Plastic closures are supplied by O-I (www.o-i.com).
Martinelli wanted a hot-fillable, panel-less, label-free container with barrier properties. The challenge for plastic container supplier Graham was to maintain the shape of the bottle when the hot-filled juice cooled inside the container. The challenge was met by using liquid-nitrogen dosing into the filled container head space.
The liquid nitrogen converts to a gaseous state inside the bottles and serves to resist bottle deformation by exerting pressure against the internal container sidewalls. Liquid-nitrogen injection also extends shelf life by flushing out oxygen. The equipment for this process is manufactured by Cryotech International/ VBS (www.cryotechinternational.com).
Introduced in December 2005/January 2006, the new PET bottles are making their way from West Coast markets to distribution areas in the Midwest and East Coast. S. John Martinelli, VP and GM of Martinelli’s, says, “The clear, apple-shaped bottle tells the consumer that this is a 100-percent natural product. The package visually reinforces the fact that Martinelli’s award-winning apple juices are made from fresh apples only, with no additives of any kind.”
—Judy Rice
PET bottles (in millions of units)Category 2003 2004 Growth %
Beer 178.1 208.5 17.1%
Bottled water 14궢.8 16걡.5 11.6%
Liquor 100.3 109.2 8.9%
Food and vegetable juice 7꼰.6 8걣.4 3.6%
Carbonated soft drinks 25깂.6 25꼢.8 0.9%
Wine 0.2 0.2 0
Total 48겜.6 50굽.6 4.6%
