Hockenheim, Germany. An elegant outfit for exquisite products: to preserve and underline their drinking chocolates’ exclusive taste experience, beckscocoa relies on rigid paper containers from Sonoco. The new single origin cocoas no. 5 and no. 7 expand the Munich-based cocoa manufacturer’s Especial series and are introduced to the market in a rigid paper container with a snap lid. The package label with hot gold foil embossing attracts attention and perfectly reflects the high quality of its content. This design stands out at the point of sale (POS) and allows for excellent brand management both on the shelf and in the consumer’s household.

The two types of fine beans used for the new single origin cocoas of beckscocoa’s Especial series have come a long way. Cocoa expert and beckscocoa founder, Michael Beck, travels the world’s cocoa-growing countries to find the best raw materials for his specialties. He made his latest finds in Africa and South America. Two newly discovered treasures provide the ideal basis for his newest creations: the fine cocoas Single-Origin Especial no. 5 Tanzania and Single-Origin Especial no. 7 Peru are now available in selected cafés, delis and online shops in 250-gram rigid paper containers. All in all, the company sells 14 cocoa specialties, chai latte products and chocolate dragees in 13 European countries. In terms of packaging, the Munich-based cocoa specialist leaves nothing to chance. It sells both new varieties in rigid paper containers, one of the leading packaging solutions for drinking powder products. Sonoco is the worldwide leading manufacturer of these high-quality convenience solutions. The company produces the rigid paper containers in Hockenheim, Germany, before they are delivered to beckscocoa where they are filled and sealed.

High quality and aroma protection

The highly decorated rigid paper containers are predominantly made of finished recycling paper. The multi-layered body with its thin aluminum inner liner offers best barrier properties and preserves the exquisite chocolate taste of beckscocoa’s products. An aluminum membrane seals the rigid paper containers and keeps the chocolate powder dry and pourable. The easy-to-open and recloseable snap lid provides high convenience and protects the product and its aroma, even after initial opening. “Rigid paper containers are the ideal packaging for sensitive goods like cocoa because they ensure long-lasting product freshness,“ says Rolf Regelmann, Sales Director at Sonoco Europe.

A packaging as exclusive as the product


The drinking chocolates are sold in rigid paper containers that are 110 millimeters tall, and have an 83 millimeter diameter and a tin bottom. The label is decorated with hot gold foil embossing – a gold-shimmering cover in the shape of a cocoa bean adorns the rigid paper container. “A detailed and aesthetically appealing label with shimmering highlights creates a very strong shelf presence. Contrary to conventional packaging solutions, the finished label stands out and transports the product’s high quality standard,” Regelmann says. Because the rigid paper container with its snap lid shuts tight, the consumer does not need to decant the product into another container. Product and packaging are perceived together and remain present at the consumer’s home on the shelf. This way, the elegant all-around decoration with its fine shimmering label provides major advantages in terms of brand management.

About Sonoco Europe

Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit www.sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $5 billion, the Company has 21,000 employees working in more than 330 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world’s best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Hockenheim, 14. April 2016. Superfood meets snack: Hans Freitag cookie and waffle bakery, located in Verde, Germany, relies on carefully selected ingredients for its latest biscuit creation. It was developed in collaboration with “Fit for Fun” wellness magazine and has been introduced to the market in Sonoco’s enclosable 150 gram rigid paper container. Thanks to the handy reclosing lid, the healthy snack retains its freshness for a particularly long time and provides maximum convenience.

The name says it all. The new multi-grain biscuits show that biscuits can be tasty and beneficial to health – thanks to the “magic ingredient” superfoods. Superfoods are a big trend, particularly for health-conscious eaters and vegans. They can be used in many different ways: as mix-at-home food additives, the so-called superfoods refine shakes or cereals – or satisfy the occasional little craving between meals.

Their use in convenience products like energy bars or biscuits, however, is comparatively new. With its “Fit for Fun” biscuit creations, Hans Freitag is one of the first in this segment to combine superfoods and biscuits to a modern snack. Since January 2016, “Fit for Fun” biscuits are commercially available in the varieties “Chia Seed & Hemp Seed”, “Cocoa Bean & Almond” and “Linseed & Sour Cherry”. In terms of packaging, the baked goods specialist from Verden with its 350 employees and an annual turnover of approximately 60 million euros, decided to use Sonoco’s rigid paper containers. The “Fit for Fun” biscuits’ packaging is manufactured at Sonoco’s site in Lübeck, and delivered to Hans Freitag, where they are filled and sealed.

