*A UK-based plastic cup and 19 litre (5 gallon) water bottle cap supplier has launched a service that will enable its customers to recycle returned plastic components. * Packseal devised the free scheme to assist its clients with their recycling needs and give them the opportunity to earn money from the sale of scrap plastic. If sufficient quantities of bottles, caps or other clean waste, which are inevitable by-products of the bottled water cooler business, are collected by the company’s recycling partners, then payment could be made for the returned material. Every customer who purchases Packseal caps will be eligible for the initiative, free of charge. Initial responses from clients have been positive, with a number already taking the scheme on board. Packseal will be exhibiting at the forthcoming BWCA show at stand 36a where interested parties can find out more about the service.

Austrian plastics firm Greiner Packaging is now the sole proprietor of 5 gallon (19 litres) packaging manufacturer Capsnap Europe, following an overhaul of the company’s ownership structure. Capsnap was set up in 1999 as a 50:50 joint venture between Greiner and 5 gallon and dairy closure producer Portola Packaging. This latest agreement, which was signed on 20 December 2007, saw Greiner take over the shareholding of the US Portola Group from 1 January 2008. All employment roles will be retained and Capsnap will continue to be Portola’s distributor for caps in Europe, although some specific markets and customers will be served directly by Portola. “5 gallon packaging will be a significant segment for the plastics industry in the future. As the sole owner of Capsnap Europe, we will push ahead with the development of this important pillar for Greiner,” said Greiner Packaging International CEO Willi Eibner. Capsnap General Manager Günter Ausserwöger commented that the company would be better able to respond to the 5 gallon bottle market in Europe with a single owner. “We will thus be able not only to react faster to European market requirements, but also to align our packaging solutions more flexibly to them,”he said. According to Portola Europe Managing Director Glenn Heighington, the agreement is in line with Portola’s strategy to focus on its core competency - the production of plastic closures for the water, juice and dairy industries. Greiner Packaging achieved a turnover of €290.9 million in 2006 and employs over 2,500 people in 21 production sites across Europe.

Angel Springs has seen its flexible approach pay dividends as it recently won over 2,500 coolers through key national accounts. The UK based water cooler distribution believes that customers require a provider that can supply and maintain both bottled and mains fed cooler solutions on a national basis, without sub-contracting to third party distributors. Managing Director John Dundon commented: “We are delighted with the success our dual solution, one company approach has brought to us. “When talking to potential new customers it is quickly evident that they prefer impartial, factual advice on the merits of both bottled and mains fed coolers. Buyers have been able to make informed decisions when we have explained the factual, environmental impact of both products.” The company’s 'workplace watercoolers' initiative aims to supply the customer with a solution that is driven by their needs and requirements, rather than simply providing products that best suit the supplier. Consulting with the customer to help them make a balanced choice could lead to better client retention. “When you add our flexible package to this, where customers can move between bottled and mains fed coolers during their contract term, it has meant that we have been able to win multiple national accounts and maintain sensible margins in addition to cost effective mains fed installations.” Since its formation in 2003, Angel has become one of the leading cooler distributors in the UK, doubling its customer base and turnover. It puts its rapid growth down to a commitment to service, strong organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

Acrokool Distribution will be bringing a range of POU water coolers for the office, home and horeca sectors to the UK and Irish markets. Offering medium to high output models from Italian manufacturer Zerica, including its Premium, horeca, office and pub and bar lines, the firm’s sales arm will be headed up by Kevin James, who is confident about its capabilities. “I am really enthusiastic about the potential of this new company and very confident to work with Managing Director Roger Moore and Acrokool, making use of their tremendous technical and operational knowledge,” commented the former Aqua Cool, Nestlé and AA First employee. “We will also be adding two exciting POU products to our range, giving us and our customers the confidence to see reliable, high quality equipment with ample cooling capacity, which is what the UK market needs at the moment. All of this means a quality product and supply readily available, giving distributors the chance to differentiate themselves, promote a line that can compete in a competitive marketplace and keep a reasonable margin at a Marks & Spencer and John Lewis level.” James believes that not only are the UK and Ireland two of the largest POU marketplaces in the world, they are also the most demanding, so stocking quality products and offering full customer support will be essential for the POU only company. “We understand that the quality of construction of our products means that we are not competing at the bottom level with products from the Far East and China. Instead, their style and performance will offer a superior choice to the end user who will not always want to go for the most inexpensive option. We therefore have an ideal selling portfolio for the medium to premium POU and horeca markets.” Further details will be made about the firm in due course.

