Monteith's launches new beer in black glass

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (16 December, 2010)

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI), the world’s largest glass packaging manufacturer, has expanded its new black glass technology in the Asia Pacific marketplace, applying it to Monteith’s new Single Source beer.

Following successful recent applications of O-I’s black glass technology in Latin America, North America and Australia, Monteith’s decided black glass would be the perfect packaging choice for its new Single Source beer due to its premium, sophisticated appearance.

Monteith’s Marketing Manager, Russell Browne, said black glass helped create a bold-looking product. “Our new beer, Monteith’s Single Source, delivers unique flavours due to the specific areas in New Zealand where we source hops and barley,” said Mr Browne.

“O-I’s black glass allows us the opportunity to do two things; primarily it protects our flavours from damaging UV light and secondly delivers a very distinct image on-shelf to reflect a totally different way of brewing.”

O-I’s new black glass beer bottles are commercially available in one design and two closure finishes. The bottles are 100-percent recyclable and provide a number of functional benefits, including superior light and UV protection.

Recent research conducted by O-I revealed consumers used a series of distinct colour cues to process and evaluate the vast range of alcoholic beverages available for purchase. “The research indicated beer consumers enjoy experimenting with different brands and glass colours play

a strong role in determining purchasing decisions in this segment,” said O-I Asia Pacific’s General Manager of Marketing and Sales, Jacqueline Moth. “Consumers continue to be intrigued by new and innovative packaging. O-I’s black glass can be applied to all food and beverage categories to create standout products that will attract the attention of consumers in a competitive market,” said Ms Moth.

ENDS