Maximum guarantee of freshness and aroma

Foods with special storage requirements need the right type of packaging: “Guarantee of freshness and aroma and optimal product protection are important for lifestyle products. Our rigid paper container ensures both, and additionally offers maximum convenience to our customers,” says Rolf Regelmann, Sales Director at Sonoco Europe.

This is ensured by the rigid paper container’s multilayered sidewall. The can is 130 millimeters tall with a diameter of 83 millimeters. A thin aluminum inner liner and a tamper-evident closure made of aluminum membrane ensure excellent barrier properties. Additionally, a snap lid makes sure the can is reclosable at any time after initial opening. The product is not only kept fresh for much longer. The snap lid also makes the can the ideal packaging solution for on-the-go snacking of small portions. Consumers also prefer rigid paper containers as one of the most popular types of snack packaging. Sonoco is the leading global provider of these modern and rigid packaging solutions, and continuously invests in their development.

Attention at point-of-sale

The handy rigid paper container not only scores high compared to other packaging solutions in terms of convenience and product safety. “Compared to solutions like bags and pouches, the rigid paper container has a stronger shelf appeal. Its attractively labeled exterior makes for an eye-catching presence at point-of-sale,” Regelmann explains. The laminated all-around label provides a wide range of possibilities for individual designs and decoration, benefiting brand management. The label design can be changed quickly and cost-effectively. This makes the rigid paper container particularly suited for temporary promotional activities and product launches, like Hans Freitag’s biscuits. It enables the producer to realize small batches cost-effectively, while switching to new formats and filling levels without any additional costs.

About Sonoco Europe

Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit www.sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $5.0 billion, the Company has 20,800 employees working in more than 330 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world’s best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Hockenheim/Zwenkau, Germany. March 3 2016. For its line of 100% plant-based “Brotzeit” spreads, Tartex uses specially designed PermaSafe® packaging by Sonoco. This solution combines maximum convenience and long shelf life with an eye-catching appearance at the point of sale (POS). Allos Hof-Manufaktur produces its organic “Brotzeit” spreads at the company’s site in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Packaged in plastic containers with a wooden barrel design, the spreads have been sold in health food stores since October 2015.

Vegetarian and vegan lifestyles are a modern trend with a growing number of consumers looking for alternatives to meat on the supermarket shelves. A pioneer in vegan nutrition, Tartex introduced the first 100% plant-based spread more than 70 years ago. Today, the Tartex brand is produced by Allos Hof-Manufaktur, a subsidiary of the Wessanen Group based in the Netherlands. Specialising in healthy foods and sustainable food production, the company reported sales of EUR 433.5 million in 2015. Its German subsidiary, Allos Hof-Manufaktur, operates with around 250 employees at production sites in Drebber and in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany where the Tartex “Brotzeit” spreads are produced. Allos Hof-Manufaktur introduced the new packaging for these products in October 2015. Sold across Germany in organic supermarkets and health food stores, “Brotzeit” spreads are currently available in 19 different varieties ranging from mushroom, to green pepper, and chives. Thirteen of the Tartex varieties are exported to other countries.

Sonoco worked in close cooperation with Allos Hof-Manufaktur to develop a customised packaging solution based on the PermaSafe containers. The packaging for the plant-based alternative to spreadable meat products and cheeses is produced using in-mould labelling (IML) technology. Sonoco’s PermaSafe is a lightweight plastic packaging solution that guarantees long shelf life and offers attractive design options. It harnesses the advantages of plastic packaging for sterilized foods conventionally packaged in metal cans. Allos Hof-Manufaktur takes full advantage of the open design options available with IML packaging. The faceted shape of the new 125g containers replicates a tiny barrel made from wood slats. This structure enhances rigidity and reduces the amount of material required. Sonoco manufactures the plastic packaging at its production facility in Zwenkau near Leipzig, Germany.

