Traditional and innovative aluminium packaging solutions were introduced at the 28th international foodstuffs, drinks and raw materials for their production exhibition Prodexpo-2021. Based on the number of guests and participants, it was clear that market players had really missed the exhibition format and new packaging solutions.

Aluminium packaging producers showcased their offerings at the Packaging Solutions for the Food Industry venue (the ProdexpoPAC exhibition), while consumers of aluminium cans were found in the Alcoholic Beverages salon.

From sparkling wines to Baikal water

The Krasnodar territory based company Soyuz-Wine presented a 11.5-percent Perle sparkling wine in 0.25 aluminium cans at Prodexpo-2021. As Russia's first company to offer sparkling wine in aluminium cans, Soyuz-Wine got a whole bunch of awards, including the Grand-Prix at the Best Product 2021 international competition. The company makes its wine — brute white, semi-sweet white and rose semi-sweet — from grapes it grows on its own vineyards in the Krasnodar territory.

'We're the first Russian wine producer to offer sparkling wine in aluminium cans', says Natalia Alexandrova, head of retail marketing at Soyuz-Wine. 'It's not a light alcoholic beverage, it's a real sparkling wine. It is made using the acratophoric method of champagnisation, utilising cutting-edge fifth-generation acratophores and a new bottling line. We wanted convenient containers, and aluminium cans are perfect. You can carry one around with you, and you don't need a cork'.

It is generally believed at the company that everyone who likes new and creative things will appreciate the new aluminium cans: it's easy to insert a straw in one and sip your wine through it. One can is about the same size as a wine glass, and the price is quite affordable at RUB 100 on the shelf. Compare that with Italian wines, which retail for RUB 300 to 400 per can. Sparkling wine in aluminium cans is already offered by the X5 retail chain.

Baikal Aqua, just like last year, presented Lake Baikal water in aluminium cans at the Prodexpo: the product is offered under the brand Legend of Baikal. The water is drawn from a depth of 400 metres in the world's largest freshwater lake, and is characterised by a very high oxygen content of about 12 mg per litre.

Aluminium cans for Legend of Baikal are made by Ball, a member of the Aluminium Association. Consumers already got a taste of the new format: a 0.33-litre can. Cans like that can be easily carried. In addition, aluminium is a 100% recyclable material. So the aluminium can is both environmentally friendly and easy to use, both qualities are in line with the brand's ideology.

Baikal water is currently being canned as is, without carbonation or any supplements, but in the future, the company says they may carbonate it or add various flavours to it. Today, Baikal water in recyclable aluminium cans can be purchased in such retail chains as Ashan, METRO Cash and Carry and Globe Gourmet.

The head of the Consumer Goods Sector of the Aluminium Association, Natalia Kudenkova, had this to say about the new products showcased at Prodexpo-2021: 'Aluminium cans have long been standard in beer, energy drinks and soft drinks. I've got no doubt that it will become the new normal for sparkling wine or water, which you can have as you're relaxing outdoors. The reason aluminium cans are so popular with the younger generation is that their look and feel corresponds to the new fast-paced lifestyle, while also catering to the environmental sensibilities, on account that aluminium is 100% recyclable. By choosing the aluminium can, the new generation chooses environmental friendliness'.

Aluminium at ProdexpoPAC

TOKK and UNIFOL had some of the most memorable booths at the exposition.

A production company with manufacturing facilities in the Moscow region not only presented a broad range of its products, such as aluminium caps for vodka bottles, aluminium stoppers for beer bottles and can lids, but also had its exposition designed and arranged in a rather creative way. It featured transparent tubes with aluminium caps and lids for the largest brands operating on the Russian market inside them, ranging from Uncle Vanya and Green Way, to Beluga Group and Budweiser.

'The company sells billions of roubles worth of aluminium caps per year, starting with the smallest 18x12 cap, and going all the way to the big 31.5x60 caps', says Denis Kurganov, an officer with the aluminium cap sales unit of the TOKK packaging factory. 'We cooperate with Russia's entire market of alcoholic beverages, as well as with partners from the former USSR and the rest of the world. We even sell our products in Serbia and Cuba'.

UNIFOL (LLC PKT UF) is a brand which has for more than twenty five years now been specialising in the production of packaging materials for food, wine and vodka manufactures, and at the exhibition it was showcasing its products with a broad range of decorative options. The company offers packaging solutions in the form of PP/PET cups, platinum, aluminium, heat-shrinkable, polylaminate, metal-plastic caps, champagne capsules; the company has got long-term contracts with Danone, Wimm-Bill-Dann, TATSPERTPROM, Abrau-Durso, VILASH.

'We work with clients in many countries of the CIS, the EU and around the world', notes Victor Vinogradov, UNIFOL development manager. 'As for wine and vodka producers, we've got a huge range of packaging solutions for them, all kinds of sizes and options. We've got modern equipment, our own design office and top-notch technicians, which means we can manufacture any type of cap with any decoration on it, and that is especially relevant for aluminium caps, whatever design our customers come up with, we can make it happen'.

On the whole, it can be said that the Prodexpo-2021 exhibition at the Expocentre exhibition centre met all of the expectations of the organisers. This year, the forum brought together 2660 exhibitors from 73 countries and 68,000 guests from 115 countries, with more than 120 national and regional chains taking part.

FACT SHEET
The Prodexpo exhibition is the largest international forum of its kind in Russia and Eastern Europe, an authoritative annual event in the foodstuffs and drinks sector, including alcoholic beverages. The exhibition has been held for more than 25 years, and has played a key role in the emergence and development of the Russian grocery sector. Prodexpo showcases foodstuffs from all over the world, ranging from basic foodstuffs and drinks for daily consumption, to extravagant delicacies, as well as organic, health and fitness, and sports food, halal and kosher dishes and exotic foods. It is Russia's largest exposition of alcoholic beverages and wines from more than 30 countries. Production companies schedule new product, brand and trademark launches to coincide with Prodexpo. Up to 14% of all new products released in a given year are presented at Prodexpo.