We’ve scoured all of our resources to bring you the best of World Cup-inspired and commemorative products and packaging! I’ll even be worldlier in using the term football. Here they are:

The “Hospitality Pack” contains the most important item for football fans: their tickets. Capturing the essence of anticipation, the slider pack provides a clever and playful opening experience, creating intrigue and a sense of novelty to complement the exciting nature of receiving World Cup tickets. With the games officially now underway, the high quality format of the Burgopak design further encourages fans to retain the pack, lending itself as a keep-safe of World Cup memorabilia.

Gillette’s World Cup-inspired shaving gel and antiperspirant and deodorant cans creatively resemble a football and shows off their sponsorship.

These bracelets were made by over 400 women in South Africa for fans of the Dutch team. The orange color is the national color for the Netherlands and the assortment of colors represents the South African flag.

SAB Miller developed a can that could also function as a cup.

Special World Cup Packaging for Carlsberg beer featuring England’s team manager Fabio Capello and team players David James, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Jermaine Defoe.

England’s team received more support when Umbro commissioned the painting of the players’ numbers in their hometowns, even for manager Capello in Italy.

Coca-Cola’s commemorative cans feature French players in celebration and come in a box with a CD from K’Naan.

Miller Light cans are laser-etched with famous players captured doing their signature moves.

Please share if you’ve come across other promotional or commemorative products or packaging!

The DuPont Award winners for 2010 were just announced at the end of May, continuing the virtual forum format from last year. The winners proved breakthroughs in packaging with innovative developments, cost/waste reduction and improved sustainability. Diamond winners proved excellence in all three areas while Gold winners demonstrated excellence in two criteria. Silver winners were selected for their breakthrough innovation, and notable honorees were given recognition for innovative problem solving. 

Only two submissions were given the prestigious honor of a Diamond DuPont award: the GREENBOX reusable thermal management system, a sustainably-produced container used to transport sensitive medical supplies, as well as Exal Corporation’s “Coil to Can” (C2C) recyclable aluminum bottle.

To see all of the award-winning packaging innovators, click here.

Sustainability is a frequent topic on Dion’s blog. However we rarely look at the pressure that may be behind a company’s decision to implement sustainable efforts. This article from Brand Packaging takes a look at a few companies that have been targeted by green activists. When I say “activist” you may think of wild paint-throwing PETA rallies. But beyond the grassroots approaches, the strategy explained in the article that I found interesting is that activists may choose far more business-like tactics. Many have a voice because they are actual shareholders in the corporations they are trying to sway. By rallying votes on issues at shareholder meetings, activists are able to not only voice their concerns, but actually be heard by executives as their percentage of votes on an issue increases. To see how their influence has translated into more eco-friendly practices at some of the best known companies in the world, click here!

Stacy made a stop into a Starbucks recently and returned to the office with some intriguing packaging. The small brown bag that held her lemon pound cake read:

This may be no surprise to you because this initiative was announced last summer. But it’s great to know that such an eco-conscious company is thinking just as much about their customers’ health. The bag itself is made from 100% unbleached paper with 20% post-consumer material. It’s a component of Starbucks’ Shared Planet “Environmental Stewardship” ensuring the company acts responsibly. The company releases an annual Global Responsibility Report analyzing their sustainability goals. One of the loftiest:

It is our goal that by 2015, 100 percent of our cups will be reusable or recyclable, and we will significantly reduce our environmental footprint through energy and water conservation, recycling, and green construction.

That would be pretty impressive if it’s attained. Other sustainability programs announced just since January include a campaign encouraging customers to bring in reusable tumblers rather than cups, donations to protect forests when using the Conservation International Starbucks Card and working with municipal governments in their recycling programs.

To read more about how Starbucks works toward a better future, click here.

While the eco-friendly movement continues to grow, there’s no denying there are still quite a few non-believers out there. It’s often difficult to envision how green efforts really help the environment, but as we like to say at Dion, “We cannot change this world in one day, but day by day we can help change this world for the better.”

A recent article in CRM Magazine mentions a few companies that agree. From Proctor & Gamble to Wal-mart, these companies have undertaken sustainability efforts that have resulted in significant environmental savings. Clearly they did not back down on the challenges that developing eco-friendly initiatives created for their businesses. These companies have collectively built and financed solar power buildings, reduced packaging waste, recycled materials and rainwater, and reduced electricity usage. For all of the details and to get inspired, click here, and here to see why Dion is “Proud to be Green”.

