Food and Beverage Packaging May 2012 : Page-35DAIRY ALTERNATIVES ON THE RISE ‹‹ C hoosing dairy-free is certainly growing in popu-larity and the proof is in the pudding as more companies offer various dairy alternative products. Packaged Facts (www.packagedfacts.com) estimates that total U.S. retail sales of dairy alternative beverages (soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, and other alternatives) reached $1.33 billion in 2011. Currently, the most commonly known and popular of the commercial plant milks is soy milk. Following in consumer recognition and consumption are almond milk, rice milk and coconut milk, in order. Dairy-alternative SoL sunfl ower milk is packed in eco-friendly cartons. The new offering combines a choice of fi lms adapted to meet all fresh and dairy product require-ments in combination with the VELCRO® Brand Press-Lok™ consumer-friendly closure that provides easy alignment of the two components that’s simple to open and reseal. It remains functional even if contaminated by food because the hooks will close through particles. Another easy-to-open package is the Cryovac (www.cryovac.com) Grip and Tear bag (from Sealed Air) that features an easy-open tab design. It combines superior shrink and toughness without compromising oxygen-barrier properties, keeping the product clean-er and more sanitary during handling. No scissors or knives are needed to open the bag. Yes to yogurt One yogurt company in Europe introduced a soy-based yogurt with an interesting package designed to raise the company’s profi le on the single-serve yogurt market. The European Group Al-‹‹ 35 pro’s Belgian fi rm has selected arcil (www.arcil.net) to support the launch of new Alpro Fruity & Creamy . Al-pro wanted a new and original container, completely dedicated to this new creamy recipe. The new con-tainer features vibrant imagery, a curve-shaped relief decoration suggesting a soft, gentle wave and is sold in groupings of four. Another yogurt company is revealing packaging innovation with Greek yogurt, which is taking the American market by storm. Its signifi cant health benefi ts and convenience offer a quick and nutritious alternative for on-the-go lifestyles. Alpina Revive brings a unique twist on traditional Greek yogurt by combining all-natural granola mix-ins stored in a plastic dome lid provided by Grupo Phoenix (www. grupophoenix.com). The cup and dome lid make it easy to bring the yogurt and granola snack on the go and keep both components fresh. Packaging for dairy must always hit three marks, product stability, aesthetically pleasing packaging and convenient handling. There is plenty of innovative packaging that aim to hit all three, and these mentioned here are surely among the cream of the crop. F&BP Alpina Revive Greek yogurt comes with granola packed separately, in a dome lid. WWW . FOOD ANDBEVERA GEP A CKA GING . COM MA Y 2012 FOOD & BEVERA GE P A CKA GING Publication List Using a screen reader? Click Here |