The Coca-Cola Company has announced a long term target to recycle or reuse 100% of the aluminium beverage cans it sells in the United States. This new objective builds on the company's previously announced goal to recycle or reuse 100% of its PET plastic bottles. "We have made a commitment to ensure the sustainability - and recyclability - of our packaging," said Coca-Cola North America President Sandy Douglas. "We envision a world in which our packaging is no longer seen as waste, but as a valuable resource for future use." Aluminium beverage cans are among the most recycled consumer products in the US - one out of every two aluminium cans is recycled today. Recycling aluminium is highly efficient and requires 95% less energy than creating aluminium from raw materials. It also reduces carbon emissions by 95%. Coca-Cola currently uses an average 60% recycled aluminium in its beverage cans. Coca-Cola also has continued to invest in recycling programmes and infrastructure. In 2007, it invested $60() million (€40 million) in a series of recycling initiatives, including support of RecycleBank's curbside collection program and the construction of the world's largest PET bottle to bottle recycling plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In 2007, Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), the world's largest Coca-Cola bottler, formed Coca-Cola Recycling LLC (CCR) with a mission to recover and recycle the packaging materials developed and used by the Coca-Cola system. CCR plays a key role in the Company's aspiration to recycle and reuse 100 percent of its packaging. While the primary beverage container materials - aluminum and PET - have high value as recyclables, not enough are recovered to meet the increasing demand. "We established Coca-Cola Recycling to help increase recycling rates in North America and to ensure that our system has ready access to recycled material," said John Burgess, president and chief operating officer, Coca-Cola Recycling. "By the end of 2008, Coca-Cola Recycling will recycle more than 100 million pounds each of PET and aluminium." CCR has established centralised recycling centers at CCE's major production facilities across the country. It also has created innovative collection programs at colleges and universities, office buildings and retail centers, as well as major sporting events, music festivals and other large scale events to drive recycling behaviour among consumers.

Danisco has attained long-term access to two highly documented probiotic strains in a new licence agreement with Fonterra. The agreement also marks Danisco’s launch of the strains, marketed as Howaru bifido and Howaru rhamnosus, on the dietary supplement market. Danisco Vice President Dairy Supplements Business Unit Scott Bush welcomed the renewed opportunity to supply the probiotics for many years ahead, and looks forward to a stronger development partnership between Danisco and Fonterra. “Howaru bifido and rhamnosus offer our customers a unique competitive advantage, as they make it possible to market products with proven benefits,” Bush says. “Health professionals, regulatory authorities and consumers are increasingly aware that probiotic health benefits are strain-specific. More and more, they require that these benefits be demonstrated in human clinical studies. Yet some probiotic products on the market still contain strains that have little or no documentation of health benefits in human clinical studies. For the Howaru strains, we have such evidence of efficacy.” Clinically proven key products in Danisco’s leading range of premium probiotic cultures, Howaru bifido and Howaru rhamnosus are clinically proven to strengthen the human digestive and immune systems. Since 2001, when Fonterra first granted marketing and selling rights to Danisco, the strains have been successfully applied in a wide range of applications with strong health benefit statements. As human clinical studies continue to provide more evidence of the strains’ health benefits, the global market for probiotics is experiencing annual growth of around 10%, with the growth rate in North America currently at 20%. It is against this positive backdrop that Danisco has chosen to launch Howaru bifido and Howaru rhamnosus on the dietary supplement market. Young Living Essential Oils has become the first customer applying them in its high potency probiotic supplement, Life 5. The supplement builds and restores core intestinal health by providing five clinically proven probiotic strains, including three advanced 'super strains' to enhance intestinal health, sustain energy and improve immunity.