A while back we wrote about technology that converts chicken feathers into flower pots. Sustainability in terms of turning waste into a resource for a new product, especially for products that are not simply commodities, is incredibly impressive. The example we just came across is the Java-Log. The company takes the used coffee grounds from manufacturers, retailers, homes, companies, etc. to create wood-burning logs.

Rod Sprule, the inventor, realized the energy potential of coffee grounds and developed the concept from there. The company claims that their product diverts 12 million pounds of coffee grounds from landfills per year. I can’t claim to be an expert at how hazardous coffee grounds are for the environment, but slowing down the growth rate of already overfilled landfills is an easy concept to grasp. Beyond the recycled production, the Java-Log itself emits up to 78% less carbon monoxide and up to 66% less creosote than cordwood fires. It was named one of Time Magazine’s “Coolest Inventions of 2003.” More recently, Java-Logs’s eco-friendliness gained the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s (CSIA) Accepted Product status. While we love the normal scent of wood burning in a fireplace, we can’t help wondering/hoping if the log gives off a coffee aroma?

It hasn’t been very long since the last rebranding, but clearly PepsiCo found the need to give Sierra Mist a facelift. The latest design incorporates the font from the old design with some of the branding elements of the original design (seen below). The packaging is far less ambiguous, showing off the lemon and lime elements and eliminating the fuzzy text. What do you think of the latest design?

Do you hate the taste of coffee or are you trying to break a soda habit, but just can’t seem to do without the caffeine boost? Well we came across a product that will be right up your alley. Avitae is simply purified water with the added bonus of 45 mg of caffeine. I like the unique shape of the bottle and the choice of a shrink sleeve label; the futuristic look compliments the unique product. The product’s taste fulfills the expectations anyone would have for water: healthy, pure and refreshing. But it also gives you the energy boost you’d be missing with regular water.

This product has potential significance in the realm of exercise as well. Recent research has shown that taking in some caffeine before working out has benefits; this article explains that it actually reduces pain, causing you to push yourself a bit harder during your fitness routine. And perhaps it will eliminate my pain of seeing people with a heart-stopping energy drink in hand at the gym.

It’s me avitae. That’s ah-vee-tay.

I’m made of nothing more than purified water and natural caffeine. I don’t have colors, flavors or any of those not-found-in-nature ingredients. So, if you’ve been living in the wasteland between boring bottled water and man I know this diet soda is bad for me and leaves a funny aftertaste, then I might come as a welcome change.

I’m caffeinated water

The latest issue of Brand Packaging analyzed the effects of the recession. It’s a situation that has affected everyone, but rather than simply blaming our troubles on the current economic situation and giving up, we can look at how to learn, move on, and hopefully grow instead. The article compares coping with the recession to coping with loss, and how this influences consumer purchasing patterns:

Anger/Denial: At first consumers indulged in small luxuries that wouldn’t have major short-term consequences. Brands and even private labels that benefited were the ones that proved their value was worth the added cost. Others were ones with traditional/nostalgic value that consumers could take comfort in.

Bargaining/Depression: When consumers really started to feel the economic downturn, they shifted towards more thrifty habits. As a rudimentary example: even though people still dined out at restaurants, they chose less-expensive options (i.e. a pizza for the group rather than individual prime ribs. Trust me, I’ve seen this happen!).

Acceptance: At the end of the day, the major effect of the recession on consumer attitudes is a shift of the paradigm from a mindset of "what I want is what I need" to one of "what I need is what I want."

So here are Brand Packaging’s words of wisdom:

1. Don’t try to sell consumers what they don’t really need;
2. But, at the same time, don’t forget that behind every basic need lies an aspiration.
3. Use playfulness and familiarity to earn the right to engage with consumers.
4. Respect consumers by making clear, believable claims and making your portfolio easy to understand and navigate.
5. Give consumers a sense of control in the way they choose to interact with you.
6. Use packaging to give a fair picture of what is inside the pack, but don’t lose an opportunity to tell a compelling story.  

We featured Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle when they first announced its development. As one of the major sponsors of the Winter Olympics, the innovative PlantBottle packaging will be highlighted throughout this year’s games in Vancouver. True to form, Coca-Cola is also currently retailing Olympic-themed cans for the event as well.

"Our PlantBottle will be in the spotlight for the Olympic Games, introducing this innovative packaging to a global audience," says Nikos Koumettis, president Coca-Cola Canada. "The Coca-Cola Company has become the first to market with a recyclable PET plastic bottle made partially from plants, and we are excited that Canada is part of this major step in our journey towards sustainable packaging."

