By Cherisse Sutton
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
In just a few weeks time the St. Kitts Bottling Company will make a transition- from glass bottled sodas to plastic bottled- in a manufacturing move they hope will revolutionize the local sector and yield significant dividends in the near future.
The transition from glass bottle drinks to plastic bottled ones is forecasted for early August. The move should have occurred even sooner but had to be revisited because of several logistical and manufacturing obstacles.
The glass bottles of locally made sodas have been a distinguishing mark of the St. Kitts Bottling Company for over a half century, but a number of factors, including market demands and the drive to expand the consumer base, have dictated that the bottling element be changed.
This was confirmed by Mr. Gene Howell, the deputy General Manager of the St. Kitts Bottling Company.
Among the disadvantages of glass bottle soda production that he sighted was bulkiness with regards to exportation and sale to local consumers, which directly affects packaging of the sodas.
He revealed that with the new plastic bottled product it will be significantly cheaper to package and export the product.“We are now in an era where the consumer does not want to be bothered with disposal issues once they have finished using a product,” Howell stated, as he identified another problem being faced by the Bottling Company.
He further related that there will definitely be environmental concerns with regards to the transition form glass to plastic, as many have expressed fears that consumers will now throw their used bottles every and anywhere.
Mr. Howell did not turn a blind eye towards the concern. He viewed the transition as a work in progress and gave the assurance that his company will work assiduously to address environmental concerns with regards to the disposal of the plastic bottles.~~Adz:Right~~
He explained that the pressures applied by the market have been so great that they have to commence soda packaging in plastic bottles very soon, so it is an accelerated process but noted that such demands are never an excuse to ignore the pros and cons for the move.
With the coming on stream of plastic bottled sodas, the process to purchase them will be less tedious than the present arrangement, where one is required to produce an empty bottle for each soda to be purchased. Without the bottle for exchange, additional costs will be incurred. A shell for the bottles would be a plus for purchasing.
Hopefully, with the new arrangement where sodas will be in plastic bottles, one could just go to the retailer or wholesaler and purchase the sodas for one set price, with the exchange bottle not being a factor.
Consumers are already salivating because the new bottles will contain up to 25% more soda than the present glass bottles, which are 16 ounces each..jpg)
Additionally, the St. Kitts Bottling Company is entertaining the possibility of including new flavours such as grape, passion fruit and fruit punch, in the new line.
The two most popular drinks produced by the Bottling Company, sprite and coke, will also be made available in 2 litre plastic bottles.
The costs for these improved products have not yet been determined, but Mr. Howell gave the assurance that they will be very affordable, as they will be set with the consumer in mind.
Essentially, it will be a move for the ages, as consumers can now buy a soda that is affordable, is in a lighter bottle and will contain more soda!
