Scholle Packaging wins two Ameristar Awards

Northlake, Illinois- May 1, 2010- Scholle Packaging, the Pioneer of Bag-In-Box™, won two 2009/2010 Ameristar Awards from Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP). Each year IOPP recognizes packages that exhibit superior innovation, product protection, performance, less environmental impact and economics.   

Scholle Packaging’s winning packages included KeyKeg® and Jerribox®. KeyKeg, the revolutionary one-way keg, won an Ameristar Award in the beverage category. Jerribox for liquid laundry detergent won an Ameristar Award in the household care category.

“Scholle Packaging is honored to win two Ameristar Awards” remarked Jim Kolar, Business Development Director. “Our pioneering spirit, customer focus and dedication to responsible packaging solutions drive Scholle’s package innovations that serve new and current end-markets.”

KeyKeg, developed by Lightweight Containers, utilizes a Scholle Packaging inner bag and is ideal for beer and other carbonated beverages. KeyKeg offers many benefits including, extra protection during transportation, longer preservation, increased marketing opportunities and clear logistical cost reductions.

Jerribox®, for liquid laundry detergents, saves approximately 62% plastic usage compared to the plastic bottles that are currently the industry standard. The Jerribox has two key components, the exterior carton and the delivery system. The delivery system is composed of a Scholle Packaging inner plastic bag, plastic collar and a push-button dispensing tap. Once filled the rigid collar secures the inner bag to the exterior carton, providing support and easy access to the dispensing tap. The entire delivery system is provided to the processor in one pre-assembled compact cartridge.

Scholle Packaging members will be attending the Ameristar Awards Dinner and Ceremony hosted by IOPP, May 18th in Rosemont, IL.

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ABOUT SCHOLLE PACKAGING:
Scholle Packaging’s founder, William Scholle, invented bag-in-box packaging in 1947. Today the company is the world leader in bag-in-box liquid packaging for the food, beverage, and industrial markets. With manufacturing locations on five continents and products that are sold in more than 60 countries, Scholle Packaging delivers high-quality packaging products and excellent customer service around the world.

More on IOPP: www.iopp.org
More on KeyKeg: www.keykeg.com
More on Scholle Packaging and Jerribox: http://www.scholle.com/

The Jerribox® has two key components, the exterior carton and the delivery system. The delivery system is composed of the inner plastic bag, plastic collar and push-button dispensing tap. The inner two-ply bag structure is a polyethylene/nylon blend. Once filled the rigid collar secures the inner bag to the exterior carton, providing support and easy access to the dispensing tap. The entire delivery system is provided to the processor in one pre-assembled compact cartridge.

The 150 liquid-ounce 100-load package is supplied by Scholle Packaging of Northlake, IL. According to Scholle Packaging’s Market Segment Director, Stephen Lopiano, “Vaska came to us asking for a new approach to packaging that guarantees an effective delivery of laundry liquids while being environmentally considerate. We are proud to help Vaska introduce the Jerribox®, the next generation package to the laundry category.”

Julia Fry, CEO of Vaska, sees the introduction of the Jerribox® as a necessary step. “Vaska’s approach to manufacturing is to create the safest, most effective laundry care products, and packaging is a key component. Scholle was a great collaborator because they share our environmental goals and our focus on performance.”

In addition to the Jerribox®, VASKA’s laundry line includes 48 oz and 96 oz lavender scented and unscented herbatergent™, oxybleach (non-chlorine), herbasoft fabric softener and spotoff spot remover. Many of VASKA’s products carry the EPA’s DfE seal and all are biodegradable and gray water safe.

Vaska is currently filling the Jerribox® with its lavender scented herbatergent. The Company plans to make the Jerribox® available to other retailers in 2010.

* Comparison derived from Simplified Environmental Impacts Calculator provided by The Dow Chemical Company.

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ABOUT SCHOLLE PACKAGING:

Scholle Packaging, The Pioneer of Bag-In-Box™, is the world leader in bag-in-box packaging for the food, beverage, and industrial markets. With manufacturing locations on five continents and products that are sold in more than 60 countries, Scholle Packaging delivers high-quality packaging products and excellent customer service around the world.