Private labels have been giving national brands a run for their money, and recent trends have shown that beyond price-consciousness, consumers also increasingly associate private labels with quality. So are they going to drive out some of the beloved and established national brands? Brand Packaging puts the two head-to-head in the categories that drive their sales: packaging design, company history, packaging structure, and philanthropy.

Who came out on top? Take a look at the full article here!

Marketers are constantly scrambling for design solutions that stand out, communicate credibility, convey value, resonate with consumers, compel purchase and promote loyalty. Finding these solutions, however, is not easy.

One way to know what's happening broadly with consumer brands and packaging is to attend industry-specific events and shows. In the United States, some of the most important consumer products shows include the Food Marketing Institute Show (FMI), Natural Products Expo, Fancy Food Show, Boston Seafood Show, Dairy-Deli-Bake, All Candy Expo, Toy Fair, International Home + Housewares Show, National Hardware Show, Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, New York International Gift Fair, International Beauty Show (IBS) and Cosmoprof. While there are countless others, attending these will give you a good idea of what's going on in U.S. retail marketing and packaging design.

For the complete article, click here.

Typically speaking the only significance barcodes have for consumers is product identification and the chorus of beeping sounds at checkout counters. They’ve become a hardly-noticed, but occasionally mimicked symbol in society (you can even click here to turn yourself into a barcode, or here to learn how UPC's work). But with the introduction of programs such as scanning and bagging your own groceries as you shop, consumers may be more apt to look at barcodes . And one company in Japan is showing how to have a little bit of fun with packaging barcodes. We’ve seen the trend popping up on a few products in foreign markets, but has anyone found examples here in the U.S.?

2009 marked the first full year for Dion’s blog, so we decided to take a moment to reflect on some of its highlights. With almost 200 entries this year we had a lot of options for choosing our favorites! Here are the top blogs we selected:

Products we’ve blogged about and tried:

"Neuro Brand Beverages": Stacy and I were lucky enough to receive samples all the way from the west coast of this product line. We loved everything from the product itself to the unique bottle design.

Colgate Wisp Blogs: Stacy likes these blogs, because not only were she and Karly able to write about these new products, but they also took the time to try them and decide how the design of the product actually had a functional purpose: the cool blue dot in the middle held the brush-able tasty liquid that helped clean our teeth, the fancy swish at the end acted as a toothpick.

• "Colgate Wisps: Hit or Miss?"
• "Brush on the go!"

"The Dear Hunter": This blog was near and dear to my heart not only because I love the design of the case but I’m also a huge fan. I also surprised myself with my respectable amateur photography skills.

Blogs highlighting good causes:

"October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month": Incorporating so many elements related to one important cause made this blog special. Non-profit organizations, products, television, celebrities, and even the world of dance came together to show support for breast cancer awareness.

"Labels Raise Awareness": Provided insight to companies that utilize their labels in raising money (and increasing sales) to help fight a disease. It’s a unique way of using labels. Some tell a story, some have funky shapes and designs… and some help save lives!

Some lighter moments:

"Sunscreen is no laughing matter!": This blog also falls into the above category, but funny man Will Ferrell always brings a little something extra. (You may have recently seen his engagement photo "crash" in the New York Times). They say that getting someone to laugh and then giving them important information helps them to retain the message. Ferrell certainly gets our attention on sun protection.

"Update on Blue Q": Once we quieted our giggles over the new humorous products from Blue Q, we stumbled upon the videos of their sales team and were off again. We’re not sure about you, but the leg lifts get us every time!

The most highlighted rebranding failure of the year:

Tropicana Blogs: The blogs about the whole Tropicana debacle is cool because it shows why packaging is such a key component of selling a product. From a marketer’s point of view, it also explains why so much research needs to go into brand changes to increase (not decrease!) sales.

• "PepsiCo and Carbon Trust Unite"
• "Out with the new, In with the Old?"

What were your favorite moments?

We hate to be pessimistic, but we wanted to give you a chance to say goodbye to some products, companies, stores, etc. that have either already closed or plan to stop production during or before next year. Either way, you won’t be seeing the following in 2010:

