Monsanto has announced it will get out of the artificial growth hormone business. Its product, also known as rBST, rBGH or the brand name, Posilac, was banned in the EU and in Canada because of concerns for the health of cows – concerns that led Oakhurst Dairy to reject its use in the production of Oakhurst milk. The family-owned dairy fought to keep its Farmers' Pledge, 'No Artificial Growth Hormone Used', on the Oakhurst milk label. When the announcement came last week that agribusiness giant Monsanto was getting out of the dairy hormone business, it was a victory of sorts for Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy. Oakhurst was the first major dairy in the country to reject the use of artificial growth hormone (also known as rBST, rBGH, bovine growth hormone, or Posilac) in the production of its milk – and to put this information on its label in the form of a Farmers' Pledge 'No Artificial Growth Hormone Used'. Five years ago, Monsanto sued Oakhurst, alleging that its label misled consumers into thinking there was something wrong with milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormone. In a David and Goliath contest that had nationwide implications, the independent, family-owned dairy fought Monsanto to preserve the right to inform customers that Oakhurst milk is produced without the use of artificial growth hormone (rBST, rBGH, bovine growth hormone or Posilac). Oakhurst president Stan Bennett is proud of his company's long-held position: "From the beginning, we made the decision not to use artificial growth hormone in our milk production because we felt it was the right thing to do. Questions and concerns from consumers over the use of artificial growth hormone, decisions in Europe and Canada to ban the substance and our concerns for the health of cows that willingly give us their milk every day, all contributed to our decision to keep artificial growth hormone out of the production of our milk – one of nature's most perfect foods." Oakhurst retained the right to put its Farmers' Pledge regarding artificial growth hormone on its milk label but added a disclaimer: 'FDA states: No significant difference in milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormone'. In recent years, many other milk producers, retailers and now cheese producers have added similar "no artificial growth hormone used" or "no bovine growth hormone used" language to their labelling and marketing communications. In response to consumer demand for more natural foods, all of New England's major milk producers have followed Oakhurst's lead, rejecting the use of rBST, rBGH or Posilac. "We fought a good fight and this most recent decision by Monsanto makes us as a company feel somewhat vindicated," said Stan Bennett. "I'd like to think that, in some small part, we played a role in that decision."

UK supermarket Sainsbury's has opened a 'green' store in Dartmouth, Devon. According to the company, the store will use 50% less energy from the national grid, and will produce 40% less carbon dioxide than a normal store. Sainsbury's also planted 400 trees to compensate for the 200 that were used to build the timber frame. The building site itself also chipped in by recycling 90% of construction waste. Neil Sachdev, commercial director at Sainsbury's, said: "We've been keen to experiment with a number of energy-saving measures here, from sun pipes, which provide amazing natural light, to using a timber frame rather than steel, which consumes less energy in its production, but looks good too." Sainsbury's also unveiled a delivery lorry that's powered by the gas produced from rotting rubbish such as waste food, garden waste and newspapers dumped in landfill. The lorry made its first daily drop-off at the new Dartmouth store in a 300-mile round trip from the firm's depot in Bristol. Sainsbury's is the first UK supermarket to deliver food using the green fuel technology.

