Beverage Bites: news up to March 12, 2015

Nestlé goes flying, Tesco vs Coca-Cola, and other Beverage Bites

By Rachel Arthur

- Last updated on GMT

Nestlé goes flying with the Solar Impulse 2
Nestlé goes flying with the Solar Impulse 2

Related tags Caffeine Tesco

Heineken invests in a new Mexican brewery; Tetley USA donates 10 million cups of tea; and Ardagh’s birthday present for Coca-Cola: some of the nuggets of news in this week’s Beverage Bites feature. 

Heineken invests in new Mexican brewery

Heineken is investing 7.35 billion pesos ($476m) in a new Mexican brewery, the Dutch brewer announced on Tuesday.

The plant will have the capacity to produce five million hectolitres every year - which can be expanded in the future.

The brewery in Meoqui Chihuahua will be Heineken’s seventh plant in the country, and will start operations in the fourth quarter of 2017.

ardagh coke small
Ardagh's Coke bottles

Ardagh gives Coke a birthday present

Coca-Cola’s iconic contour bottle turns 100 this year​ – and Ardagh Group is joining in the celebrations. The glass and metal packaging company has been commissioned to manufacture a limited edition 25cl aluminium bottle, using the classic contour shape.

Manufactured by Ardagh at its plant in Beaurepaire, France, the bottles will be available in Europe and Asia. Printed with a series of designs, they are intended to appeal to both Coca-Cola fans and serious collectors.

In particular, Germany will have 10 individual designs to represent Coca-Cola advertising campaigns over the last decade.

Battle of the giants: Tesco vs Coca-Cola

Tesco is now stocking some Schweppes products again, after clashing with Coca-Cola Enterprises over the price of Schweppes. Tesco had previously pulled 25 lines from its shelves.

Coca-Cola had requested that Tesco increase prices for the products, which include tonic water and ginger ale, but the supermarket giant had refused to do so. 

A Tesco spokesperson said, "Due to a supply issue, we have had to temporarily adjust some of our soft drinks ranges," ​she said. "We continue to work in close collaboration with our suppliers, to provide our customers with the best products, the greatest value and fantastic availability."

Caffeine alert

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) is compiling its draft risk assessment on caffeine. A public consultation will close on Sunday (March 15).

The draft risk assessment of caffeine will be on the agenda at EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies, which will be held in Belgium on April 23-24.

Tetley black and green tea
Tetley Black and Green tea

Cup o’ tea? Tetley USA donates to food banks

“A warm cup of tea is sure to bring a little comfort to those less fortunate,”​ says Tetley USA, as it donates the equivalent of 10 million cups of tea to food banks in the country.

More than 150,000 boxes of Tetley’s Black and Green Tea are currently being distributed to areas including New York City, Greater Chicago and Atlanta.

And finally… Nestlé goes flying

Nestlé bottled water and Nescafé coffee is fueling pilots who are attempting to circumnavigate the globe in a solar powered aircraft.

On Monday the Solar Impulse-2 (pictured above) set off on its 35,000km (22,000 mile) flight around the world, a journey which will take five months and includes crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

It has a wingspan of 72m (wider than a jumbo jet) but weighs just 2.3 tonnes. It is powered by 17,000 solar cells (backed by lithium-ion batteries for night time flying).

Nestlé has been working with the pilots over the last four years to develop food that will meet their nutritional needs on the record-breaking attempt. One challenge is the pilots have to cope with big changes in temperature, as the cabin is not pressurized.

Nestlé’s task was to provide food that is both healthy and tasty, and is providing all of the meals on board in special packaging. 

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