• Heading to the Ben & Jerry’s flavor graveyard: Chocolate Almond Nougat (formerly: The Gobfather), Vermont Python, Strawberries & Cream Light, Ginger Snap, and Coconut Almond Fudge Chip
• Max Factor makeup in the U.S.
• Prescriptives skin care and makeup from Estee Lauder
• Kodak Kodachrome film
• Hershey’s Cacao Reserve and Starbucks chocolate
• Nivea’s facial product line
• Kraft’s South Beach Diet frozen entrees
• Pillsbury Perfect Portions biscuits
• Kraft Roka Blue cheese spread
• Aparts and Joose (caffeinated alcoholic beverages) from Anheuser-Busch & Miller
• Harley-Davidson’s Buell Motorcycles
• Abercrombie & Fitch’s brand Ruehl
• Smith 7 Hawken garden stores
• Virgin Megastores
• Circuit City
• Microsoft Money & Encarta
• 300 different coins from the U.S. Mint
• 140 American banks (only 25 closed in 2008)
• GM’s production of the Pontiac brand ended, and Saturn vehicles will end in October
• Speaking of halted vehicle production, Toyota Solara, Dodge Durango, Mercury Sable and Honda S2000 will be no more.
• Magazines: Gourmet, Southern Accents, Metropolitan Home, Vibe, Nickelodeon, Travel & Leisure Golf, National Geographic Adventure, Blender, Domino, and Portfolio
• TV shows (some not so surprising): ER, Guiding Light, MADtv, Monk, According to Jim, Battlestar Galactia , Deal or No Deal, Everybody Hates Chris, Without a Trace
• Retired sports figures: John Madded, Bobby Bowden, Tony Dungy, Alonzo Mourning, Curt Schilling, Oscar De La Hoya, Tedy Bruschi, Lisa Leslie, Amelie Mauresmo

We’re trying to hold in our disappointment for some things on this list, too. Hopefully an upswing in the economy will bring even better things. For the complete list, click here.

As we approach the holidays various companies have begun to sell their products in holiday packaging. Some look more traditional than others, but capitalize on either gifts or everyday items that make consumers’ homes and lives a bit more festive. The two designs we found from Kleenex are very different but appeal to a variety of decorating tastes. The teal oval design has found a place in our office!

In the food and beverage industry, we found special holiday packaging for Stonewall Kitchen’s popular products that eliminate the need to gift wrap and an ornament-shaped bottle design from Coca-Cola. Pangea Organics gives their holiday gift boxes a little something extra: the gift box can be planted to actually grow a tree! Here’s how it works:

"Just soak the box for a day, and plant it in the earth. If everyone plants their holiday gift box and bar soap box this year, collectively, we will have planted 122,000 trees which is equivalent to not driving 30 million miles in one year! Multiply that out by 75 years, the average lifespan of a Spruce, and that’s 2 billion, 250 millions that we’re collectively offsetting!"

Have you come across other stand-out holiday packaging?

The Dieline is a great source for the latest in packaging releases and upcoming designers. The website recently posted their list of 50 favorite liquor packaging designs. With so many innovative packaging concepts it’s no wonder that browsing the liquor selection can be overwhelming. It can create a sensory overload with so many companies vying for consumer attention.  But companies in this industry are producing some wonderful designs. Some of my favorites from this selection come from Hennessey, 267, Patron, Glenrothes, Samurai, Milagro, and several appearances from Absolut. However, one of my picks from Absolut—Absolut Rock—is missing from the list. To check out the rest of the list, click here!

My friends and I have been exchanging Lolita glassware gifts for years, and it’s been great to see the company grow to extend their product offerings. What began as hand-decorated martini glasses eventually broadened to wine, champagne, and shot glasses as well as beer pilsners. Today, you can also find margarita glasses, hot beverage glasses, sundae bowls, ornaments, flasks, and most recently gel candles. The designs cover a broad range of events that inspire the gathering of friends from birthdays and holidays to girls’ nights out and even divorce. You’ll be sure to find a theme appropriate for any personality… even golf-loving men. As an added bonus the glasses come with a drink recipe to fit the theme.

The recent addition of candles to the Lolita line brings another great gift, and it appears as though if properly cleaned the glass can be used after the candle has burned completely. They are currently offered in wine, champagne and martini glasses. For a look at more Lolita gifts, click here!

UPDATE: Last week we wrote a blog about Blue Q products. We recently came across these videos of the Blue Q sales team. They are sure to put a smile on your face! And we're pretty sure we'd buy anything from them!

Beverage manufacturer Steaz has recently announced their line of Zero Calorie Sparkling Green Teas. This is an extension of the company’s sparkling green tea line, and they are the first certified organic, all-natural, calorie-free carbonated drink. Diet soda drinkers should particularly intrigued because this carbonated beverage provides the natural antioxidants of tea rather than the controversial, harmful effects of soda. The teas are sweetened with stevia leaves, a process that took the company several years to refine.

