Packaging news round-up

New vegan chocolate bars to deliver a tasteful choice for alternative indulgence

Leading global confectioneries producer Mondelēz International is introducing Canadians to a new chocolatey confection for the those looking for a vegan alternative to the classic, creamy Cadbury Dairy Milk taste.

Launched across Canada last month, the 90-gram Cadbury Plant Bars are currently available in two flavors—Chocolatey Smooth and Salted Caramel— to offer Canadians even more choice when looking for a moment of indulgence.

“We know many Cadbury-lovers have been excited for the arrival of the Cadbury Plant Bar since it launched in the U.K. last year, and we’re delighted to finally have a vegan option for Canadians,” says Chantal Butler, vice-president of marketing at Mondelēz Canada Inc. in Toronto.

“As one of the leaders in snacking, we know Canadians’ tastes are changing, which is why it’s our ambition to provide a wide range of products for snack-lovers with even more choices to suit their lifestyles.”

Developed over two years at the Mondelēz International’s Global Centre of Excellence for Chocolate Research and Development in Bournville, U.K, the Cadbury Plant Bar is made with almond paste instead of milk. This provides a plant-based alternative to the classic Cadbury Dairy Milk, with a hint of

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All of Cadbury’s chocolate brands in Canada, including Cadbury Plant Bar, source cocoa through the Cocoa Life initiative—Mondelez International’s sustainable cocoa sourcing program that encourages responsible farming by helping fight deforestation and supporting cocoa farming communities.

Mondelēz International recently announced that they were doubling down on their commitment to Cocoa Life with a $60- million investment in its cocoa sourcing practices—aiming to increase the number of cocoa farming households reaching a living income, enhance child protection systems, and ensure no deforestation on Cocoa Life farms globally.

From left: Rally Beer founder Alan Wood joins Muskoka Brewery’s president Todd Lewin and owner Bob Macdonald to toast the new partnership.

Ontario craft brewers join up to Rally around the consumer wellness trend

With beermakers continuing to search for new ways to add some fizz to the flat beer markets, Bracebridge, Ont.-based Muskoka Brewery has acquired Rally Beer Company of Mississauga, Ont., to drive growth in their industry’s most budding and dynamic beer segments for so-called functional beers.

In a union of like-minded innovative craft brewers, the two companies are hoping to leverage their leading positions in the consumers’ wellness trend by bringing together complementary brands rooted in an outdoors-inspired lifestyle.

“Rally has pioneered the concept of functional beer in Canada, and we are so excited to be a part of what they have built,” says Muskoka Brewery president Todd Lewin. “We are looking forward to bringing together two brands that have championed outdoors-inspired beverages and make beer more approachable for all.”

As part of the deal, Rally Beer founder Alan Wood will join Muskoka Brewery’s team and continue to grow the electrolyte-rich Rally brands by leveraging Muskoka’s strength in operational efficiencies, widespread distribution, and expertise in bringing brands to market.

“This is certainly an exciting time for myself and Rally Beer,” Wood says. “There has been a gap in the marketplace for a beer that appeals to an active lifestyle and an authentic brand that supports the active communities.”

To address that niche, Rally Beer has developed a line-up of functional beers brewed to be rich in electrolytes for an adventure-based lifestyle, perfectly complementing Muskoka Brewery’s mantra of venturing off the beaten path and drinking in the moment with lively brands like Dry Run Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale, Backcountry Session Lager, Extra Mile Session IPA, and Trail Blazer Golden Ale.

The before-and-after comparison of the Cove Kambucha brand’s recent packaging redesign.

East Coast kambucha kings freshen up their packaging for the U.S market rollout

Ever since brothers John and Ryan Maclellan started brewing kombucha in their mother’s kitchen in Maliganant’s Cove, N.S., back in 2016, they’ve literally trusted their gut instincts to make their recipe a commercial success.

Soon after sharing the product with friends and family, they started selling it at local Farmer’s Market in nearby Halifax to an appreciative audience.

Within six months, they took their mission to promote gut health to pitch, produce, and package Cove Kombucha for a larger market.

Today the trendy beverage is listed in over 1,000 stores across Canada and soon coming to the U.S. following recent launch of a new product line called Cove Soda.

But the story is still being written. With a shifting and crowded retail space and a desire to elevate the brand to a more premium position, the brothers turned to New Yorkbased creative design agency Chase Design Group to refresh the brand’s visual identity with a bolder package design to enhance the brand’s story and drive differentiation.

“What we found during our initial research was that the visualization of taste was severely under–leveraged within a category which favored more apothecary or minimal graphic treatments,” says Steve Dunphy, executive creative director at Chase Design Group.

“The flavor story was also a huge competitive advantage that needed to be touted on the packaging,” Dunphy adds.

A recent switch from a generic glass bottle to a slender aluminum can provided an opportunity to craft a vertically stacked Cove logo that boldly stands out on the generous vertical proportions of the can.

The new logo pays homage to the original quirky, hand-hewn style, while the flavor story is communicated through playful fruit illustrations layered on top of a vibrant and refreshing color palette.

To help educate consumers, a communication corridor at the bottom of the can quickly and easily calls out all of the gut healthy benefits of kombucha.

The redesign successfully plays off the brothers’ passion for creating a better- tasting kombucha, inspiring the design team to push well beyond the limits of the category.

“We wanted their personalities to be tangible when people encountered the brand,” says Dunphy, “so we designed custom illustrations of them, which are featured within a storytelling panel found on the Club Store multipacks.”

“I had the opportunity to work closely with the Chase Design Group team to redefine what Cove means and where we wanted to take our brand,” says Ryan Macllelan, founder chief marketing officer of Cove Drinks.

“The redesign completely nailed who we are: a fun, uplifting and positive brand that also happens to taste great.”

The Cove Kombucha brand is currently sold in Canada in six flavor varieties—including Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lime, Mango Turmeric, Blueberry Pomegranate, Watermelon Guava and Pink Grapefruit—throught the Costco Club Store chain and at natural grocers, including the Whole Foods Market.

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