Coca-Cola serves up big packaging innovation in smaller formats – Canadian Packaging
With big soda brands continuing to cede market share to the fast-growing array of trendier beverage alternatives, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. is pulling all stops to stem the tide through far-reaching packaging innovation.
Having recently competed a $20-million investment at its sprawling bottling facility In Brampton, Ont., to upgrade a production line with breakthrough shelf-life extension technology, the venerable soft-drink giant is launching a new range of smaller, resealable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles for its bestselling brand across Canada.
Decorated with eye-catching product labels designed by Perennial Inc., the new Mini bottle containers is the latest addition to Coca-Cola’s growing roster of smaller package sizes in Canada.
Retailing in single 250-ml bottles or in eight-packs of 300-ml containers, the Mini-bottle range includes the company’s flagship Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite soft-drink brands—now available across Canada grocery and convenience stores, as well as some foodservice outlets.
“Mini bottle is one of the most exciting innovations we’ve seen in packaging in a long time,” says Darlene Nicosia, president of Coca-Cola Ltd. in Toronto. “Mini bottle is an example of how Coca-Cola is focused on accelerating momentum as one of the fastest-growing consumer goods companies in North America.
“We know that people want more drink options,” Nicosia states, “and Mini bottle is just one way that we’re meeting that desire.”
“And it’s not just smaller package sizes, we’re also working to bring more low and no-calorie drinks to the market to help Canadians choose the package size and sugar content that makes sense for
them.”
Said to be the first of its kind in North America, the, the Mini bottle uses an innovative coating called FreshSafe to increase shelf-life by up to four months, compared to conventional PET packaging.
According to Coca-Cola, the FreshSafe PET technology effectively addresses all the technical carbonation issues related to the bottle’s smaller size dimensions, with all the packaging still remaining 100-percent recyclable.
The installation of FreshSafe technology at the Brampton plant is credited for creation of three new full-time jobs at the state-of-the-art facility.
“We are so proud that one of our first announcements as an independent bottling company is that we have invested back in our Brampton facility,” says Coca-Cola Canada Bottling president Todd Parsons.
“Having a local spirit and supporting our communities is very important to us,” Parsons states, “and our aim is to grow our capabilities in Canada that will, in turn, grow jobs.”