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.
“Can-makers have dramatically increased their variety of can sizes and shapes, primarily to accommodate the demand of beverage companies wanting to differentiate their products and packages,” says John Wagg, sales and operations manager for CMC-Kuhnke, Albany, N.Y. “Additional factors have also contributed, such as adherence to new regulations in air travel and school meal programs. The sheer number of different beverage cans on the market provides a challenge for those filling and handling cans.”