Japan’s vending machine stockers have been seeing sluggish fortunes over the last year as overall sales dropped by 5% last year, down from 2013’s US$42.9bn.
With 2013 fast drawing to a close and 2014 just around the corner, we took the chance to catch up with analysts and experts at Mintel to ask them what their highlights from this year have been ... and a few predictions for what might be in store in the...
Proposals to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products in the UK could open the door to extend the initiative to a raft of food and drink products - a move that would hit both packaging suppliers and brand owners, according to a coalition of companies.
Knife crime, obesity and skiffle music. Out of all the evils
currently threatening the welfare of Western teenagers, recent US
headlines finger the main culprit as the caffeinated alcoholic
beverage.
Energy drinks have the potential to cause liver damage, heart
failure and even death and should carry warnings for certain
population groups, according to a German body.
Beverage innovator Wild has come up with a new concept for clear
fruit-juice drinks called Refresher, to help manufacturers tap
demand for near water, spritzer and water-plus products.
Alcoholic drinks makers could benefit from a new range of enzymes
that claim to increase production at the same times as
significantly reducing operating costs.
British researchers are starting a small trial to investigate if
the antioxidant benefits of apples are passed on to cider drinkers,
and could possibly lead to "functional" ciders.
Russia's decision to change procedures on excise stamps and import
licences for alcohol has backfired, with several domestic producers
reportedly having to suspend production.
Looking to boost growth in the sluggish caramel colour market, the
world's largest manufacturer, DD Williamson will extend its reach
in the burgeoning Chinese market with the extension of its liquid
product line for Asia,writes...
Convenience, which dominated growth in global product categories
form 2003 to 2004, will drive new product development in the next
12 months. Drinkable yoghurts, sugar substitutes and pre-prepared
foods all enjoyed year on year double-digit...
Field Packaging, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake
Corporation, recently won the top award in the confectionery
category at the 2004 Pro Carton/ECMA (European Carton Manufacturers
Association) Carton Awards annual competition.
Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) has acquired yet
another Polish alcohol distribution company, taking the number of
companies owned by the Florida-based holding to 13. But the company
is now keen to launch its own...
Young people who consume energy drinks with alcohol to improve
their stamina on a night out are likely to see no such effect,
suggests new research on the market leader Red Bull.
This week shows a real cross section of product launches in the
Eastern European region. Among the highlights from the Mintel
databases are two niche alcoholic beverage launches in Russia.
The latest food and drink product launches from Mintel reveal a
broad spectrum of innovative product launches for the Central and
Eastern European region, which all carry a seasonally wintry
association.
Plastic containers, which already account for around half of all
beer and soft drinks packed in Western Europe, look set to
consolidate their position over the next five years. According to a
new report, plastic will continue to outperform...
Sales of packaged beverages in the Czech Republic rose by more than
7 per cent last year with non-refillable PET bottles strengthening
their position in most product sectors according to an industry
market report.
The volatile vanilla market has seen food manufacturers turning to
synthetic substitutes as prices per kilo soar from double to treble
figures in recent years.
German beverage filling firm KHS has acquired the beverage filling
technology of Hamburg-based company alfill. The move reinforces
KHS's position as a leading beverage technology company within
Europe's ever-growing PET...
Ball Packaging Europe has won one gold and one bronze award for two
product innovations in this year's Can of the Year Award packaging
competition, which took place in Singapore recently.
Beer drinkers in Germany may soon have more opportunities to
purchase beer in PET than any other European country, thanks in
part to the recent introduction of a scheme to introduce hefty
recycling fees for the use of aluminium cans.
Amcor has announced plans to commence production of shaped cans in
Australia for a range of beverage products starting in mid 2003,
following a technology licensing agreement with Crown Cork &
Seal Company.
To meet growing demand Amcor group, which bought Schmalbach-Lubeca
earlier this year to create Amcor PET Packaging, is to invest in
excess of €8 million to double its multi-layer PET production
capacity in Europe.
Price recovery in the US beverage can market and increased beverage
can volumes in Europe helped Rexam, the consumer packaging group,
report a 30 per cent rise in underlying profits for the first six
months of the year.