*On Product Publishing (OPP), the company behind the award-winning invention ‘Magazine on a Bottle’, has announced a technical breakthrough in R&D that allows its Labelzine magazine label to be applied to products in-line at high speed. * Company officials say that they believe demand from the large beverage manufacturers for a high-speed Labelzine was significant enough to push the company into an aggressive R&D programme designed to provide a high-speed, low-cost solution. OPP CEO Alex McKinnon said: “Our customers have asked for a Labelzine variant that can be applied online in high-speed, high-volume bottling and packaging environments. They've realised the value of label real estate and our invention basically turns their labels into media. "We've completed a number of projects with Coca-Cola, Tetra Pak and others where we match content partners with the brand but now many companies, realising the power of their product as a communications tool, are also considering developing their own content and using Labelzine for a variety of on-product communications and on-line promotions.” Since February 2008, OPP has been working with its manufacturing partners and customers to perfect a way of placing magazine labels onto the high-speed rewind film commonly used by the major beverage companies. To create Labelzine Reel-Fed, OPP has been collaborating with the Germany’s Krones and Australia’s labelling specialists Pemara Corporation and Functional Packaging Solutions. Other international collaborators include members of the Fix a Form label converter network, such as CCL Labels; Pago (Germany and Switzerland), Denny Brothers (UK) and Alcan Industries. Strongly supported by the Australian Trade Commission’s Export Market Development Program (EMDG) and New Export Development Programme, OPP has been successful in exporting its technology to over 20 markets. The company’s ‘Magazine on a Bottle’ was invented by Joanna Wojtalik and taken to market in Melbourne in 2006. The invention scooped the Best Label and Overall Best Concept at the water innovation awards in 2006. Since then, the company commenced exporting the Labelzine concept in July 2007 and now has over 130 countries under licence through 15 licensee organisations and management offices in Melbourne, Zurich and New York. The company has completed many projects with international FMCG companies including Coca-Cola, Tetra Pak, Virgin, and L’Oreal. Publishing collaborators have included Bauer Germany, Sanoma Europe and Aller of Denmark. The company’s R&D continues with development underway for a magazine on takeaway cups and an interactive chip-based Labelzine.

Taking 'cosiness' as the theme, the creative team has dressed up the Grand Marnier bottle in a deep red removable fur-collared coat. This is the sixth limited edition bottle created and only 1,000 of the new designs will be available in the UK. Nicki Daw, Grand Marnier marketing manager, said: “The sensual silhouette of the bottle takes us by surprise as it emerges from the red fur wrap. It reminds us of the timeless, luxurious associations of Grand Marnier and the places where we feel good: snug bars, cosy cabins, sinking deeply into an armchair with a glass of Grand Marnier and a special person.”

Martin Hawkins, Executive Director, Sun Brand Technologies* Credit crisis, slump, downturn – no matter what you call it, everyone is talking about it. As fears of a global recession grow, companies in all sectors are tightening their belts. But in the beverage sector, it seems quite the opposite is happening. The purveyors of new product development (NPD) are planning to accelerate innovation to keep consumers spending, a survey by Sun Brand Technologies has found. Could it be that the credit crunch is actually helping to accelerate business in this competitive industry? As the 21st century consumer becomes increasingly demanding, companies must create products that meet the requirements for health, convenience, a wider choice of flavours and the rise of ‘greener’ packaging. As consumer awareness of health and well-being grows, brand owners are responding with ‘guilt-free’ options and ranges with a healthier twist. Diet Coke’s Plus range gives the low-calorie drink added vitamins and antioxidants, while Mars is rolling out a low-fat Galaxy drink aimed at women wanting to increase their calcium intake. Not surprisingly, the children’s drinks market is making particularly big strides in the number of healthier choices available. Launched in April 2008, Ribena’s 100% Pure Juices range is the biggest development in the brand’s 70-year history. Packaging is also key to success and must reflect the trends of the time. Juice in pouches, wine in boxes and coffee in cans show how the industry has responded to publicly driven trends. However, packaging that meets environmental requirements without compromising product quality is also essential. But what's behind the strategy that so vehemently bucks the national trend? In tough times, even the top brands will cut back on costs in some areas, while at the same time developing other aspects of their business. For retailers, this means attracting new customers as well as keeping existing ones. A constant flow of innovation is essential to capture attention and retain custom. Therefore, the pressure is on suppliers to rise to the challenge. Creativity, cost, speed-to-market and environmental issues are all important factors and only organisations that excel in these areas will succeed – and in these uncertain times, it's more important than ever to get it right.