There are no calories, no carbs and no sugar added to Steaz Zero Calorie. Like all Steaz products, the line is certified organic by Quality Assurance International as well as Fair Trade Certified® by TransFair USA. Steaz Zero Calorie is available in four delicious flavors -- Raspberry, Orange, Blueberry Pomegranate and Black Cherry. Steaz Zero Calorie is sold in 12 oz. fully recyclable glass bottles and eye-catching four-packs. Suggested retail pricing for a four-pack is $4.99. It replaces the current line of Diet Steaz Sparkling Green Tea.

From January to June, sales volumes for PepsiCo were estimated to have dropped 17.5 percent. Gatorade lost 4.5 percent of market share for sports drinks, but still dominates with 75% market share. And despite recent weak sales, the rebranding of PepsiCo’s Gatorade sports drink is said to be on target. The company also plans to launch various new brands to appeal to consumers that have shifted away from Gatorade. Leading the rebranding for Gatorade and other PepsiCo beverages is PepsiCo’s Americas Beverages chief Massimo d’Amore who has repackaged approximately 1,000 products. The "G" campaign for Gatorade included a new label with a big letter "G" and a smaller signature lightning bolt. Research by PepsiCo found that the campaign scores high in "the coolness factor." Clearly, PepsiCo foresees this rebranding will be far more successful than the disastrous Tropicana rebranding.

The 2009 Pentawards were recently announced and crowned the Kleenex "Slice of Summer" as Best in Show giving Kimberly-Clark the Diamond Pentaward.

Pentawards is the first and only worldwide competition exclusively devoted to packaging design in all its forms. It is open to everybody in all countries who are associated with the creation and marketing of packaging. The winners will receive bronze, silver, gold, platinum or diamond Pentawards according to the creative quality of their work.

The Platinum Pentaward winners receiving nods as the best packaging for the five major categories are:

• Beverages: Turner Duckworth, London & San Francisco, for Coca Cola Summer 2009.
• Food: Nosigner, Tokyo, for Kanpyo Udon
• Body: Wolff Olins, New York, for Living Proof, No Frizz
• Other Markets: Mouse Graphics, Athens, for Petrocoll, Spatula Putty
• Luxury: Dragon Rouge, Paris, for L’Or de Martell.

For a look at all of the winners, click here! The next competition will open on April 5, 2010.

Here’s great news for lactose-intolerant individuals (of age) out there: a cream-flavored liqueur that is completely lactose and dairy-free. Triibe is the first of its kind in that it is a clear cream liqueur made of organic ingredients including charcoal filtered Irish malt whiskey blended with honey and royal jelly. With flavorful hints of vanilla, caramel and chocolate, this liqueur is currently available in the UK, but can be purchased online and shipped internationally. The bottle design is classic and simplistic, but the opaque bottle blocks the liquid’s clear quality. The product itself is highly unique, but it would be great to see some packaging differences in the future. What are your thoughts?

For Triibe’s official website including cocktail recipes, click here.

Neuro drinks have hit the market in California and are marketed as a celebrity beverage of choice. They are formulated with ingredients to promote various moods and activities (from the neurobliss to neurosporti). This is the latest bottle design, which clearly stands out. The bottle shape is a bit reminiscent of the Mondo fruit drink bottle, with a cap similar to that of a body wash… enough to peak curiosity for an impulse buy.

Neuro drinks are already in over 1,500 retail locations throughout California, making this the most aggressive drink brand launch in the state's history.  The six skus are either "lightly carbonated" or "non-carbonated" nutritional beverages.  If you do not live in California, you can purchase 12-packs of the product online on the company’s website. With the A-list celebrity following of this product, be on the lookout for Neuro--it is hitting the U.K. in October and rolling out throughout the U.S. in 2010.  Neuro is also sponsoring "Perez Hilton Presents" rotating North American music artist tour, bringing the product to cities across the U.S. and Canada this fall.  Check the Neuro website for the Tour Blog to see what is happening (www.drinkneuro.com).

For more images of the bottle design, click here!

Naked Juice has just announced that they will be transitioning to 100% post-consumer recycled PET (RPET) bottles. This will begin with all of the company’s 32 oz. bottles, followed by the rest of the product line in 2010. The "reNEWabottle" will be easily identifiable because as opposed to the old translucent bottle, the new one will be clear (showing off the all-natural juice) and the label indicates that the bottle is 100% recyclable. The environmental impact of this change is significant, and only supports the company’s passion for reducing their environmental footprint:

The initial 32-oz bottle transition reduces virgin plastic consumption by 1 million pounds per year and oil use by 8,192 barrels every year—the equivalent of taking 497 cars off of the road. This is according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics' figures of 2007 Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption and Travel (average gallons of fuel consumed per vehicle = 692).