“Scholle Packaging trusts that this change will help achieve future goals and make the business a success with strong focus on customer satisfaction, quality products and services, health and safety and by providing a complete solution,” stated Michael Edwards, Vice President, Scholle Packaging Europe and Asia-Pacific.

This name change benefits customers of both Scholle Europe and Flextainer SAS. Now customers will be able to utilize the resources of both companies. Scholle Europe provides superior tap and film techonologies. Flextainer SAS specializes in the development and manufacture of systems and accessories for liquid packaging, particularly in the wine industry. Flextainer SAS is known for the commercialization of a revolutionary form-seal-fill technology for in-line bag making and filling.

Scholle Europe France SAS will continue to support Scholle Packaging’s ongoing global commitment to bring customers the very best flexible packaging solutions.

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ABOUT SCHOLLE PACKAGING:

Scholle Packaging’s founder, William Scholle, invented bag-in-box packaging in 1947. Today the company is the world leader in bag-in-box packaging for the food, beverage, and industrial markets. With manufacturing locations on five continents and products that are sold in more than 60 countries, Scholle Packaging delivers high-quality packaging products and excellent customer service around the world.

 Drinktec is the world’s largest drink technology trade show. The Beverage Innovation Awards 2009 showcased beverage product and package submissions from over 40 countries. Over 340 products and packages competed to receive the winning spot in one of 24 categories.

Andy Halcarz, Business Development Manager for Scholle Packaging, commented on KegKeg’s win: “Receiving the award is great recognition from our peers in the industry. This award speaks to the value and benefits of KeyKeg packaging and we are pleased that it was acknowledged as 2009’s best alternative package.”

Lightweight Containers partnered with a number of companies, known as the KegKeg Consortium, to develop the KeyKeg. The KeyKeg is a revolutionary one-way keg, ideal for beer and other carbonated beverages. KeyKeg offers many benefits including, extra protection during transportation, reduced CO2 footprint, longer preservation, increased marketing opportunities and clear logistical cost reductions.

Scholle Packaging is the official KeyKeg distributor in North America.

April 13, 2009, Oroville Calif.—California Olive Ranch (COR) has introduced a new food service package for its award-winning, certified extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) designed specifically for the food service industry. The innovative technology utilizes the wine industry’s bag-in-the-box design wherein the bag collapses as the olive oil is dispensed. This prevents oxygen from coming in contact with the oil improving product freshness, consistency in flavor, while increasing the shelf life of the oil up to a year. Available now in a 2.5-gallon size, the 5-gallon package will begin shipping in December. California Olive Ranch will ship each of its EVOO varieties in this new package—Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki—as well as the California Olive Ranch proprietary EVOO blend.

To improve on its previous packaging and provide the food industry with a better packaging alternative, COR collaborated with Scholle Packaging for over a year and solicited input from dozens of food service customers, chefs, buyers, and distributors. The new packaging meets several goals: First and foremost, the package promotes and preserves the freshness and flavor of the oil. Second, it is significantly more environmentally friendly than the previous packaging. Third, the package is easier to use, takes up less room, and reduces freight costs per unit versus the previous packaging. “There is increased demand for high quality California extra virgin olive oil, and we kept hearing from our food service customers about the need for a California product that would be better for the environment,” says Claude S. Weiller, COR’s vice-president of sales & marketing.

Features and benefits of the new collapsible packaging compared to COR’s previous packaging:

• Collapsible Bag: The collapsible bag, combined with a 100% nitrogen flush, protects the freshness and flavor consistency of the oil for up to 12 months
• Improved Environmental Footprint: The 100% recyclable corrugate box is made up of 75% recycled materials and requires 6% less material
• More Compact: 6% more compact for easier storage, more efficient shipping, and lower per-unit shipping costs
• Improved Spout: Improved spout design is easier to use, virtually eliminates drips and waste
• Visual Instructions: Step-by-step, illustrated usage instructions accommodates the language needs of all restaurant staff
• Informative Labeling: Food-grade product labels can be scanned by UPC readers and now contain standard food label nutrition information

Since its first harvest in 2001, the EVOO olive oils from California Olive Ranch continually earn high praise and receive numerous awards. Prized among chefs and food service professionals, retail sizes are also available. Distributed nationally, California Olive Ranch certified extra virgin olive oils generally are priced lower than other branded products of comparable flavor and quality.

