Beverage Industry

2012 New Product Development survey

Answering consumer demand, creating new formulations and leveraging growth opportunities are among the reasons why beverage-makers plan to launch more new products in 2012 compared to 2011, according to the results of Beverage Industry’s annual New Product Development survey. A planned increase in launches was cited by 59 percent of respondents, which is a 14 percent rise from last year’s survey results.

Supplementing what demographics are missing

Reading between the leaves

Ingredient Spotlight

Superfruits expand beyond exotic varieties

Better-for-you beverages continues to appeal to consumers, and beverage companies continue to find ways to address that trend. According to Chicago-based Mintel Group Ltd.’s “Juice and Juice Drinks” report, 5 percent of launches from January to June 2011 contained antioxidants, which represents a 1 percent increase from the previous period. The report adds that many launches sourced their antioxidant content from superfruits such as acai berries, blueberries, cranberries and pomegranates.

Reading between the leaves

Searching for the next superfruit star

New Packages

Carriers and cases

After several distributors expressed frustration with its packaging, the marketers of O’Hara’s Irish Stout and Irish Red redesigned the brand’s four-pack carriers and created new case cartons.

On-the-go bottles

Stand-out color

Plant Focus

Vertical integration to the max

Being a trendsetter isn’t always ideal. You’re often the “guinea pig,” which could be a good thing or a bad thing. For Admiral Beverage Corporation, it’s a good thing. The company was one of the first bottlers in the country to install injection molding machines, it says. After introducing blow molding lines to both of its production facilities a few years ago, injection molding has enabled the business to become even more vertically integrated.

Flexible future forecasted for lab testing

Automation making strides in warehouses

Packaging Equipment

Can filling and seaming responds to differentiation

As the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life,” and for beverage-makers, package variety also can be a tactic to spice up sales. In the aluminum category, packaging manufacturers have gone beyond the traditional 12-ounce can and now offer a range of shapes, sizes and closures to help beverages stand out on store shelves.

Suppliers Marketplace - December 2011

Filler technology hitting on all cylinders

Distribution

Team building for business success

These days, you seldom hear a star discuss the importance of teamwork. Typically, the “celebrity” drones on and on about his greatness without a mention of how others helped his organization’s success.

Prevention is the best policy to avoid asset loss

2012 truck roundup

Channel Strategies

Interacting with technology to boost sales

As the vending channel looks to grow its user base, beverage companies, suppliers and organizations such as the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) are seeking more ways to enhance the vending experience and increase consumer usage.

Competitive spirit spurs new formats

NACS Show highlights new products, energized and functional innovations

Marketing

Customer Loyalty Rewards

Chattanooga’s Double-Cola Co. launched a new customer loyalty program in the United States called Reward My Thirst.

‘Irish True’ campaign

Acing Rafael Nadal

Commentary

Beverage Beat: Riding the trend rollercoaster

Similar to the drops, twists and turns of popular amusement park rides, product fads can leave beverage-makers gasping for breath — and redirecting budgets. Take for example, pomegranate, formerly the most super of the superfruits, which has plausibly suffered the most due to consumers’ frequently fickle preferences.