When Naked Juice finishes transitioning its entire line, virgin plastic consumption will be reduced by 8.1 million pounds per year, saving 57,000 barrels of oil every year—the equivalent of taking 3,460 cars off of the road.

The Coca-Cola Company is addressing sustainability concerns with the announcement of the PlantBottle^TM, which is said to be more environmentally-friendly than PET bottles. It is made of 30% plant-based materials (sugar cane and molasses) and is fully recyclable. The company hopes to continue to develop the bottles until they are made completely of recyclable and renewable materials. Coca-Cola will first introduce the PlantBottle with Dasani brand water later this year, followed by Vitamin Water in 2010.

Manufacturing the new plastic bottle is more environmentally efficient as well.  A life-cycle analysis conducted by Imperial College London indicates the "PlantBottle™" with 30 percent plant-base material reduces carbon emissions by up to 25 percent, compared with petroleum-based PET… unlike other plant-based plastics, it can be processed through existing manufacturing and recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET.  So, the material in the "PlantBottle™" can be used, recycled and reused again and again.

While this may be a college student’s dream, pouching for beer has spurred varying opinions on several packaging blogs. The pouches, from Beverage Pouch Group, have capacities of 8 oz, 16 oz, or 1.8 liters and have been developed to maintain the product’s carbonation and original taste.

The pros: this is a less expensive, travel-friendly option for beer on-the-go. Smaller breweries will be able to sell their beer to patrons at a lower cost than bottling. The cons: the one-time use packaging is far less eco-friendly than the commonly recycled bottle or can, and the idea of drinking beer from a pouch may have a stigma attached. On the other hand, some may find this concept reminiscent of the days of Capri Sun, but instead filled with their favorite adult drink. What do you think?

You may already be familiar with the cold-activated blue mountains on the label of Coors Light bottles. But the company has also recently introduced this feature on 8-, 10-, 12- and 16-ounce Coors Light and Coors Banquet cans. The confidence of serving a perfectly chilled beer is created by thermochromatic ink. This ink on the bottle labels and aluminium cans is temperature sensitive. In these cases, the ink turns color as it cools, but it can also be activated by heat, based on the desired activation temperature.

Boisset has also introduced a Cooldot® on bottles of their Mommessin Beaujolais Grande Reserve. Best served chilled, the Cooldot® spot changes color when the wine temperature is optimal for serving. The aluminum bottle is also more environmentally friendly than the traditional glass wine bottle. Thermochromic ink can be function and style: it is a way to ensure your product is used at its best and an added feature that, if applicable, will make your product stand out.

Dion Label Printing, Inc. has the capability to print thermochromic inks. To request a quote, click here.

With these difficult economic times, are labels on wine bottles important? As it turns out, they may be more important than ever. Shelves are crowded with increasingly more brands, creating a huge selection for consumers who tend to have low brand loyalty. With so many options, the label and in-store experience are key. For the wine industry, brand awareness is created at the shelf, as opposed to beer and spirits. Only five percent of the over $750 million beverage alcohol media spending was allocated to wine (versus the 65% on beer and 29% on spirits). Which makes sense, because unless the Super Bowl crowd shifts from beer to wine, those big-dollar advertising campaigns really won’t be worth the return!

Reports also show that "Millennial" consumers (aged 21-30) are most attracted by packaging at 26% (versus 15% of the baby boomers). The label is similar to a book cover, and here are some things a good wine label should do:

1. Get attention
2. Inform
3. Connect with the consumer
4. Form an identity for the brand
5. Get the consumer to buy the bottle

With many consumers looking to spend less money, they still demand quality. The bottom line: the product needs to deliver what the label sells.

-May/June 2009 issue of Vineyard & Winery Management

NEW PACKAGING

Propel fitness water is a lightly flavored, non-carbonated water beverage containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and four different B vitamins. It is a product of Gatorade which is marketed by PepsiCo. This low-calorie, nutrient enhanced beverage has only 10 calories. It's designed to help hydrate and nourish the body.

In early 2009, Gatorade changed Propel's bottle design to give it "a fresh new look." Packaging also claims that the new 500 mL bottles contain 33% less plastic and 33% less label than their 500 mL bottle predecessors. This packaging change is the equivalent of taking 6,800 cars off the road per year. Propel's logo remains the same, however, the words "Fitness Water" have been removed from packaging, leaving the only description as "Vitamin Enhanced Water Beverage." The redesign also brings a substitute for Sucrose Syrup in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup. Not only has the company changed the looked of Propel's packaging, but it also expanded its products using a line-extension strategy by adding a blueberry pomegranate flavor.

