Apples to apples

Heineken USA’s Strongbow Hard Apple Cider brand launched a new variety pack that mixes some of its existing hard cider favorites with new premium flavors, the brand says. The new Strongbow variety pack features three 11.2-ounce bottles each of the existing Strongbow Gold Apple and Strongbow Honey & Apple as well as the new Strongbow Red Berries and Strongbow Ginger varieties. Strongbow Red Berries delivers a blend of mixed berries with subtle lemon notes and a crisp apple finish, while Strongbow Ginger pairs the taste of fresh-sliced ginger with muscato notes, it says. These new varieties tap into consumer interest in new and exciting taste experiences, it adds. The variety pack is available year-round and nationwide.

Going for iconic

After 36 years on the market, Pernod Ricard USA’s Absolut Vodka brand is launching a redesigned bottle intended to serve as an icon for the brand’s future. The new bottle is a transformation of the original bottle and features an updated two-line logo, a new script, a redesigned medallion, reduced glass weight and a brand signifier. This brand signifier on the back of the bottle is one of the most significant updates of the redesign as it adds a bold, new shorthand for the Absolut brand, it says. In addition, the shape of the bottle has been strengthened to feature more clearly defined shoulders, a straightened neck and body, and a flattened bottom.

Committed to nutrition

Kraft Foods Group Inc.’s Capri Sun brand is using its newest multipack packaging to reinforce its dedication to quality, nutritional drinks for kids. The brand updated its secondary packaging with an easy-to-read ingredient label on the front of the box highlighting Capri Sun’s commitment to no artificial sweeteners, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. This packaging update adds to the brand’s February 2014 release of its clear-bottom pouches, which allow consumers to inspect the quality of the juice drink inside.

A drink with Lady Liberty

On Earth Day, Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser brand announced its support of and commitment to the environment through a partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America’s national parks, for the Find Your Park movement. The partnership raises awareness about national parks and the centennial milestone of the National Park Service in 2016. In celebration, the company rolled out limited-edition patriotic packaging featuring the iconic silhouette of Lady Liberty. The new summer packaging highlights the partnership and marks its commitment to protect the United States’ beloved historical, cultural, natural and urban parks. The Lady Liberty packs will be available in 8-, 12-, 16- and 25-ounce cans and in a 16-ounce aluminum bottle.

Environmental mentality

Copper Moon Coffee partnered with Canadian coffee roaster Club Coffee to introduce PurPod100 coffee pods. In addition to being compatible with Keurig 2.0 brewers and other brewing systems that accept K-Cup portion packs, the new single-serve cups are 100-percent compostable, the companies say. Club Coffee developed the pod from bio-based renewable resources and designed every part of the pod to be compostable, including the ring of the pod, which is made from coffee chaff, the outer layer of the coffee bean that is removed during the roasting process. Club Coffee currently is undergoing a rigorous process required by municipal compost manufacturers in North America to receive certification for the product within a few months. Copper Moon expects that its single-serve coffees in PurPod100 pods will be available in the American market later this year.

Crafted for sustainability

Second Self Beer Co. launched two of its craft beers, Thai Wheat and Red Hop Rye, in aluminum cans made from Novelis’ evercan, a certified high-recycled content aluminum can sheet. Novelis evercan contains a minimum

 90 percent certified recycled content, the company says. Recycling aluminum requires 95 percent less energy and produces 95 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than manufacturing primary aluminum, making evercan a low-carbon packaging alternative, it says. Second Self Beer Co. says it selected the material because it gives consumers the portability and protection of a can, launching the craft beer into more usage occasions and reduces the brand’s environmental footprint.