has happened. In the decades that have passed since the middle of the 20th century, a whole host of products have been added to Ica’s own range, including its own dairy products, fruit and vegetables and a complete vegan range.

ICA has changed several packages

The range of Ica’s own goods is not the only thing that has changed over the years, but also the packaging. For example, in June 2023, the packaging for the food giant’s own minced meat was changed from plastic trays to so-called “flowpack”.

– That ICA is changing the packaging of minced meat is a step towards reducing our customers’ climate impact and reaching our sustainability goals. Flowpack is very easy to open but is nevertheless very durable and can withstand being placed in the shopping basket and in the checkout on the way home from the store without breaking, said Kerstin Lindvallsustainability director at Ica Gruppen, i a press release when.

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Ica’s chips have received new packaging

Now Ica has changed yet another package. Since September, the inside of the food giant’s chips is made of a different material, which is now white rather than metallic.

The reason? That all plastic packaging must be fully recyclable by 2025.

– As a step in that direction, Ica’s chips get a new and recyclable packaging. In order for a plastic package to be recycled, it needs to consist of a single material, so-called monomaterial, which we now have, explains Jenny Gerdespress officer at Ica Gruppen, for News24 and continues further:

– The white inside also makes it easier for the consumer to understand that it should be sorted as plastic. The new bag also has less pressure, 60 percent pressure area, which facilitates recycling. With the new bag, we hope to contribute to more chip packaging being recycled and, in the long run, to become new packaging. Plastic packaging that can be recycled into new packaging emits less carbon dioxide than if it had been thrown in the household waste.

Has the change been made to all your chips?

– We have implemented the change on Ica Chips and Ica Basic chips as well as Ica Salta screws, replies Gerdes.

Does the change affect the chips in any way?

– No, the new packaging does not affect the chips.

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