The bag-in-box concept is catching on

The bag-in-box concept is moving from its traditional home of wine to other areas, as evidenced by the recent spate of new products that are presented in this format. A scour of Productscan this month reveals that an iced tea and 'gelatin shots' are using the bag-in-box format, while a new wine does away with the box completely, featuring only in a plastic pouch.

The Republic of Tea Brewed Iced Tea on Tap has been introduced in the US by the Republic of Tea and consists of a ready-to-drink iced tea housed in a vacuum-packed, airtight pouch, enclosed in a box with a pour spout. The new bag-in-box format could encourage consumers to drink iced tea at social gatherings as an alternative to alcoholic drinks.

Providing more evidence that the bag-in-box concept is expanding into new areas is the Zippers Pre-Made Gelatin Shots, recently launched in the US by BPNC. These consist of two types of cocktail flavored gelatin shots, Raz Mango and Purple Hooter, which are both presented in 1.75 liter bag-in-boxes. The packaging allows consumers to take as much of the cocktail as they want at one time, which contrasts with the company's other gelatin shot format which is only available in 50ml cup sizes. The company states that this adds another level of convenience to the gelatin shot market.

Meanwhile, The Company of Wine People has introduced a variation of the bag-in-box format in the UK - a wine that is sold in a plastic pouch. The Chenin Blanc Chardonnay variety of Arniston Bay White Wine is now available in 'e-pak' packaging, which is a 1.5 liter pouch with a tap. The company claims that the packaging offers a 'greener' alternative to glass bottles as it is lighter, with 90% less waste and less landfill than two glass bottles. The product is targeted at outdoor consumption, such as picnics and outdoor concerts, as it is non-breakable and easier to transport than glass bottles.

Moving to a different type of wine packaging, Boisset has launched the Mommesin Beaujolais Wine in an aluminum bottle, an unusual material in which to house wine. The wine is available in the US in three varieties: Grande Reserve Red, Macon-Villages Chardonnay and Sonoma Stage Pinot Noir. While this type of packaging has become common in the beer industry, it is still relatively unusual in the wine industry.

Cadbury Schweppes has also developed an innovative type of packaging for its Schweppes-branded Slimline Indian Tonic Water. The product has been launched in the UK with a top which doubles as a spirit measure, which could provide an effective way to reinforce the product's branding and association with spirits.

Finally, a novel flavor of tea has been launched in Germany by Berglandkraeuter. The Berglandkraeuter Kraeutertee brand of loose tea now comes in a pineapple and sage variety, an unusual flavor combination for a tea. The variant could therefore attract the interest of the more adventurous tea drinker.