WITH CSD CONSUMPTION ON THE DECLINE, THE GROWTH OF NON-CSDs IS FORCING BEVERAGE PACKAGERS TO EMBRACE UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES TO MAINTAIN CONTAINER CONSISTENCY.

Anyone over 25 years old can remember the peak of the “Cola Wars.” The phrase was coined in the 1980s and 90s to describe the mutually-targeted marketing and advertising campaigns between Coca- Cola of Atlanta, Ga., and Pepsi-Cola of Purchase, N.Y.

A close up of a liquid nitrogen doser.

The two largest beverage companies in North America each wanted to convince consumers that their particular carbonated potion was consumer preferred. While taste is ultimately a personal choice, there was no disputing the fact that cola was king. From year-to-year, soft drink consumption grew. As recently as 1998, carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) continued to show no less than three percent annual volume growth.

In the year immediately before the turn of the century however and the four years since 2000, the growth of CSD consumption dropped. Regardless, CSDs still ended each year with plus volume growth according to beverage industry watchdog and newsletter Beverage Digest.

2005 marked the first time in at least two decades that Americans bought fewer CSDs than the year before. Sales volume fell .2 percent in the United States from 2004, as consumers, perhaps seeking a healthier beverage alternative, began consuming more waters, teas, dairy-based beverages and sports drinks like PowerAde and Gatorade.

While the percent decline is not significant, the trend has opened eyes amongst major CSD companies and brands.

Beverage companies, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, have seen the declining trend in regards to CSD consumption and have ramped up non-CSD efforts to meet the growing demand.

From a packaging machinery perspective the rise in non-CSDs has fillers searching for ways to maintain
stability in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and thin walled aluminum cans, without the internal pressure from carbonation.

These lightweight containers can collapse when stacked in warehouse or when transported
by the caseload.

One solution is to create thicker walled bottles, but the rising cost of resin makes this resolution counterproductive at best.

The formula that is becoming popular as a means of ensuring stability, while also extending shelf life, is liquid nitrogen-dosing systems.

Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is dosed into the headspace of a beverage container immediately before closure. The cold liquid nitrogen is dispensed at -320°F, which turns into nitrogen gas and rapidly expands at room temperature, creating pressure.

Since nitrogen is an inert gas it doesn’t dissolve in the beverage and is released once the container is
reopened.

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Reprinted from PMT Magazine © September 2006