SIG Combibloc Technology Helps South Korea’s Haitai Beverages Produce Smoothies with Real Fruit Bits

SIG Combibloc, supplier of carton packaging and filling machines for food and beverages, has provided their Drinkplus technology to two of Haitai Beverages' "Sunkist" premium smoothies. The "My Real Smoothie" range comes in Apple/Mango flavor with real apple bits and Strawberry flavor with real peach bits.

"The bits of fruit emphasize the high-quality, natural character of our smoothies," said deputy brand manager at Haitai Beverage, Seo Jun Oh. "Consumers notice them immediately, because the combination of premium juices and bits of real fruit produces a completely new drinking sensation. The unusual product texture is best experienced when the beverage is drunk through a straw. The straws have a large, six-millimeter diameter, so the smoothies can be enjoyed with an even consistency."

According to an article by Packaging News published on Aug. 27, the SIG Combibloc Drinkplus technology utilizes standard filling machines, which allow manufacturers - such as Haiti Beverages - to fill carton packs with fluids containing 10 percent particulate in an aseptic method to maintain the fruit's freshness.

In order to create Drinkplus beverages, SIG Combibloc simply equips their standard non-carbonated beverages and liquid dairy products filling machines with an upgraded set, which includes valves and valve stems. There are filling nozzles that are customized to give out the ideal stream when filling carton packaging with particulate-containing beverages.

"Healthy premium juices with 100 per cent fruit content, packaged in handy carton packs, are in growing demand in Korea," noted Patrizia Wegner, Head of Cluster Marketing Asia-Pacific South at SIG Combibloc.

"At the moment, it's still mostly fruit beverages with a relatively low fruit content that are available there in carton packs. With new premium beverages such as the smoothies from Haitai Beverage, a significant change is taking place."

"The 'Sunkist' brand name by itself promises the highest quality, which is confirmed when people start drinking the innovative products," Wegner added. "And the design of the carton pack - modern, colorful and cheerful - completes the product concept and grabs people's attention. We're confident that beverages such as these will really enliven and enrich the non-carbonated soft drinks market in Korea."