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About California Olive Ranch

Founded in 1998, California Olive Ranch (COR) and its state-of-the-art mill and processing facility are headquartered on the original 700-acre olive ranch in Oroville, California. Pioneering the super high density system and mechanized harvesting of farming olives in California, COR adheres to the highest quality control standards from the field to the bottle. The result is an abundant, world-class, extra virgin olive oil with a consistently fresh, fruity, aromatic, and award winning flavor profile. For more information, please visit www.californiaoliveranch.com.

About Scholle Packaging

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Scholle Packaging delivers packaging solutions for retail, institutional and industrial markets. Scholle leverages its global resources to supply innovative packaging technology to the global marketplace. Scholle is committed to enhancing our customer’s products by providing unprecedented innovation, quality and customer service. www.scholle.com

About the California Olive Oil Council and its Seal Certification

The California Olive Oil Council (COOC) was founded in 1992. The COOC is a non-profit trade and marketing association whose purpose is to promote the growing of olives and the production of olive oil in California. The COOC supports certified olive oil standards and provides grower, producer and consumer education. The COOC is dedicated to promoting fresh, quality extra virgin olive oils made in California. Through its Seal Certification program, the COOC helps everyone from home chefs to restaurants find guaranteed extra virgin olive oils for their kitchens. For more information, visit www.cooc.com.

The KeyKeg® offers breweries, distributors and outlets new marketing opportunities, cost reduction and less environmental impact than steel kegs.

February 23, 2009, Northlake, IL.—Scholle Packaging, the pioneers of bag-in-box, are proud to announce an official partnership with Lightweight Containers as the sole supplier of the inner packaging technology behind the revolutionary KeyKeg®.

The KeyKeg is a high-tech one-way keg that offers breweries, distributors and outlets new marketing opportunities, cost reduction and less environmental impact than steel kegs. The KeyKeg with the universal KeyKeg coupler can be connected to every conventional dispensing system and is available in either a 20 or 30 liter size.

Lightweight Containers partnered with a number of companies, known as the KegKeg Consortium to develop the KeyKeg. The KeyKeg system consists of a PET ball which houses a Scholle bag specifically designed to protect and dispense beverages like beer, carbonated wines and soft drinks. Beverages are dispensed by pressurizing the space between the bag and the ball.

“Scholle’s known unique and extensive development capabilities and track record made it the logical partner for this project” states Jan Veenendaal, CEO Lightweight Containers and chairman of the KeyKeg consortium.

Conré Oostrom, managing Director Scholle Europe adds, “We created the inner bag design explicitly to address the unique challenges of the beer and wine markets. The high-oxygen barrier, flavor and CO2 protection properties of Scholle film ensure a shelf life of over 9 months. These same properties protect beverages while dispensing, allowing slower consumption and freshness several weeks after tapping. The complete evacuation technology of Scholle bags ensures no air is trapped in the keg during filling and beer is not wasted during dispensing”.

The KeyKeg is a “sell and forget” package solution which offers the following advantages to breweries:

• Lower transport costs. The lightweight KeyKeg allows over 25 percent extra beer per transport compared to steel kegs.
• No return costs. One-way kegs mean no return shipment; no lost keg replacement costs and no cleaning costs.
• Key Keg lessons environmental impact by offering lower transport and minimum use of raw materials. It is totally recyclable and has a high energy value. The KeyKeg was designed for the needs of the 21st century!
• KeyKeg creates opportunities to present draft beer to markets far away from the breweries; even where currently no distribution exists.
• Beer stays fresh even weeks after broaching and, therefore, offers opportunities for special beers

See the KeyKeg at the upcoming Craft Brewers Conference, April 22-23 at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA, the Drinktech in Muenchen, September 14-19 and the Great American Beer Festival, September 24-26 at the Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO . Or, find out more about KeyKeg by visiting www.keykeg.com.