OLD PACKAGING

PepsiCo announced last week that they would be introducing their "Eco-Fina" bottle. The nation’s best selling bottled water, Aquafina, will now be packaged in the lightest half liter bottle of any nationally distributed water on the market. The "Eco-Fina" bottle features 50 percent less plastic (weighing in at 10.9 grams); that’s an estimated 75 million pounds of plastic annually that will be eliminated. Aquafina will also be eliminating the cardboard base pads in their 24 pack containers in an attempt to save 20 million pounds of corrugate by 2010. "Eco-Fina" 24 packs should be showing up in grocery stores nationally this month. PepsiCo has been committed to becoming more eco-friendly and this is just another way they have been helping to green the earth. Check out our blog entry about PepsiCo we did back in February about their attempt to help improve the environment.

Organa is the newest carbonated beverage to hit the market. It is made from all natural, organic ingredients and sparkling water. With its sleek clear bottle and eye-catching label you’ll be sure to not miss this drink in the aisles. At the moment Organa comes in three flavors: grapefruit & lemon, elderberry & white tea, and pear & apple.

As stated on lovelypackage.com, "We could use some fancy marketing speak to describe our drink. But we believe that’s not necessary as it’s all in the name. Organa is made from only natural, organic ingredients and sparkling water. We leave the judgement up to the most important person – you. If you enjoy Organa and like your friends to have some good refreshment too – tell them about it. Enjoy cold."

Snapple is getting its most significiant redesign in over 37 years. With a new taste that has reduced calories and a brand new redesign, Snapple is sure to grab your attention. Snapple is promoting their usage of green and black tea leaves in their new formula, which is said to intensify flavors. This new formula uses sugar as the sweetener and reduces calories up to 20 percent in some cases. The new label graphics add for a sleeker appeal for the Snapple bottle and highlight the usage of the tea leaves. "We want to ensure Snapple continues to be the Best Stuff on Earth," said Bryan Mazur, vice president of marketing for Snapple. "These changes to the formula and packaging come with one goal in mind: deliver the same great product, just make it even better." Along with the redesign Snapple is introducing 256 new facts!

My family makes their own wine every autumn. We go out and buy cases upon cases of grapes and put them in this wooden contraption that squeeze the grapes until juice drains out into a barrel. There are no ladies hiking up their skirts to dance to music to mash the grapes with their feet, although just once I would like to try it. I think I would enjoy it. My family takes the grape juice and puts it in barrels for aging. A couple months later, the wine is ready for the holiday season! My uncles and my grandfather all rave about the wine and compare this year's varietal to last year's.

Today I came across Killibinbin Wines, based in Australia. These "killer" wines remind me of my uncles and my grandfather telling any guest that comes into our house at Christmas time just "how good" their wine is. Killibinbin wines were tired of having to tell everyone just how "killer" their wines were and decided to put it right on the label! Each varietal features its own illustration taken from horror flicks and their gruesome killing scenes. These labels are printed on thick, uncoated stock to give the feeling of an old horror movie flyer. These picture wines received the 2007 Graphis International Award (New York). Killibinbin Wines was started in 1997 by Wayne Anderson and Liz Banks. The winery now produces over 5,000 cases and is served in some of finest establishments around the world. For more information, visit Killibinbin Wines.

Have you been looking for a healthier alternative to soda? Flavrz is a concentrated drink designed to be mixed with water that features less then half the sugar and calorie intake of soda or juice. Flavrz is an organic product free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and chemicals. Not only is Flavrz good for you but it is also good for the environment. "Flavrz is eco-friendly. Every bottle of Flavrz drink mix makes between 16 and 96 8oz servings of mixed beverage. This avoids purchasing between 4 and 16 large plastic or glass bottles and saves the materials to make the bottles and energy to transport and recycle them. 5% of profits go to charities that support our planet," as stated on their website.

These concentrated drinks come in three delicious flavors, lemon lime, cherry berry, and tropical. All flavors are made from real fruit juices, organic fruit extracts, and flavorings from real fruits. Sweetened with agave nectar the drinks can range from an intense flavored water to a very lightly flavor depending on your preference. Agave nectar is a Mexican produced sweetener that is high in fructose and sweeter then refined sugars. Agave contains fructans which is speculated to help reduce cholesterol and alter the fat absorption in the intestines. Inulin, another ingredient in agave is believed to help lose weight! So learn more about Flavrz and its ingredients check them out here.

Pantone© Inc, headquartered in Carlstadt, NJ, is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS). PMS colors are used in several industries such as printing, paint manufacturing, fabric and plastics. In its early years, Pantone manufactured color cards for cosmetic companies. However in 1962, Lawrence Herbert changed the company direction and developed the its first color matching system.

