O-I EXTENDS ITS RANGE TO ENHANCE PRESENTATION OF PREMIUM BEERS

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI), the world’s largest glass container manufacturer has introduced a new bottle to help brewers differentiate their premium and craft beers. The new standard supports the authentic, craft image many brewers are seeking for their premium products. The design retains the deep push up base and shape of a champagne bottle with the convenient 500ml capacity, 300g weight and 26mm crown closure familiar to most UK and continental brewers. This ensures it can run along existing filling lines with very little adaptation of plant settings.

Scott Gibb, O-I Commercial Lead in the UK, says, “According to the Marston’s Premium Bottled Ale Report 2014, the category rose by £90m to £420m in the past year and could reach £1bn by end of the decade. These new beers have to differentiate themselves and brewers are on the lookout for innovative, brand-building packaging to present their products to the consumer in perfect condition. Our new development provides premium quality and appearance in a very accessible format.”

From an environmental standpoint, not only are the new containers much lighter than traditional champagne bottles, but they are produced in the UK, reducing imports of glass and using up more domestically recycled glass.

www.o-i.com