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ABOUT SCHOLLE PACKAGING:

Scholle Packaging’s founder, William Scholle, invented bag-in-box packaging in 1947. Today the company is the world leader in bag-in-box packaging for the food, beverage, and industrial markets. With manufacturing locations on five continents and products that are sold in more than 60 countries, Scholle Packaging delivers high-quality packaging products and excellent customer service around the world. To find out more about Scholle Packaging visit www.scholle.com.

ABOUT THE KEYKEG CONSORTIUM:

The strong consortium consists of well-known companies, each with a long track record in the beverage world. Every partner has its own role in the consortium. Together the companies guarantee the continuity and quality of the KeyKeg concept. Contact Robbert-Jan Knoppers at r.knopper@lightweight-containers.com to find out more about the KeyKeg Consortium.

The KeyKeg Consortium:

Schoeller Arca Systems: Production assembly and stock holding
Scholle Packaging: Inner bag assembly
SIPA Italy: Blow-molding machinery and tooling
M+Ff KEG-Technik: Filling machines
Lightweight Containers: Sales and Marketing
DSI : Dispense Systems.
M+F KEG-Technik: Filling machines
DSI: Dispensing systems

From boutique to global, wineries are recognizing the benefits of bag-in-box packaging.

Northlake, IL, January 2009 — Wineries across the United States are boxing wine for many sound business and environmental reasons, including increasing wine sales, reducing costs, delivering better value to consumers and even to package sulfite-free, organic wine so that it stays fresh after being opened!

The first step for wineries choosing bag-in-box packaging is to reach out to Scholle Packaging for assistance. Scholle Packaging provides detailed and hands-on practical advice on finding and collaborating with qualified bag-in-box co-packers, corrugate box producers, graphic arts, and marketing firms.

The attraction for Leon Pierce to start packaging bag-in-boxes was affordability. In materials costs alone, producing a 9-liter case of three 3-liter Le Cask bag-in-boxes is 75 percent less expensive than a case of twelve 750-ml glass bottles.

Leon Pierce, the owner of Le Cask, uses Scholle Packaging’s hand-filler to fill up approximately 1,500 bags a day. Production of Le Cask is currently at the 12,000-box level, but Pierce expects that sales will keep pace with the 49 percent retail sales growth of the category shown in 2008.

Affordability and technical winemaking expertise brought Lancaster, Pennsylvania, L & R Wine Company and Tamanend Winery owners Richard Carey and Linda Jones McKee to making bag-in-box part of their business. Tamanend Winery produces eight different fine wines that retail from $13 to $25 per 750-ml bottle. 75 percent of their wine is sold direct to consumers from their offsite tasting room and winery in 750-ml glass bottles and 25 percent in 3-liter and 1.5-liter bag-in-boxes. Tamanend plans to expand distribution for their Wild Wines boxed wines in 2009, and anticipates that their sales of boxed wines will become a larger percentage of production.

Carey uses Scholle’s TrueFill 900 filler and invested in a Velcorin® dosing machine, which assures that all wines boxed by L & R are completely free of contaminates. Velcorin is used in low dosages against a broad range of yeast, bacteria, and mold, and

does not affect wine taste, bouquet, or color. Carey estimates that the cost of packaging for a case of three 3-liter bag-in-boxes is half that of a traditional case of twelve 750-ml glass bottles. He notes that there are additional savings through economies of shipping as production grows.

In Kennewick, Washington, Badger Mountain Winery owner Bill Powers wanted to produce Washington State’s first organically certified wines. That quest led to the bag-in-box as a unique format to supplement traditional 750 ml business. Always a leader in his field, Powers realized that the bag-in-box packaging offered a great way to assure that his wines stayed as fresh as possible.

