HomeSupplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreementsAPI Group (Cheshire, England) has acquired Astor Universal (Lawrence, KS).Aug 31st, 1998Take5Trend Toward Paperboard Can Handles Leaps From Craft Brew to Major Food/Bev MultipacksWhat started as a craft brew trend toward paperboard replacing its plastic can handle multipacks is now being seen in brands like Coca-Cola and Heinz UK. Watch this 'Take Five with Packaging World' video to learn more.Take5Cybersecurity Risks Mount While Bag-in-Box Gives Brewers “Cider Security”In this two-part Take Five, we first take a look at mounting risks around cybersecurity, then switch gears to look at a rising bag-in-box trend among intentionally flat beers and ciders.E-commerceA Year of Reckoning for Grocery E-CommerceGrocery retailers must continue to increase their e-commerce offerings to meet continuing online demand in 2021. This is no time to ease off.HomeInline Seal Inspection Maintains Quality of Retort PouchesInvesting in a state-of-the-art production facility, the Brazilian pet food manufacturer also opted to move to 100% inline seal inspection for its flexible pouches, eliminating concerns about poorly sealed product getting to the customer.BeverageReady-to-Drink Functional Beverages the Latest Growth MarketNootropics and pre, pro, and post-biotics are all popular growing beverage offerings, particularly in RTD or premium packaging. These offerings do come with challenges for beverage manufacturers, however.SponsoredUnique FlipGuard™ dispensing closure delivers branding and safetyConsumers want secure, convenient and smooth dispensing for sauces, dressings and condiments. Berry's new FlipGuard flip-top dispenser's unique design includes a tamper-evident strip and more.SustainabilityGlobal Call Launched for Extended Producer Responsibility for PackagingMore than 100 businesses in the packaging supply chain publicly recognize the need for EPR for packaging via a live launch and statement, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.Bagging & wrappingBagger, Combination Weigher Improve BBQ Wood Chip Production by 118%With labor being tight and unreliable, improved automation was the answer for this popular BBQ wood chip brand. But it took a special combination of bagger and weigher to withstand the hot Texas heat, and stand up to a less-than-free-flowing product.HomeGrowing a Successful CBD BrandMedterra has only been in business for four years, but this brand has been leading CBD sales in U.S. grocery for over 16 months and is expanding rapidly.Package DesignDiaper Balm Tube Enables Mess-Free Application, Inspires Children’s CreativityA fully recyclable push-up paperboard tube not only allows both parent and toddler to easily apply product, but also encourages play and can be reused in clever ways.Take5Nestlé and Mars Wrigley Roll Out Paper-Based Confectionery Packs Replacing Plastic PredecessorsTake Five Video: Transitioning from plastic to paper for Nestlé’s Smarties brand candies required extensive R&D in new materials, new package designs, equipment compatibility, and recycling potential. Meanwhile Mars Wrigley is piloting its own project.E-commerceKellogg Says Embracing E-Commerce Helped it Weather the PandemicKellogg says its ecommerce investments over the past two years helped it respond quickly and seize opportunities when lockdowns related to COVID-19 sent online grocery sales to record levels.HomeCare Kits Supplement Telehealth for Medicare Patients and More57% of Americans with chronic conditions delayed healthcare and experienced a gap in care due to COVID-19, per a recent study. Aetna and other companies are shipping kits with specially curated products to offer self-care or supplement telehealth visits.Package DesignP&G Designs Packaging for the Visually ImpairedTactile notching on PET bottles of Procter & Gamble’s bio:renew shampoos and conditioners goes a long way toward helping consumers with impaired vision differentiate one product from another.SustainabilityBeverage Manufacturers Respond to Consumer Trends on Plastic PackagingPlastic has become an issue for consumers, particularly related to plastic waste in the environment. This directly impacts the beverage industry, which is made up of 45% rigid plastic packaging, only 25% of which ends up being recycled in the US.Primary packagingCo-pack/Co-man Bets on Beverage Market TransformationWisconsin-based beverage packer Octopi positions itself to address a rapidly changing beverage market, as well as a shift from bottles to cans, with two canning lines, the newest of which will produce up to 1,200 cans/min in seven sizes.E-commerceAmazon Expands Frustration-Free Packaging Programs to Include Smaller Eligible Product SizesThe Frustration-Free Packaging Programs Incentive Expansion, announced June 1, 2021 for North America and following later this year in Europe, has expanded its product size range downward, to include ASINs starting as small as 6 x 4 x 0.375 ins.SustainabilityLove Beauty and Planet Debuts Reusable Aluminum BottleUnilever hair and skincare brand Love Beauty and Planet is the first major beauty brand to launch a reusable aluminum bottle for shampoo and conditioner for mass market.SustainabilityTea Bag-Style Coffee Pack is ‘Steeped’ in SustainabilityPremium coffee producer Mr. Espresso enters the single-serve market with a tea bag-style product from Steeped that uses plant-based, compostable materials for the bag and outer film sachet.Package DesignTaking the Fifth (Panel): Create an Invitation to EngageUsing a fifth-panel carton allows for more space to educate consumers on your product and provides an interactive, sensory experience that can send a powerful message about your brand.
