READY-TO-DRINK
COVAP’s first complete aseptic PET line Thanks to Sidel’s end-to-end complete aseptic PET line, UHT liquid dairy products (LDPs) from Spanish milk producer COVAP are now also available in PET bottles for the very first time. This new PET bottle opens the door to meet changing market demand and ensures product integrity and safety.
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OVAP, A SPANISH cooperative, is one of the major milk producers in Spain. The company has one of the most technically advanced dairy plants in the whole of Europe and has been a family of farmers for over 60 years. COVAP also produces ready-todrink dairy products for other retailer brands in Spain. Although LDPs are dominated by carton packaging, major supermarket players have decided to sell them in PET bottles as well based on market preference. To meet demand, COVAP partnered with Sidel for the first time on a complete aseptic PET line with the Sidel Aseptic Combi Predis at its heart, after visiting various dairy plants using Sidel’s equipment in Spain and Italy. Sidel experts worked in close collaboration with COVAP from bottle design to line startup. The new PET bottles were designed with a sleek shape, providing a similar look and feel to glass bottles. Thanks to the PET barrier properties, the shelf-life of milk drinks has
been extended by 4 months to retain their fresh taste. All three bottle formats – 225ml, 1l and 1.5l – can be labelled with sleeve or roll-fed labels based on different brand positioning. Thanks to 40 years of aseptic packaging expertise, the safe and simple aseptic PET line requires only a few operators and thus facilitates a smooth and efficient production, running at up to 13 200 bottles per hour. As a result, COVAP is now producing 30 million
PET bottles annually. Furthermore, Sidel provided intense training for operators to ensure successful production on the line. “Since PET packaging is a new territory for us, Sidel is the right long-term partner to advise us in every phase and to provide end-to-end solutions,” commented Vidal Madrid, director of operations and digital strategy at COVAP. •
Sidel – www.sidel.com
Ready-to-drink category on the rise With more people looking for convenient, on-the-go beverages to keep up with their fast-paced lifestyles, it is not surprising that the ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage category is growing rapidly in Africa. Tennille Aron looks at what we can expect from this category in the future.
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LOBALLY, THE READY-to-drink (RTD) market is gaining increasing popularity. According to the IWSR (the leading source for beverage alcohol trends in the world), the RTD market grew by approximately 26.4% in 2020 and was the only beverage alcohol category to grow during the pandemic. If the popularity of these types of drinks continues to increase, the IWSR projects the RTD volume to increase by 26.6% in 2021. What makes this beverage category so popular? Whether it is RTD cocktails, coffee or tea, these drinks have taken the world by storm and this is largely due to the convenience factor that these drinks offer. RTD beverages fit in perfectly with the current global grab-and-go culture as they are packaged in single-use containers and are meant for immediate consumption. Grabbing a RTD iced coffee that you can consume on your way to work, aligns with the fast-paced lifestyle that people now lead. RTD beverages such as energy drinks and coffee have also become a favourite as more people look for something quick and easy to consume
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to boost their energy levels during a busy day. AS THIS CATEGORY CONTINUES TO GROW, THESE ARE SOME OF THE TRENDS TO EXPECT: Let’s keep it healthy FMCG Gurus’ consumer insights 2021 found that 60% of global consumers would like to improve their general health over the next 12 months. Therefore, one of the biggest trends throughout the beverage industry, and especially for the RTD market, would be producing healthier drinks with more nutritional value. RTD beverages with no added sugars or calories, but that are infused with natural ingredients such as vitamins or plant extracts is becoming increasingly popular in this drinks category. As the world moves towards finding plant-based alternatives to dairy products, RTD beverages that contain these plant-based alternatives are also becoming more trendy. What’s your flavour? Another trend that is on the rise in the
Food Manufacturing Africa | 2021 Quarter 3
beverage industry is the need for flavour innovation. Research from FMCG Gurus found that 74% of global consumers said they like products with new and unusual flavours. Experimenting with new flavours and exotic flavour combinations is essential for those in the RTD industry, especially when it comes to alcoholic RTD drinks like hard seltzers. What’s in the box? Packaging forms a crucial part of RTD beverages as it adds to the overall convenience factor of these products. Finding packaging that is sleek and easy to use on-the-go, but that is also sustainable and environmentally-friendly is a key area that beverage manufacturers will have to consider as RTD beverage popularity rises. This beverage category arose to suit consumers’ needs and their changing lifestyle, and has become extremely popular as a result. One thing that is certain is that this is a beverage category that is here to stay. •