The collapsible bag allows wines with no added sulfites to stay fresher longer than a bottle once opened. Badger Mountain’s 3-L boxed wines are distributed in Washington and by twenty-two distributors throughout the U.S.

Badger Mountain Winery’s National Sales Director, Mickey Dunn, attributes the relatively quick success of their boxed wines to the fact that they are certified organic, offer great quality for the price, and are packaged in a unique way. On-premise sales of a by-the-glass pour from the Powers Cabernet Sauvignon box have been positive in Seattle.

To ensure the freshest wine, Badger Mountain/Powers Winery fills their boxes for just-in-time delivery. They are very proactive in rotating product in the market. They use a unique code on each box, which includes a filling date, and willingly share this information with their distribution partners to assure that all of their boxed wines are sold at their best.

Joel Tefft, of Tefft Cellars in Outlook, Washington, was one of the first Washington wineries to jump into the bag-in-box business in 2000. He believed that the packaging would mean more wine sales. Wine lovers would be able to drink a good glass of wine each night instead of saving a bottle for special occasions.

The winery currently bags about 2,500 to 3,000 gallons a month, and up to 300 boxes an hour with their Scholle equipment. Tefft is well-equipped to handle new projects as a co-packer, and has invested in a box erector and several fillers. Bag-in-box wines make up half of Tefft’s current 20,000-case business.

This successful winery does no traditional advertising. Tefft Cellar wines are sold up and down the WA I-5 corridor and in nearby Idaho as well as through their busy tasting room. Tefft estimates that the packaging cost of their 4-liter bag-in-box is $2.40 ($7.20 per 12-L case) compared to $1.25 a conventional glass bottle ($15.00 per 9-L case), over 50% less expensive.

2009 promises to have more boxed wines available across the U.S. Wineries from boutique to global are recognizing the aforementioned benefits as well as the green attributes of bag-in-box packaging, which includes up to 91 percent less materials going into landfills as waste and a up to a 76 percent reduction in greenhouse gases as compared to an equivalent amount of wine packaged in glass bottles with corks. Consumers typically enjoy a savings in price with wine casks, are concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases, and appreciate boxed wines’ singularly unique benefit of keeping the wine fresh for weeks after opening. New brands are in development and will be launching throughout 2009.

Scholle Packaging is a world leader in bag-in-box packaging for the food, beverage, and industrial markets. With manufacturing locations on five continents and products that are sold in more than 60 countries, Scholle Packaging delivers high-quality packaging products and excellent customer service around the world.

Northlake, IL, January 2009 — Scholle Packaging, the global leader in development, manufacturing, and sales of flexible packaging solutions, is unveiling a new website, About Boxed Wine, at this year’s 2009 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California, January 27 through 30. The website is targeted exclusively at the wine industry and wine drinkers, and has information, videos, blogs, and forums about how to make, sell, and enjoy boxed wines. The website will be shown in the Boxed Wine Lounge at Scholle’s booth during the Symposium as well as online.

AboutBoxedWine.com is designed to be the definitive resource on boxed wine packaging, also known as bag-in-box and wine casks, for wineries, distributors, retailers, restaurateurs, and consumers. It is designed to be a hub about the exploding packaging category, which saw growth in retail sales of 49% in 2008 and 44% in 2007. Given the increasing popularity of boxed wines among wine drinkers and wineries, Scholle Packaging felt the time was right for a comprehensive website devoted to the innovative packaging.

For wineries, there are how-to’s, technical information, and resource guides to help those interested in starting a boxed wine brand, expand production, or sell them.

For the wine industry sales channel constituents, there are sales tips, pricing guidelines, and templates for sales support materials such as shelftalkers and table tents.

Consumers interested in learning about boxed wines as well as fans will find information, videos, and more on who are making boxed wines and how to find them, plus discussion forums and guest blogs about wine in general and boxed wines in particular.

More social networking and web 2.0 functions will be forthcoming as the website is expanded, allowing those interested to share photos, videos, comments, and more. A guest blogger series is planned as well.

