Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, a division of Ardagh Group, partnered with Mountain Culture Kombucha to introduce a new 12-ounce glass bottle design for its kombucha, which features a convenient, twist-off cap, the company says. In an effort to differentiate its products, Mountain Culture Kombucha chose to package its product in a 12-ounce amber glass bottle that would offer UV protection for the live organisms within the kombucha. “Connecting with Ardagh Group, and their willingness to produce the exact bottle we have been searching for during the better part of a decade, has been a game changer for us,” said Peter Roderick, owner of Mountain Culture Kombucha, in a statement. “From initial conversations all the way through delivery of the final product, we have never had a better experience working with a new supplier. We look forward to working with Ardagh Group for years to come.” According to Mintel’s “Beverage Packaging Trends 2019” report, glass bottles still are widely used and stand out for their strong association with more premium offerings. Furthermore, around one in five U.S. beverage consumers say they have paid more for a beverage product because they liked the packaging format (e.g., material) (20 percent) and the packaging design (e.g., artwork) (17 percent), the company says, citing the Mintel report. “At Ardagh Group, we understand the importance of packaging design,” said John T Shaddox, chief commercial officer of Ardagh Group’s North American Glass division, in a statement. “Using options from our extensive product portfolio, this bottle represents a perfect package solution for kombucha products.”