Fresh look

FRS Co., Foster City, Calif., has enhanced its FRS Healthy Energy ready-to-drink beverages with a new look. Newly packaged FRS ready-to-drink energy drinks are available in Apricot Nectarine and Orange flavors sweetened with stevia, and four low-calorie flavors in Wild Berry, Peach Mango, Citrus Pomegranate and Orange. All six cans feature bold fruit graphics and bright colors. Each 11.5-ounce can contains the FRS patented blend of all-natural antioxidant quercetin, seven essential vitamins and green tea extract, the company says.

Even greener

Odwalla Inc., Half Moon Bay, Calif., a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Co., announced that the company plans to transition all the brand’s single-serve bottles to PlantBottle packaging in March 2011. PlantBottle packaging is made of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) consisting of 100 percent plant-based materials and is completely recyclable. PlantBottle packaging consists of material derived from molasses and sugarcane juice, and has the same performance as traditional HDPE and PET bottles, the company says.

Secondary advancements

Zumbiel Packaging, Hebron, Ky., unveiled WaterFall, a package that makes it easy for consumers to access single servings from shrinkfilm-packaged bottles and cans. Zumbiel’s WaterFall uses a patent pending opening feature in the corrugated pad or tray to dispense the bottles. Consumers simply lay the package on its side, and then tear the opening feature to reach inside the package and grab a container. The remaining portion of the pad provides the rigidity necessary to keep the package from collapsing. Zumbiel also released TreeHugger, a paperboard carton for soft drinks and beer that is made completely from recycled paper. It uses no new trees and requires 46 percent less energy and 81 percent less wastewater to manufacture than a traditional beverage carton, the company says. Production of TreeHugger also generates 53 percent less greenhouse gases and 59 percent less solid waste.

TreeHugger looks and feels like a traditional carrier, and it performs the same in manufacturing and distribution, the company adds.

Collegiate designs

Muscle Milk, Los Angeles, announced it will introduce eight limited-edition collegiate themed bottles. The program will feature Georgia Tech, University of Miami, The Ohio State University, University of Colorado, Arizona State University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California and University of California-Los Angeles. The 14-ounce Muscle Milk college-themed bottles will be branded with school logos and available at retail outlets in and around the campuses.

Paper, not plastic

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc., Waterbury, Vt., announced it will package and distribute a new green tea in a K-Cup portion pack made with paper. Celestial Seasonings-Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea will be the first beverage to be offered in the new paper-based K-Cup. The K-Cup contains authentic green tea and Bai Mu Dan white tea, creating a smooth, balanced cup with a mild flavor, the company says.

New kid on the block

Genesis Today, Austin, Texas, has repackaged its line of superfruit juices, including Acai Berry, Cranberry Goji, Pomegranate & Berries with

Resveratrol and Veggie Blast juices. Packaging manufacturer Constar is supplying new sleek rectangular-shaped PET bottles to reflect the premium, high-quality juices inside, the company says. To leverage the shelf impact of the beverages, the shoulder of the hot-fill bottles feature embossed Genesis Today logos on the front and back. The label panel has been moved up and the labels redesigned with colored images of fruit.

Flexible packing

International Dispensing Corp., New York, debuted its newest package, a 1-gallon stand-up pouch called the Multi SafePak. The pouch features The Answer, a proprietary dispensing technology. The first product to use the Multi SafePak is Sunkist’s protein shot product, which contains 48 servings per package and is currently sold through the “SkyMall Catalog.”

Anniversary packaging

Casa Herradura, Louisville, Ky., introduced new primary packaging in celebration of its 140th anniversary. Packaging for Herradura Tequila features an angular, square-cut glass bottle. The front bottle face also features a metal horseshoe inset. The bottle closure also was updated with a modern image and embossed ribbon seal, the company says. Herradura Blanco now will be indentified as Silver in the U.S. market. The new packaging will be offered first in 750-ml. bottles followed by 1-liter packages.Herradura Tequila is available in California, Florida, Texas and throughout Mexico.

Personal greeting bottle

Medea Vodka, New York, released a customizable, interactive bottle featuring an LED display. The sleek LED display embedded in each bottle can be programmed with custom text messages scrolling directly on the bottle, the company says. The bottle can be programmed with as many as six messages with up to 255 characters per message.

The 750-ml. bottle is available with a blue, white and pink LED with a suggested retail of $39.99 to $49.99.

Bountiful vegetables

V8 100 percent vegetable juices from Campbell Soup Co., Camden, N.J., received a facelift with a newly designed label. The new bottles highlight V8’s colorful array of vegetables and feature a “badge” identifying the number of vegetable servings in each 8-ounce glass.

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