US filtration products company Pureez has launched a countertop hot and cold POU water cooler that uses ultraviolet (UV) rays to purify water. Using a “double-active” carbon filter and 0.6 micron filter, the machine aims to dispense up to 40 cups of cold water at 39 to 57°F or 50 cups of hot water at 197 to 204°F within an hour. The unit that features a series of self-tailored settings and automated service alerts is available in six colours, with a self-installation kit for setting up next to a refrigerator or sink, as well as the option to arrange a professional installation visit. "Our coolers are designed to look as good as pure water makes you feel. We believe coolers should be compact enough to be a welcome addition to your home or office, and not an inconvenience," said Pureez Director of Marketing, William Patsy. The company is aiming to target the coolers at parents of young children in particular due to the machine’s “mix” button that enables the user to control the temperature of the water, making it suitable for preparing infant cereals and foods. Designed to fit on most countertops, the Pureez measures 35cm high, 29cm wide and 39cm deep, and weighs in at 14kg.

Sidel, one of the world’s top suppliers of complete bottling lines, will take part in Interpack, packaging’s biggest trade show, in Dusseldorf from 24-30 April. Sidel will present its newest packaging solutions, from bottle design to palletizing. This year, sensitive drinks take centre stage. Flavoured waters, juices, nectars, isotonic drinks, teas and liquid dairy products are extremely popular with consumers who are fuelling a surge in demand for health and wellness products. Sidel will unveil its latest aseptic packaging solutions for this market segment, which puts a premium on product safety. In addition to product safety, the environmental impact of packaging is playing an increasingly important role. Reducing consumption of raw materials, energy, water and chemicals has become a top concern of beverage industry professionals. Part of Sidel’s booth will be dedicated to breakthrough solutions created by Sidel to address to these concerns. Another area of the booth will showcase innovative end-of-line solutions. *About Sidel* Sidel is one of the world’s top suppliers of beverage lines and packaging equipment. The company employs 5,300 people around the world and is a division of Tetra Laval.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the largest bottler of Coca-Cola drinks, said Tuesday it swung to a fourth-quarter profit, as year-ago results included a hefty franchise impairment charge. Quarterly net income totalled $158 million, or 32 cents per share, compared with a year-ago loss of $1.71 billion, or $3.59 per share. Excluding a restructuring charge, debt extinguishment costs and a tax benefit, net income was 29 cents per share. Year-ago results included $3.79 per share in charges, mostly due to a franchise-impairment charge. Revenue rose 11% to $5.3 billion from $4.79 billion last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial predicted net income of 27 cents per share on revenue of $5.14 billion. Analyst estimates typically exclude one-time items. Results were helped by volume and price growth in North America and Europe, lower operating expenses and a favourable tax rate, the company said. North America benefited from the launch of Glaceau water brands and growth from Coca-Cola Zero, Dasani and Powerade. European results were also helped by Coca-Cola Zero. For the year, Coca-Cola Enterprises reported earnings of $711 million, or $1.46 per share, compared with a year-ago loss of $1.14 billion, or $2.41 per share. Revenue rose 6% to $20.94 million from $19.8 billion. * Article is copyright of Associated Press*

