Light beer in a light bottle

Sapporo USA announced the launch of new 20.3-ounce premium light packaging for its Sapporo Asian beer. The new bottles are available nationwide. The launch of the 20.3-ounce bottle will allow consumers to relax longer with the flavors of Sapporo’s lightest variety that also comes in a sharable bottle size, the company says. The new bottle will be added to the current Sapporo collection, which includes Sapporo Premium Sapporo Reserve and Sapporo Premium Light. “We are excited to introduce Sapporo Premium Light in large 20.3-ounce bottles and look forward to expanding our market share in the light beer category,” said Tsukasa “Louis” Orui, president of Sapporo USA, in a statement.

Recycled water bottles

Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) announced that its resource Natural Spring Water is debuting its remodeled bottle made with 100 percent recycled PET (rPET), excluding the cap and labeling materials. The remodeled bottle is available in 700-ml and 1-liter sizes. With its move to a 100 percent rPET bottle, resource hopes to focus attention on the uses of rPET, while reinforcing the importance of bottle-to-bottle recycling and increasing awareness and demand for recycled plastic, the company says. “At resource, we believe that using recycled PET can help increase recycling rates by focusing attention on the value of recycling,” said Debora Fillis Ryba, senior manager of sustainability at NWNA, in a statement. “Nestlé Waters has a strong history of sustainable innovation and product stewardship advocacy, and the 100 percent rPET bottle aims to continue that legacy by increasing awareness of closed-loop recycling.”

Think outside of the box

Aristocrat Group Corp. released its new distilled spirits product, Big Box Vodka. “Our intentions with this product was to create an entirely new segment in the beverage alcohol industry,” said ASCC Chief Executive Officer Robert Federowicz in a statement. Big Box Vodka is a handcrafted spirit made in the United States using Idaho Winter Wheat and pure Rocky Mountain water in a four-column distillation process. The spirit comes in a spouted, 1.75-liter box that holds more than double the volume of traditional 750-ml bottles, the company says. High-end bag-in-box wines now are commonplace and well-received by consumers, Federowicz said. “Increasingly sophisticated customers have caught on to the benefits of bag-in-box packaging, such as a longer shelf life after opening, easy handling, a lower price per liter and significant environmental advantages,” he said. “The time is now right for the bag-in-box concept to make a splash in the vodka industry, too.”

Shake it up

HIIT Bottle LLC launched a new, all-purpose protein bottle that is one-eighth stainless steel, vacuum-sealed, double-wall insulated, BPA free and travel ready for hot or cold liquids, the company says. The HIIT bottle name derives from High Intensity Interval Training, which is widely practiced by cross-training enthusiasts and targets anyone who has a thirst for life and a dedication to their healthy lifestyle, it adds. HIIT bottle’s design features regional organizations and their designated athletes. The bottle’s anticipated distribution encompasses 22 countries worldwide, and the company plans to help the global athletic community by donating of percentage of its proceeds to designated regional organizations.

New story to tell

Beringer Founders’ Estate debuted new packaging. The new packaging is inspired by the heritage of Beringer dating back to its founding in 1876, the company says. As the new packaging hits shelves this summer, shoppers will see accompanying point-of-sales (POS) materials highlighting Beringer Founders’ Estate as a presenting sponsor of Food Network’s “Chopped Grill Masters,” a five-episode competition that premiered July 14. Beringer’s custom “Chopped Open Your Basket” vignette will appear on TV as well as in 500 Kroger stores at shelf, inviting consumers to view a Chopped-inspired competition video on shelf as they purchase a bottle of Beringer Founders’ Estate to pair with their own grilled creations.

Celebrating 10 Years in a big way

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, Hudson Whiskey released its Baby Bourbon and Manhattan Rye whiskey varietals in 750-ml size bottles. The larger size bottle is a testament to the consumer demand for the award-winning Hudson Whiskey and the continuing evolution of the Hudson Whiskey story, the company says. The release of the larger bottle size coincided with the mid-June release of Hudson Whiskey’s documentary, “From Grain to Glass: An American Craft Spirits Renaissance,” which explores the renaissance of craft distilling in America and the brand’s role in pioneering the craft spirits movement in New York state and across the country. The 750-ml bottle is available for approximately $50.

Crafted for sustainability

Hilton Head Brewing Co. and Novelis announced the launch of Hilton Head Brewing Co. beer in Novelis’ evercan, a certified high-recycled content aluminum can sheet. “Our customers have grown to love our beer on tap, and we’re excited to make it available on store shelves in cans made with evercan — the most sustainable option on the market,” said John Rybicki, owner and brewer, Hilton Head Brewing Co., in a statement. Novelis evercan contains a minimum 90 percent certified recycled content, the company says. It also requires 95 percent less energy and produces 95 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than manufacturing primary aluminum.

Fiesta celebration

Heineken USA announced the return of the Beers of Mexico variety pack. Joining the mix this year is Dos Equis Roja, a distinctive red lager crafted with Mexican malted barley and hops. This latest version of the Beers of Mexico pack are available in 12- and 24-packs. To build awareness and encourage purchase of the latest Beers of Mexico variety pack, custom designed “Bring Something New to the Party” case stackers and point-of-sale elements will be available to merchandise retail shelves, floors and cold boxes. The Beers of Mexico program runs through December.

Single solution

 Colorado Cider Co. is releasing four of its most popular ciders in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles. Previously available only in 22-ounce “bomber” bottles, Glider Cider, Glider Dry, Grasshop-Ah and Cherry Glider four-packs are now appearing at Colorado retailers. “We’ve had customers asking for 12-ounce bottles for some time,” said company Founder Brad Page, in a statement. “People like a single-serving size, and these smaller bottles are better suited to bars and restaurants where draft options are limited and a 22-ounce bottle is too big.”