Jennifer Storelli

As brands expand their portfolios to include a variety of beverages, they require automated mixing and blending systems that are flexible enough to handle different types of batches efficiently.

Although the term “flexibility” often is used to describe expectations for beverage industry equipment, in terms of labeling equipment, there still is a place for more rigid machines dedicated to specific operations, notes Raul Matos, vice president of sales and marketing at Miami-based Karlville Development LLC.

As soon as The Coca-Cola Co. announced the launch of its “Share a Coke” campaign in the United States this summer, I immediately began my quest to find a bottle with my name on it.

Although the common business adage “The customer is always right” might not apply to all businesses, some beverage brands are collecting consumer insights to help guide their new product development. In fact, one beverage manufacturer exclusively uses consumer feedback to create its products.

When it comes to beverage operations, worker safety is one of the most important factors for companies to consider.

This fall, PMMI, the Reston, Va.-based Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will host Pack Expo International 2014 from Nov. 2 through 5 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

In contrast with last year’s indulgent flavor trends, beverages this year are shifting to reflect consumer interest in health and wellness.

Although now best known for its gluten-free and no-added-sugar attributes, the Devotion Vodka brand actually got its start in the club scene.

Last year was a record year for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), with AGV system sales reaching $140 million, according to the Material Handling Institute (MHI).

In The Walt Disney Co.’s 2003 feature film “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,” lawless groups of sailors often remind each other to “keep to the code,” referring to the set of societal guidelines handed down by their pirate forefathers.