Valpak, the UK’s largest producer responsibility scheme, welcomes DEFRA’s announcement of targets for industry for the next three years. The early announcement and the forward view of targets allow all businesses to plan and prepare for the future challenges they'll face in the packaging arena and in assisting the UK to achieve its carbon obligations. Valpak strongly believes that placing a legal responsibility onto business to recover and recycle packaging now and into the future, through a clear timetable of incremental targets, ensures all obligated business plays its part. It also means that all obligated business will be taking part in the carbon agenda and not just those who decide to on their own initiatives. Steve Gough, Valpak’s Chief Executive, said: “To have a view of the targets so early in the year and for the next three years is hugely helpful, and we appreciate DEFRA’s efforts here. It helps us to continue to take steps well in advance to keep our members’ costs to a minimum. "We're hoping for more information on targets for 2011 and 2012, as well as on the issue of ‘broadly equivalent’ evidence, and we know the government is working on these issues as we speak. “Early targets, strong legislation and a clear view of targets into the future mean that the government and business win on two levels: in the first place, producer responsibility legislation for packaging will deliver the UK contribution to the EU Directive, but on another level, the targets bind all business to the reason for having the legislation in the first instance, to ensure better resource efficiency and an improved environment.” New targets At a basic level, Valpak believes that the target levels are sensible and take due consideration of the most recent data available on how the UK can achieve its requirements under the EU Packaging Directive. Taking a wider view, it's important for all to understand that this type of producer responsibility legislation binds a much more diverse range of businesses, small and large, into the efforts to combat environmental impact. Thus, all businesses pay their fair share of the costs towards reducing the impact of the packaging they release onto the market place. These new targets will complement the wider aims of the Waste Strategy for England and Wales, and ensure business plays its role in achieving some of the aims of the review carried out in 2007. There was concern about the levels proposed for aluminium recycling, and Valpak appreciates the fact that this has been reduced to a more manageable level. However, it adds that it's important that the government addresses the issue of ‘broadly equivalent’ evidence for exporters as a matter of urgency, due to the effect it's having on generating PERN export evidence, particularly for steel and aluminium.

By Ladka Bauerova Groupe Danone SA, the Evian bottler that bought baby food maker Royal Numico NV last year, posted a fivefold increase in second-half profit on the sale of its cookie unit to Kraft Foods Inc. Profit in the second half was €3.52 billion ($5.1 billion), up from €649 million a year earlier, 12-month figures released by Paris-based Danone today indicate. Full-year net income was €4.18 billion, above the €3.25 billion median of 17 analyst estimates in a Bloomberg survey. Danone, also the world's largest yogurt maker, bought Numico and left the cookie business to focus on faster-growing health foods. The company is counting on Numico's Nutricia and Cow & Gate brands for infants to lift profitability, as rising milk costs threaten growth and a trademark dispute weighs on sales in China. The company reiterated its sales-growth forecast of 8% to 10%, excluding acquisitions and currency swings. "Danone has given reassuring guidance amid a difficult environment for the food sector,'' said Pierre Tegner, an analyst at Paris-based Oddo & Cie, with a 'buy' recommendation on the stock. Danone also said Chief Financial Officer Antoine Giscard d'Estaing will leave the company and be replaced by Pierre-Andre Terisse, a former executive with cigarette maker Altadis SA. The company didn't give a reason for the CFO's departure. Operating profit will grow at least 0.3% this year, Danone forecast. Shares rise Danone rose €1.97 (or 3.7%) to €56 at 9:25am in Paris trading, reducing its drop this year to about 9%. After surging 30% in 2005 and 2006, the shares stalled in 2007 as the trademark dispute with Hangzhou Wahaha Group erupted. Net income excluding one-time gains, such as the €3.1 billion booked from the cookie sale, increased 9% to €1.3 billion, or €2.71 per share, from €1.19 billion, or €2.44 per share, a year earlier. Sales from current operations rose 3.6% to €14.6 billion, beating the €13.2 billion estimated in the survey. Bloomberg calculated second-half earnings by subtracting half-year profit from the full-year figure. The figures "seem to indicate a very good fourth quarter and confirmation of strong pricing power,"' Natixis analysts (including Francois Digard) said in an emailed note. Numico integration Sales including two months of Numico revenue rose 5.9% to €12.78 billion from €12.07 million a year earlier. Danone's operating margin widened by 0.45 percentage points to 14.4%. "The group is signing off on a year marked by a number of headwinds,'' UBS AG analyst Eva Quiroga said in an emailed note, before the results were announced. "We believe important catalysts for share-price performance in 2008 to be a solution to the ongoing dispute with Wahaha,'' Danone's estranged Chinese partner, as well as the outlook for Numico, she wrote. Numico's sales were estimated to grow four times as quickly as the cookie business sold to Kraft. Danone nevertheless suffered a two-level credit rating downgrade by Moody's Corp. after the purchase amid concern the €12.3 billion price was too rich. "The smooth integration of our Numico business gives me particular confidence in the group's ability to accelerate its growth profile,'' Chief Executive Officer Franck Riboud said in the statement. Danone, which already sells Bledina baby food in its home market, bought the Dutch company to become Europe's biggest producer of nutrition for young children. Numico will also help it gain a foothold in Asia and the Middle East. Yogurt, Wahaha Annual sales climbed 12% at Danone's yogurt unit, its biggest contributor to revenue, as more consumers bought digestion-enhancing Activia yogurt and immunity-boosting milk drink Actimel. Operating margin at the unit widened by 0.62 percentage points to 14%, Danone said. Danone raised prices on its dairy products to counter surging costs, and plans farms from China to Saudi Arabia to better control milk production expenses. Revenue growth from beverages slowed to 4%, dragged down by cold weather in the third quarter and the trademark dispute with Wahaha. The two companies agreed in December to renew talks. Danone stopped including Wahaha sales in its accounts from the second half of 2007. "The fact that Danone deconsolidates Wahaha is positive," ING's Gulpers said. "It's the best option.'' Danone did not provide sales figure for the cookie division. Kraft, the maker of Oreo cookies and Toblerone chocolate bars, completed its $7.8 million purchase of the business in November. Danone plans to raise its annual dividend by 10% to €1.10 a share. This story originally appeared on <1> <1>: http://www.bloomberg.com

