Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE; Atlanta, GA) has launched a new sports cap packaging format for its bottled water brand, Glacéau Smartwater, following a £14 million spend at its manufacturing site in Northumberland.
The investment went towards building a high-speed, fully automated water processing and bottling line that will more than double production capability for Glacéau Smartwater to 56,000 bottles per hour, from the previous line’s capability of 18,200 bottles per hour. It will support production of the new sports cap format for the brand, which Coca-Cola said is worth more than £21 million.
The new sports cap, which will be available on 850ml packs, will pop up on store shelves this month and has been introduced as a result of consumer demand for instant consumption formats, where Glacéau Smartwater is ranked among the five biggest brands.
Opened in 2014, the facility in Morpeth is CCE’s only site to produce Glacéau Smartwater that uses spring water from an underground aquifer – also the source of Schweppes’ Abbey Well brand. This is then vapour distilled before electrolytes are added to give smartwater its crisp, clean taste.
Jane Buckley, Operations Director for CCE Morpeth, said: “This is an exciting milestone for our Morpeth operations. At CCE we are dedicated to supporting local manufacturing across the country and this latest investment in new production technology, is a statement of our ongoing commitment to the Morpeth region.
“Here in Morpeth we have a proud history of producing high quality water for consumers across Great Britain, and Glacéau Smartwater has been a successful addition to this portfolio. Its unique, vapour distilled proposition stands it apart from other bottled water brands. Bottled water with sports caps are in growth, ahead of the rest of the instant consumption water sector so this latest innovation offers real room for our retail customers to capitalise on this trend.”