Today, the company's primary product are its Pantone Guides, which consist of color swatches in a flipbook form. These PMS colors allow designers to 'color match' specific colors when a design enters production stage—regardless of the equipment used to produce the color. This system has been widely adopted by graphic designers, reproduction and printing houses for a number of years now. Pantone recommends that PMS Color Guides be purchased annually as their inks become more yellow over time. Color variance also occurs within editions based on the paper stock used (coated, matte or uncoated), while inter-edition color variance occurs when there are changes to the specific paper stock used.

Our internet searches for PMS colors gave us many results and descriptions of what these colors are and how they can be used. But one particular Pantone product caught our eyes... Pantone coffee mugs! Whether you are feeling a little 286 blue today or maybe you are a chirpy 388 yellow, Pantone has a mug for you! For more information on PMS colors, visit Pantone© 

Not only is PepsiCo making a splash with their new packaging but earlier this week PepsiCo and Carbon Trust announced they would be partnering up to certify the carbon footprint of all PepsiCo products. The Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice is the first North American consumer product to receive the Carbon Trust Certification. The Tropicana brand has been on route to this journey over the last several years, they have already reduced the use of secondary packaging by over four percent, they recycle all peels and seeds to make cattle feed, and in 2008 even reduced its plastic usage by 20 percent.

Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and chief executive of PepsiCo, said, "PepsiCo's partnership with the Carbon Trust is a significant step in our environmental sustainability journey. As part of our company-wide Performance with Purpose initiative, we are committed to reducing our overall environmental impact. Understanding what contributes to the carbon footprint of our products is critical to achieving both our sustainability commitments and to driving efficiency gains across our global business."

The Carbon Trust is independent organization established by the UK government to tackle climate change. The Carbon Trust is attempting to turn the nation into a low carbon economy by working with organizations to abide by strict standards to reduce carbon emissions and produce low carbon technologies. The partnership with PepsiCo is one of a kind for North America, and hopefully will gain popularity with the rise of eco-friendly living.

To read more about PepsiCo’s efforts and their relationship with the Carbon Trust find the entire article here.

Brangelina stands for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Bennifer stood for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. So what do we call the pairing of Beer and Coffee? Cofeer? Boffee? Kona Brewing Company recently paired the two and named it "Pipeline Porter."

"Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew."

With its use of the freshly grown Kona coffee this porter is one of distinction. Kona Brewing Company isn’t the only brewery pairing beer and coffee, some others include: CB Potts Restaurant & Brewery, Meantime Brewing Co. Limited, and Redhook Ale Brewery, Inc. Learn more about the Pipeline Porter here.

You have seen the ads on television, now it is time for Bud Light to revamp their bottles with their drinkability campaign. In March, Anheuser-Busch will premiere the new line of Bud Light cans and bottles. These bottles will veer away from their distinctive red and blue labels and will switch over to a vibrant blue label. The new label will feature a splash on the lower right hand side along side words such as refreshment and drinkability. The new can will also be a vibrant blue color sporting the word refreshment along the sides. Along with all the changes to the bottles and cans the six- 12-, 24-packs will also see a package redesign.

Why the sudden change? Anheuser-Busch’s vice president of marketing Keith Levy stated, "In tough economic times, we expect consumers to shift alcoholic consumption to the tried and true." Which has seemed to be true, analysts have stated that more people are buying beer then high priced wine and spirits.

Are you an avid Pepsi drinker? If so, you may have noticed the new logo and packaging redesign that has started to be introduced in grocery stores nationally. With its new design PepsiCo hopes to reach out to younger consumers along with livening up the soft-drink industry. "Our new brand identity campaign reflects that optimism like never before - on shelf and in advertising," said Dave Burwick, Pepsi's chief marketing officer. Click here to check out a video of the history of Pepsi design.

Cleavage Creek is a winery dedicated to fighting breast cancer. The 2008 models above all share something in common. Do you know what it is? They are all survivors of breast cancer and are an inspiration to women all over the world. These women give us hope. Their story can be found on the Cleavage Creek website.

Cleavage Creek is located in Napa, California. Owner, Budge Brown, lost his wife of 48 years to breast cancer in 2005. Brown is dedicated to producing world class wines and putting an end to the disease. For every bottle sold, 10% goes to breast cancer research. Since its initial 2007 release, Cleavage Creek has donated more than $37,000 to breast cancer causes. Wines are priced in the $18-50 range. Gift sets are also available. Cleavage Creek wines are distributed nationwide and can also be purchased through its website.