Page 88 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 4-2019

MARKET SURVEY
Market survey
volume (a drop of 2 per cent in cent of share from 2016, liquor ing lines in the North American
share from 2017). and ready-to-drink liquor (8 per region.
cent), and wine at 8 per cent.
SPIRITS, WINE, GLASS MANUFACTURING
FOOD & BEVERAGES IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FACILITIES
While shipments of beer bottles Imports of empty wine bottles In October 2018, Saverglass
to customers are down slightly, (in the standard 750 ml format) (saverglass.com) opened its
glass containers for liquor and and 12 oz. bottles increased, help- Guadalajara, Mexico, plant to
food increased. The food category, ing to meet customer demand in serve the growing tequila, mez-
reflecting an increase in shipments wine and key beverage catego- cal, rum and spirits customer
to customers, accounts for 20 per ries. Exports of glass containers markets across North America
cent of the industry’s volume, fol- decreased slightly from recent and the Caribbean. Plant pro-
lowed by non-alcoholic beverages highs in 2017, likely the result duction is focused on packaging
(10 per cent) which grew 1 per of new production manufactur- that can showcase these premium
products, both in white flint and
antique glass formats.
GLASS PACKAGING AND
MARKET TRENDS
Consumer attitudes – along
with growing market trends
around transparency, sustainabil-
ity and ocean-safe products and
specialty and premium goods –
present strong opportunities for
glass containers.
Consumers continue to rank
glass bottles number one for taste
– 90 per cent favour glass to best
preserve the taste or flavour of
the food and beverages, accord-
ing to an EcoFocus Worldwide
2017 survey. Glass is the most
neutral and natural of packaging
materials, with an almost zero rate
of chemical interaction, ensuring
product integrity, and preserving
and presenting flavour exactly as
intended.
With consumers more educated
and mindful about what they put
in their bodies, ensuring product
integrity is critical. Brands that
are making organic, clean label
and other “functional” products, a
growing market category, want a
natural and transparent package to
match. Unlike cans, drink boxes,
pouches, and other food and bev-
erage packaging, glass bottles and
jars are the only packaging that
doesn’t require a plastic or chemi-
cal liner that may affect the taste of
food – and consumer health.
As premiumization grows in
all categories – especially wine

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