This article, by Paul McLavin, Marketing Manager, NW Europe, describes how convenience in today's fast-pace world of instant gratification, is driving innovation, and how O-I have risen to the challenge. Besides ensuring that it delivers products safely to customers through the entire supply chain in the most sustainable manner, food and beverage packaging has to cater for convenience more than ever before. O-I has recently brought two exciting new products to market, which provide the greater convenience that consumers crave in two key segments: wine and food. The first is HELIX, an innovative cork-glass wine packaging solution for the popular premium, fast-turnaround still wine segment. The result of a four year partnership between O-I and cork producer Amorim, HELIX's development drew on both companies' innovation capabilities and expertise in serving global wine markets - gained from a heritage stretching back over a century. The new "twist to open" concept combines an ergonomically-designed cork stopper and a glass bottle with an internal thread finish in the neck, creating a high performing and sophisticated wine packaging solutions. The second initiative tackles one of the most frequently-asked consumer questions: "How do you get the last of the sauce out of the bottle?" O-I's VersaFlow Carafe is a glass packaging solution with the comfort of a carafe, which gives maximum protection and top convenience. Initially launched in the USA, this container is made for the European market at O-I's Holzminden site.