Fans have voted Mountain Dew Voltage as the 'People's Dew' in a recent national interactive campaign. The Mountain Dew marketing campaign encouraged fans of the brand to actively participate in the election of the newest Mountain Dew. The creation of the next Mountain Dew began with a series of tasks and games. The tasks let players determine elements of the drink – from flavour to colour, name, logo and label. Ultimately, players voted on their favourite of all the original Dew combinations. At the end of the journey, three flavours were chosen: Voltage, Supernova and Revolution. However, only one could be the ultimate winner and become the next Mountain Dew full-time flavour. On 19 May, the company released a limited edition of the three flavours in US stores and empowered people to decide which flavour would become a permanent fixture in the Mountain Dew family. The democratic approach, called 'DEWmocracy', relies on the involvement of fans to continue creating a beverage and marketing campaign that they will want to buy and be inspired by. After months of spreading the word and fighting it out, the winner was proclaimed to be Mountain Dew Voltage – a blue, raspberry citrus and ginseng flavoured Dew.

**Evian Natural Spring Water has announced that it is now the Official Bottled Water of the Olympus US Open Series in a deal that will span the next five years. **As part of this sponsorship, Evian will have a premium presence at New Haven's Pilot Pen Tennis held 15-23 August. This year, Evian will host a number of highly interactive opportunities for guests of Pilot Pen. In addition to sponsoring a luxurious setting where tournament-goers can shop for exclusive products on <1>, guests to the Evian Booth will discover the source of pure play, with chances to win exclusive prizes, and even find themselves face to face with tennis superstar James Blake during his special appearance on Evian Day, 21 August. Evian Day During Evian Day, approximately 10,000 guests to Pilot Pen Tennis will receive a complimentary Limited Edition James Blake Brumisateur. In addition to the daily sweepstakes at the Evian Booth, fans attending the tournament on Evian Day will also have chances to win autographed James Blake memorabilia or a full year's supply of Evian. Additionally, one lucky winner will get a chance to hone their skills with a trip for two to Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida, for professional tennis lessons. Attendees of Evian Day will receive an experience exclusive to Pilot Pen Tennis – New Haven is the only stop on the Olympus US Open Series where fans have the opportunity to get up close and personal with its hometown tennis hero, James Blake. That afternoon, Blake will host a meet and greet photo opportunity at the Evian Booth to show his appreciation to the Connecticut fans that have supported him throughout his career. "This year, we're particularly excited about our expanded involvement in the Olympus US Open Series," said Jeff Caswell, Vice President of Marketing for Evian North America. "This year, we're able to bring the full Evian Day experience to New Haven, and with the introduction of ShopEvian.com, we're able to offer fans at Pilot Pen Tennis unique and exclusive opportunities to commemorate their time spent with us at the tournament." The Limited Edition James Blake Brumisateur The Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray will be hitting stands at the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series with a brand new, limited edition look designed by tennis superstar James Blake. Evian will be honoring its partnership with Blake by donating a portion of the proceeds from the Evian Brumisateur to USTA Serves and the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program. Blake is one of the top-ranked male American tennis players in the world, and he attributes much of his success to the impact that this organisation had on him as a young man. <1>: http://www.ShopEvian.com

Commercial refrigeration manufacturer Foster has launched a new wine chiller cabinet that will enable caterers and publicans to store large quantities of wine front-of-house. The Foster Vino Cabinet has a slim footprint and generous capacity – up to 156 75cl bottles. The Vino enables the user to choose between two temperature settings: Multi-temp and Mono-temp. Multi-temp allows a variety of wines to be efficiently stored at different temperatures at the same time, while Mono-temp allows a single temperature setting for the whole cabinet. John Savage, Director for Foster Refrigerator, said: "This is an exciting new product from Foster and we're delighted to be adding this to our extensive refrigeration line. As always, Foster customers will receive the high-quality, robust, value for money piece of equipment they've come to expect." The Vino is priced at £1,420.

