Campbell Soup Co.’s products are so much a part of the American culture that its soup cans have been portrayed in everything from pop art to children’s arts and crafts projects — much of which is displayed throughout the company’s Camden, N.J., offices. But in addition to soup, Campbell has quietly nurtured another iconic brand, and in doing so, has turned beverages into one of the company’s core product categories. With V8 100 percent vegetable juice, Campbell has met the health and wellness trend head on. As the brand celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2008, it is enjoying booming sales and a new distribution agreement that will make it even more accessible to consumers.
More than 22,000 of the top food science and industry professionals from around the world will convene at the 2008 Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting & Food Expo, June 28 to July 1. Held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, attendees will learn about the very latest consumer trends, developments in scientific research, technologies and new products in the beverage and food industry.
Within the past year, sports drinks have taken a health-conscious turn in order to survive in the ever-changing, competitive beverage industry. These electrolyte-filled drinks are no longer a simple rehydration source for athletes; they are now health-enhancement drinks of choice. As consumers want more good-for-you sports drinks, beverage companies have reacted accordingly.
Conveyors are no strangers to the challenges of beverage production. Increasing production speeds, handling the growing number of SKUs and packaging varieties, and decreasing energy costs are all impacting conveyors too.
In writing this month’s packaging feature, I had a conversation on PET pricing with John Maddox, president of Strategic Business Analysis Ltd. — Container Consulting Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. It’s not news that the price of PET, aluminum and glass is increasing as raw materials and energy costs to produce these materials are increasing. But how much packaging costs increase does not directly multiply at the same rate as the growing raw material and energy costs.
Red Bull released Red Bull Cola, a 100 percent natural cola. Red Bull Cola has no preservatives, phosphoric acid or artificial flavors. The cola contains kola nut, coca leaf and slightly more caffeine than a traditional cola. Red Bull Cola is not a new kind of energy drink or an energy drink with the flavor of cola, the company says. It is a cola beverage and will compete in the soft drink category, the company explains. Red Bull Cola initially will be launched in seven countries, including the United States, in June, with a release in Las Vegas. Domestically, the cola will be available in 8.4-ounce cans in bars, restaurants and nightclubs. In grocery and convenience stores, it will be available in 12-ounce cans and four-packs.
Honest Tea released a new lineup of five teas in PET bottles with new graphics on the labeling. The portfolio includes three new tea introductions and revised formulations for Honey Green Tea and Pomegranate White Tea with Acai. All of the teas are USDA Organic and remain less than 40 calories per serving. Lemon Black, Peach White and Citrus Green Energy Teas are the new additions to the line. Citrus Green Energy Tea contains green tea, yerba maté, oranges and lemons, and the company buys renewable energy credits that help offset all the energy consumed in the production chain. Label changes include brighter graphics and prominent placement of EGCG content in the teas on the front label. Honest Tea’s green teas offer 250 mg. of EGCG per bottle and its white teas 150 mg. of EGCG.
Monster expanded its Java Monster line with five new offerings and added Monster Mixxd. Lo-Ball, a low-calorie version of Java Monster Originale, offers 50 calories per serving and Nut-Up is Java Monster’s take on a non-fat soy latte. Monster also added an international line of Java Monster beverages with Irish, a Java Monster premium coffee and cream in a non-alcohol Irish blend, which the company suggests to mix with whiskey.
Java Monster Russian is a non-alcohol premium coffee and cream that the company suggests mixing with vodka. Java Monster Chai Hai + Energy is formulated with tea leaves, cream, spices and an energy blend. All Java Monster energy drinks are packaged in 15-ounce cans.
Monster also added Monster Mixxd, a combination of Monster’s energy blend and fruit juices. The energy drink contains apple and red grape concentrates, and offers 30 percent juice. Monster Mixxd is bottled in 8.3, 16 and 24-ounce cans.
Bottled Water Reality Check Critics of the bottled water industry often claim “tap water is just as good” as bottled water and, since there is no difference between the two, the packaging and transportation of bottled water is a terrible waste of non -renewable resources.
