Almarai, Sabic among new class of global challengers

France: Thirteen companies from the Middle East, including two from Saudi Arabia namely SABIC and Almarai, are among a new class of ‘global challengers’ that are leapfrogging their developed market counterparts to achieve global leadership positions according to a report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Only four companies globally, including SABIC, graduated to become global …

Future Consumer gets braille friendly on World Braille Day

UAE: Celebrating the World Braille Day, Future Consumer invited Ajay Kumar Reddy, cap- tain of the Indian Men’s Blind Cricket Team to unveil its new Braille-enabled ThinkSkin body wash bottles. The new initiative of Braille packaging, the company said, was in line with its vision of representing FMCG 2.0 industry and empowering the consumer experience. …

Gulf Print & Pack 2019: Organiser hosts show preview, gets huge international response

UAE: Preparations 
are ramping up for this year’s Gulf Print & Pack 2019 – the Middle East’s leading trade show for the commercial and package printing sector – with almost half of exhibitors taking part hailing from outside the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The Middle East’s lead- ing commercial and pack- age …

Metsä reveals a paperboard and plastics box tomato pack study

Finland: Metsä Board teamed up with Finnish vegetable co-operative, NärpesGrönsaker to compare, which of the two, cherry tomato cartons made of paperboard with the currently used plastic box, adds value to the product. The study specifically looked at consumer perceptions, food waste aspects and climate impact. The research was carried out by Sense N Insight, …

Insoft Automation announces the launch of its regional ‘Print Software Conclave’ series

Dubai: The packaging print industry has been able to leapfrog into several contemporary technologies in recent years while ERP and MIS software implementation is one imperative that cannot be ignored by printers and converters in particular. Identifying the need and scope of this growing software application here in the MEA region, Indian print software firm …

European carton and cartonboard makers body releases consumer packaging perception study

London: Pro Carton, the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard manufacturers, commissioned a study on European consumers has revealed that 77% of the shoppers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging. The study team asked 7,000 consumers across seven countries – France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey and the UK – for their views. …

Nestlé gives its new range of Starbucks products a global launch, 24 coffee products include first-ever capsule type

Switzerland: Nestlé has announced the launch of a new range of coffee products under the Starbucks brand, which will be made available globally. The new range consists of 24 products, including whole bean and roast and ground, as well as the first- ever Starbucks capsules developed using Nespresso and Nescafé Dolce Gusto proprietary coffee and system …

Jaden Smith reveals intent of introducing Just Water, the eco-friendly bottled packaged water, to the UAE

Dubai: Jaden Smith, American actor and music artist and son of actor and rapper Will Smith, and founder of sustain- able North American brand JUST Goods, has expressed his intention of bringing, what he called is an “innovative eco- friendly packaged water” to the UAE. Present at the Gul- food Just Goods CEO Ira Laufer, …

Saudi-based Berain Water’s bottling plant site in Al Ain to be set up at a cost of $37m

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Berain Water has planned to set up a new water bottling plant in the food industry zone of Al Ain Industrial City. The plant will be developed by ZonesCorp, one of the largest developers of economic zones in the UAE, at a cost of AED138-million ($37.5 million). Mahdi Nasser Al- Qahtani, CEO …

The Cola-Cola Company has completed the acquisition of Nigerian Chi Limited

Nigeria: The Coca-
Cola has now become the owner of Nigeria’s Chi after the company expanded minority investment it first announced three years ago, to full ownership. Chi is recognised in West Africa as a leading producer of juice and value-added dairy beverages company
in a growing market, and this acquisition underscores Coca-Cola’s optimism about Africa’s consumer opportunity …