An international panel of experts has gathered in London to judge the water innovation awards 2008. This year’s competition attracted a record 201 entries from 40 countries. Following five successful years as the bottledwaterworld awards, the new-look water innovation awards recognises excellence and creativity on a unique global platform for the packaged water industry. “The response to this year’s awards contest has simply been phenomenal,” said water innovation Editor Nayl D’Souza. “Thanks must go to all the brand owners, suppliers and entrepreneurs that have yet again supported our magazine’s awards programme together with the dedication of the judging panel and the dedication of those working behind the scenes to manage the flood of entries we received.” This year’s judges included Felicity Shakespeare from Givaudan, the world’s largest producer of flavours and fragrances (headquartered in Switzerland). She was joined by Caroline Herbst at Krones, the largest supplier of capital equipment for bottling and packaging in the world (based in Germany). The distinguished line-up was further enhanced by the presence of Romeo Corvaglia, founder of the successful Corvaglia plastic cap business, and Eckhard Kallies from Scandinavian labelling specialist Stora Enso – sponsor of the labelling category in the competition. The jury also featured the expertise of Victoria Green from UK retailer Waitrose; product development knowledge from Peter Rickett, co-founder of award-winning Designworks Windsor; Australian-born Edward Kosier of Nextek, a specialist in polymer recycling and lightweighting; world class sommelier Sophie Rudge from Blend; and Steve Rowe, President of Spanish water distributor wawali (Water Way of Life). Completing the line-up was water innovation Editor Nayl D’Souza, who co-organised the event. The judging panel was chaired by Zenith International Publishing Group Editorial Director Bill Bruce, who ensured full account was taken for each of the nominations. Among the product categories were best new bottle in PET, glass, label and packaging innovation. There were also categories for flavoured and enhanced water, kid’s water concept and marketing campaigns, along with best newcomer. This year saw the introduction of two new categories which looked at sustainability in two distinct dimensions: best ethical initiative and best environmental initiative. The results of the water innovation awards 2008 will be announced at a special gala dinner on 23 September 2008 during the 5th Global Bottled Water Congress, being held in Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt.

Primula is set to launch its own cheese triangles in Primula flavours – cheese & chive and cheese & ham – according to a Talking Retail report. Plain cheese triangles such as Kraft's Dairylea currently dominate the market, yet Primula manufacturer Kavli hopes the new range will add an extra dimension to the choice available for shoppers. Craig Brooks, Marketing Director at Kavli, said: “We wanted to give Primula fans their favourite flavours in one of the most popular portable snacking formats, but also offer traditional triangle lovers some extra variety and choice when they do their weekly shop. “The triangle sector now represents just under half of the total cheese spread market and our research suggested that purchasers were becoming tired of the choice of only plain cheese available from a variety of different brands in a variety of pack sizes. They were interested in something different to add to their repertoire. “It was also clear that the market has moved on from the original ‘just for kids’ position to one where grown-ups are an important consumer segment, buying for the convenience of portable snacks and for the extended shelf life that individually wrapped portions can offer."

Coca-Cola has hired branding agency ATTIK to handle brand identity for its sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Coke is also the UEFA European Championship football sponsors, title sponsor of the Coca-Cola League, and uses Manchester United's Wayne Rooney as a brand ambassador. Coca-Cola has also hired the agency to handle its Christmas 2008 below-the-line marketing activity, including packaging, point-of-sale and identity. According to the agency, the new Christmas design will span the entire Coke range, including Coke Red, Diet Coke and Coke Zero. The new look will be used across all European markets. * *

**Amazonia Premium begins its journey in the Brazilian rainforest with a group of six visionary and social investors who got together to make a difference in the world. With this in mind, the US company based in Michigan partnered with an existing water plant in Brazil and began manufacturing and importing the only Internationally Certified Organic Source Premium Water. The firm’s mission is to build a business that is not only eco-friendly and green but is also committed in being socially responsible.** Amazonia Premium's corporate social responsibility begins with their employees in Serra Da Graciosa Mountain in Brazil. The company has created a great workplace environment in this distant community where their employees are treated well; they are paid a fair wage and promoted based on merit and contribution. Another truly global social responsibility for Amazonia Premium is their involvement in helping preserve and save the Brazilian rainforests. For each bottle sold, Amazonia Premium donates a significant portion of all proceeds to non-profit organisations that support this cause. In the past year, Amazonia Premium has been certified by the IBD in Brazil, an organisation based on humanistic principles, conservations and preservation of the environment. In addition, Amazonia Premium states it has been certified by the standards organisation NSF. This seal of purity ensures the water source cleanliness and integrity of the bottling plant quality.