Wine sold in cartons fastest growing sector

Driven by convenience, concern for the environment and value for money, more consumers are turning to carton-packed wine. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of wine in cartons is expected to be 4.1 percent over the next four years, compared to 2.5 percent for glass bottles over the same period.

In today’s economic climate wine companies are increasingly challenged in finding new ways to package and distribute their products. To cut costs, i.e. for transport and storage, and improve their environmental profile, i.e. by reducing total greenhouse gas emission, more and more winemakers are using cartons.

Over the last three years 116 new wine products were launched in Tetra Pak cartons, made from paper – a renewable and recyclable resource.

Some of the top wine companies worldwide are already packaging their wine in Tetra Pak cartons. These include:

• Constellation Brands (with brand Vendange)
• E&J Gallo Winery (with brand Turning Leaf)
• The Wine Group (with brands Foxhorn, Fish Eye and Glen Ellen)
• Peñaflor (with brands Algarves, Bordolino, Crespi, Casa de Troya, Castillo, Dorado, Facundo, Perle, Termidor and Tango Mio)

Jamie Oliver, the well-known TV celebrity chef, has also launched a range of restaurants in the UK which sell Italian wine packaged in Tetra Pak cartons.

In October 2008, Tesco launched wines packaged in one litre Tetra Prisma packages within its Value range as part of the supermarket's commitment to reduce packaging waste by 25 per cent by 2010.

Tetra Pak consumer research shows that carton packaging helps meet consumers' demand for modern, convenient and environmentally smart solutions.

Compared to traditional glass bottles cartons offer:

• Convenience: they are lighter, unbreakable and re-sealable, have a variety of sizes including single serve packs.
• Environment: they take up less space, reduce transport costs and carbon footprint.
• Cost: considerably less expensive than bottled wine, saving costs for the final consumer.

“Sensitive, natural products like wine need careful handling and treatment to preserve their unique flavor. Since 5000 B.C. wine has been stored in amphora, vats, wooden barrels and glass bottles. Aseptic cartons are the future of wine packaging - responding to today customers’ and consumers’ requirements whilst preserving the wine’s quality,” says Chris Kenneally, global marketing director, Tetra Pak.

1 July 2009 - Felicity Murray