By Jill Park

Tesco's head of packaging Sonia Raja has called on the drinks industry to follow the laundry sector's example and work together in moving to concentrates where possible and making the best use of packaging.

 

Speaking at Wrap's DrinksPack'09 event in London yesterday (25 February), Sonia Raja told delegates that they should collaborate on developing packaging to "maximise returns and consumer acceptance".

 

She cited the laundry sector as an example, which has worked together in moving to concentrates with the support of Tesco. The company has used in-store communications to relay these packaging improvements and cost savings to the consumer.

 

"When you all move together it also makes it easier for retailers like us to facilitate the move," she explained. "When you have broad line messages then we will support you."

 

Tesco has already created a double-concentrate squash, which led to an uplift of squash sales of nearly 9% and a saving of 1,500 tonnes of plastic per annum.

 

Raja argued that there was scope to increase the use of concentrates in the drinks sector. However, some delegates expressed concern that there was a danger some consumers would use double the required dose of the product.

 

The Wrap event hosted a range of speakers including Rick Hindley of Alupro, Jim Fox of Coca-Cola Enterprises and Jill Ardagh of the British Soft Drinks Association, among others.

 

Asda packaging buyer Shane Monkman closed the event by agreeing with delegates' comments that the drinks industry could do more to maximise packaging.

From: packagingnews.co.uk