High convenience and striking appearance

Designed for maximum convenience, the user-friendly lid is easy to open and resealable. A die-cut aluminium membrane seals the packaging. “After sterilisation, the spreads keep in the PermaSafe container for twelve months without refrigeration,” says Andreas Rothschink, Sales Director Plastic Packaging at Sonoco. “This makes IML packaging a modern and consumer-friendly alternative to metal cans.”

The injection-moulded label features a special matte finish developed by Sonoco for a natural, paper-like feel. These qualities underscore the naturalness of the product and give it an appetising appearance. With the IML process, the polypropylene containers are manufactured and labelled in a single operation. Key advantages include the container’s eye-catching appearance at the POS and the option of wrap-around labelling. IML is also beneficial in terms of recycling, because there is no need to separate materials. This is a compelling argument for customers at organic supermarkets and health food stores.

About Sonoco Europe
Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit www.sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $5.0 billion, the Company has 20,800 employees working in more than 330 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world’s best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Hockenheim/Zwenkau, December 14, 2015 – Swiss yoghurt is becoming a top seller in Asia and the Middle East, whether it is pineapple yoghurt in Asia or strawberry flavour in the United Arab Emirates. The Emmi Group headquartered in Lucerne, Switzerland relies on Sonoco’s in-mould labelling (IML) solutions to pack its about 50 different yoghurt varieties and flavours. These high-quality packages are produced using thin-walled injection techniques and replace the previous deep-drawn cups with self-adhesive labels.

Emmi is the largest milk processor in Switzerland with some 5,300 employees (adjusted for part-time working) and is one of Europe’s premium dairies. In its home market, the company focuses on the development, production and marketing of a full range of dairy and fresh products as well as the production, ageing and trade of primarily Swiss cheeses. Outside Switzerland, Emmi concentrates on brand concepts and specialities in European and North American markets, and increasingly on emerging markets outside of Europe. Emmi exports its products from Switzerland into more than 60 countries.

Every year, Sonoco’s packaging plant located in Zwenkau, Germany delivers several million cups for Emmi Yoghurt to Ostermundigen, Switzerland. Emmi fills about 50 varieties of yoghurt into the 100-gram polypropylene cups. The Swiss dairy exports 9 out of 10 cups to other countries and the trend is increasing. Especially in Asia and the Middle East, the demand for Swiss yoghurt is on the rise. In these markets, detailed information on the products is particularly important – a field in which Sonoco’s IML cups offer key advantages. The all-around designed packages increase the decoration area by 25 percent, offering plenty of space for product information. As with all fresh products, hygiene is also a major issue – one that begins with the package. The thin-walled injection process used by Sonoco ensures a high standard of hygiene. Prior to injection, the granular base material is melted at approximately 200 degrees Celsius, which is an ideal temperature for food packaging. The entire production at the Sonoco site near Leipzig is certified according to the BRC-IoP standard for food packaging and is subject to strict quality management.

“Our comprehensive control plan convinced Emmi to contract Sonoco,” says Andreas Rothschink, Sales Director Plastic Packaging, Sonoco. “We utilize multi-level camera inspection technology to match the labels on the bottom with the ones on the banderole and to control positioning accuracy, spiral misalignment and if the sealing edge is fully injected.” Furthermore, highly pigmented sunlight protection labels preserve the product against strong UV-radiation prevailing in many Asian regions.

Sonoco produces plastic packages at its Zwenkau plant near Leipzig, Germany as well as in Bradford/UK. Production focuses on cups, cans and oval containers with volumes from 100 millilitres. Sonoco manufactures with high-performance equipment, using the latest tool and robotic technology. The IML process is a relatively new packaging technology and has the main advantage of combining manufacturing and decorating in a single operation. Another benefit is that labels applied during the injection process are usually made of the same plastic substance as packages, so there is no need to separate materials for recycling. Adhesives are unnecessary because both components are melted together during processing.

In-mould labelling opens up a wide range of design possibilities for decorating packages, producing outstanding tactile and visual effects, and even highly realistic photographic images. Labels are available with a matt or glossy surface, and they provide additional product protection against UV rays and light. These types of labels can be printed using either offset or gravure printing.

About Sonoco Europe

Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit www.sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and display and packaging services. With annualized net sales of approximately $5.0 billion, the Company has 20,800 employees working in more 330 facilities in 34 countries, serving many of the world’s best-known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2014/2015 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.