Bag-in-box wines have been around for decades, are popular in many countries such as Australia, Sweden, and Norway, and are one of the fastest growing packaging segments in the U.S. wine industry. Many wineries launching boxed wines cite benefits such as 91% less packaging materials used and 77% reduction in greenhouse gases in packing and shipping compared to an equivalent amount in traditional glass bottles and cork stoppers as incentives. Wine drinkers benefit from its singularly unique advantage of keeping wine fresh after opening for several weeks.

The website was a collaborative effort between Scholle Packaging, Headstand Media, who designed and implemented the website, and Tincknell & Tincknell, who drafted the project specs and wrote the site’s copy. Headstand Media (www.headstandmedia.com) is a web 2.0 design and new media company based in Chicago, IL. Tincknell & Tincknell (www.marketingwine.com) is a wine sales and marketing consulting firm based in Healdsburg, CA.

Scholle Packaging’s founder, William Scholle, invented bag-in-box packaging in 1947. Today the company is the world leader in bag-in-box packaging for the food, beverage, and industrial markets. With manufacturing locations on five continents and products that are sold in more than 60 countries, Scholle Packaging delivers high-quality packaging products and excellent customer service around the world.

Packaging that adds brand value by increasing consumer convenience

Northlake, IL December 29, 2008 – Scholle Packaging, the bag-in-box pioneer, introduces the FridgeCubeTM. This on-tap, ready-to-drink beverage package offers consumers convenience; while creating value for brand owners.

The FridgeCube is a multi-serve bag-in-box package. Featuring the patented FlexTap® push-button dispensing tap, the FridgeCube is easy for everyone to use. Once the FlexTap is set into place, drinks are dispensed by simply pushing a button. Parents appreciate the spill-proof package that allows children to serve themselves without picking up or pouring from the package.

The Scholle FridgeCube has a more compact footprint than traditional packaging of equal volume. Perfect for the home, recreational events, and family gatherings, the package is robust, spill-proof and convenient to take anywhere.

“I love the shape. Because it is compact and square, it lines up in the refrigerator and is convenient for everyone.” one mom said during a test panel, “Everybody can use the tap; it’s easy to push and automatically shuts off when you let go. My kids 7, 9 and 12 are much more comfortable using the tap than pouring from a bottle.”

Peter Messacar, Business Manager, Scholle Packaging commented, “Over the past few years we’ve seen tremendous growth in sales of premium boxed wines. We believe this growth is the direct result of quality wines offered in a more consumer-friendly package. By combining the proven features from our wine package with the technology of aseptic packaging, we are able to present these same benefits for ready-to-drink beverages.”

For more information about the Scholle FridgeCube visit fridgecube.com.

To learn more about Scholle Packaging, please visit us at scholle.com.

Scholle is upgrading its abilities to meet its customers’ current and future needs.

Breda, The Netherlands, October 2008 — In response to continued growth in its business and to enhance manufacturing efficiency and HACCP performance, Scholle Europe has relocated its UK Bag-in-Box operation to a brand new site in Gateshead (UK). The address details of the new location are:

Scholle Europe Ltd, Unit 12A, Follingsby Close, Follingsby Park, Wardley, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 8YF +44 (0)191 419 3900

After the recent doubling of the manufacturing and logistics operation at the European headquarters in Breda (Holland), this is the next step to further cement Scholle’s position as market-leader in Europe for Bag-in-Box solutions. With uncompromising commitment to its customers, Scholle is upgrading its abilities to meet its customers’ current and future needs, while at the same time facilitating its cost-saving lean enterprise processes.

“Value for our customers is one of the core principles of the Scholle family and the Corporation they created. As such, we are continually dedicated to providing innovative products that are practical and economical solutions for our customers’ needs,” says Conré Oostrom, Managing Director of Scholle Europe. “Illustrations of Scholle’s latest advances include new aseptic flexible packaging technologies, and Jerribox®, an environmentally responsible alternative to rigid pails.”