"To the best of our knowledge, we're the only spring water company selling a can-shaped PET bottle for vending and retail markets," says Donnarae Sarpen, sales and marketing team leader for Cloister. Quality Dairy Co. (Lansing, MI) injection stretch/blow-molds the polyethylene terephthalate bottles. PET's clarity, durability and molding characteristics made it the resin of choice for Cloister, says Sarpen. The bottle is topped with an injection-molded, low-density polyethylene closure with a breakaway band. The 38-mm NEPCO Clem snap-cap is supplied by Portola Packaging (San Jose, CA). At present, Cloister is applying a paper label, printed in seven colors, that wraps around most, but not all, of the bottle. Sarpen tells PW that Cloister will likely switch to a full-wraparound PP label in the near future to better withstand the rigors of vending machines and to increase label "billboard" space. Another change may be on the horizon for the bottle itself. She says the company is considering modifying the bottle shape so that it moves even more smoothly through older serpentine vending machines. H2O Cool was launched in February and is available nationwide. It's sold in singles at vending machines and convenience stores, usually for 75¢ to $1. Shelf life is one year. It's also available in 12-and 24-pack trays. So far, says Sarpen, "consumers and distributors have reacted very positively. Consumers are enthusiastic because they can pack it in a lunch or conveniently take it to a picnic. And we're in line to reach our sales goals for the product."
