Smucker Quality Beverages to package three major brands in paperboard ring carriers from International Paper; announcement marks first major nationwide use of environmentally friendly can carriers

Business Wire, Sept 13, 1995

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 1995--Smucker Quality Beverages today announced the introduction of an environmentally friendly paperboard ring carrier in place of plastic beverage rings on more than 50 of its nationally distributed natural carbonated juice beverages.

Three major Smucker brands -- the R.W. Knudsen Family(R), Santa Cruz Natural(R) and After the Fall(R) -- will soon reach store shelves in six-packs linked by International Paper's Triton(TM) paperboard rings. The new packaging will be introduced at the Natural Products Expo East on Sept. 16 in Baltimore and rolled out in the eastern part of the U.S. immediately through regional chains including Bread & Circus, Whole Foods and Fresh Fields and all other natural food stores. West coast distribution is scheduled for early 1996.

Smucker Quality Beverages were developed as healthy alternatives to artificially flavored and sweetened carbonated soft drinks. Sweetened only with real fruit juice, they contain no added sugar, corn syrup, preservatives, caffeine, artificial flavors or colors.

"We selected the Triton carrier for several reasons," says Smucker Quality Beverages General Manager Bill Knudsen. "We have a company policy to reduce waste whenever possible. For instance, much of the pulp from fruit we press is fed to livestock rather than discarded. We also have an extensive company recycling program. So changing to the paperboard rings is an extension of that commitment."

The innovative Triton carrier has won praise from industry, environmental and wildlife groups. Derived from a renewable resource, it can be recycled with corrugated material and biodegrades over time. In addition, it poses no danger to wildlife from entrapment or ingestion.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has endorsed the paperboard carrier. "Thousands of ducks and other waterfowl potentially will be saved by this one simple change in packaging," said John O. Foran, ASPCA executive vice president.

Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, ASPCA senior vice president and science advisor added, "I've personally seen and rescued birds from the grip of plastic beverage rings. Experience and history have shown that plastic rings do not break down in landfills or water and, unfortunately, consumers are simply not in the habit of cutting them apart before disposal. This results in the tragic and needless strangulation of wildlife. Improperly disposed of plastic rings are 'six-pack land mines' waiting to kill waterfowl and other animals," he added. The paperboard ring carrier has also received favorable comment from organizations like the Center for Marine Conservation, EarthKind International and the National Audubon Society.

SQB's Knudsen cited other reasons for selecting Triton. "Not only is it an environmentally responsible product, but the paperboard carrier gives our products an attractive billboard effect with its full-color printable surface. It also allows for a great deal of product information and promotion, in plain view and easily updated. And frankly, we like the distinction of being the first brand manufacturer of canned beverages to bring products to market in this unique carrier."

Part of a system that includes source-reduced shipping trays and application machinery, the Triton paperboard carrier won the 1994 "Innovator of the Year" award from Food & Beverage Marketing magazine, the 1995 Packaging Design Award from Beverage World, gold and excellence awards (for bottle and can applications) in the 1995 National Paperboard Competition and was honored with a 1995 Food Processing magazine award.

International Paper, headquartered in Purchase, N.Y., is a major supplier of paperboard and packaging products as well as printing and writing papers and wood products.

Smucker Quality Beverages, based in Chico, Calif., is a division of The J.M. Smucker Co. and is the nation's leading producer of juice beverages in the natural foods industry.

Note: R.W. Knudsen Family, Santa Cruz Natural and After The Fall are registered trademarks of The J.M. Smucker Co. Triton is a trademark of International Paper.

CONTACT: For Smucker Quality Beverages:

The Shelton Foley Group

Suzanne Shelton-Foley, 312/764-2252 or

312/743-6703 (fax) or E-mail: Suzannesfl@AOL.COM

or

For International Paper:

KCSA Public Relations

Jacki Rabin/Esra Ozer/Henry P. Feintuch

212/682-6565 ext.213/221/212 or 212/697-0910 (fax) or

E-mail: KCSA@AOL.COM