By Harry R Weber The Coca-Cola Company recently reported a 79% jump in fourth-quarter profit, and maintained its growth targets despite a slowing US economy, but has no plans to be more aggressive with its stock buybacks. The results posted by the world's largest beverage maker beat Wall Street expectations, but company shares slipped. The Atlanta-based company said it earned $1.21 billion, or 52 cents a share, for the three months ending 31 December, compared to a profit of $678 million, or 29 cents a share, a year earlier, when the company took a big impairment charge at its largest bottler. Excluding one-time items, Coca-Cola said it earned $1.36 billion, or 58 cents a share, in the quarter, ahead of the 55 cents a share analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were expecting. Revenue in the quarter rose 24% to $7.33 billion, compared to $5.93 billion recorded a year earlier. Company comment Looking ahead, Coca-Cola executives said the company is mindful of the slowing US economy. Chief Financial Officer Gary Fayard said the company is confident about its overall volume and growth targets. But he said Coca-Cola only plans to buy back $1 billion to $2 billion in company stock in 2008, about the same amount as in 2007. Fayard said the company wants to be conservative because of uncertainty in the credit markets. Chief Executive Neville Isdell told analysts during a conference call that the fourth quarter was "a very positive finish to 2007" that "capped an excellent year for The Coca-Cola Company." He said the company is doing well based on its growth goals: "We realise the journey is long, and we are by no means declaring victory," Isdell said, adding that Coca-Cola will respond to future "opportunities and challenges". Worldwide unit case volume was up 5% in the fourth quarter and 6% for all of 2007. Growth in several international markets was strong in the fourth quarter. Unit case volume in Coca-Cola's Africa group increased 7% in the quarter. It increased 18% in the quarter in India and 10% in Latin America. However, unit case volume in the company's key North America unit increased only 1% in the quarter. Unit case volume in the company's European Union group increased 2% in the quarter. That group's results for the fourth quarter were weighed down by a volume decline in Germany. President and Chief Operating Officer Muhtar Kent said Coca-Cola remains committed to creating strong, consistent growth in its home market, though he acknowledged that "international operations continue to be the primary driver of growth for the company". Muhtar Kent's role Kent has been named to succeed Isdell as CEO on 1 July. Isdell remains as chairman until Coke's annual meeting in April 2009. For all of 2007, Coca-Cola said it earned $5.98 billion, or $2.57 a share, compared to a profit of $5.08 billion, or $2.16 a share, for all of 2006. Full-year revenue rose 20% to $28.86 billion, compared to $24.09 billion recorded in 2006. Coca-Cola completed its $4.1 billion purchase of Vitaminwater maker Glaceau last June. Kent said Wednesday that Glaceau will be moving beyond the US market. "You will certainly see Glaceau in international markets in the very near future," Kent said. Coca-Cola shares fell 53 cents to $59.39 in Wednesday trading.