The event, organised by the packaging promotions arm of British Glass, Glasspac.com , attracted over 100 entrants from all over the country.

Results of the Shine Awards 2003 were announced last Friday at London's prestigious Imagination Gallery. Awards went to Jon, Mark and Robbo's in the wines & spirits category, Marston's Pedigree in the beers and ciders category and Schweppes Indian Tonic in the non-alcoholic category. Baileys Glide was highest placed in the pre-mixed spirits category, whilst the Shine Award in the food category went to Branston's pickles. The international award went to Next fruit juices.

The Grand Prix was shared between Jon, Mark and Robbo's whisky and Schweppes Indian tonic.

"The overall quality of the 2003 entries was excellent, something that has been recognised by the judges in awarding a joint Grand Prix," said Andrew Hartley of Glasspac. "The joint prize reflects the flexibility of glass, which is the only packaging material capable of meeting two such diverse packaging briefs. On one hand a premium hand finished low volume pack for the spirits sector, and on the other a high volume returnable pack for the on-trade.

"No other material is asked to meet such diverse briefs and both packs are stylish, technically excellent and have created a superb brand image. So much so that this year's judges were unable to choose between them."

Specific category champions included an 800ml bottle for Marston's Pedigree in the beers and ciders category. The judges described the packaging as a bold attempt to position beer as an alternative to wine. "This new Pedigree bottle is elegant enough for the dinner table but has cleverly drawn on the heritage of this famous beer brand. The quality embossing featuring Marston's trademark oak barrels combines with the offset label to create a minimalist and stylish pack," said the panel.

The bottle, which has been manufactured for the UK beer market, was designed by Brewer Riddiford and engineered and produced by United Glass.

"This exciting pack proved that ale bottles can effectively combine clean modern lines and contemporary decoration techniques with traditional iconography, such as the barrel ends," said David Batey, marketing manager of O-I's UK affiliate United Glass. "The combination of clear film labelling and stylish embossing has redefined the large-sized, premium packaged ale category for the better. One of the advantages of using our 3-D design centre was that the technical development of bottle and mould drawings lost none of the excitement that the original Brewer Riddiford concepts had generated at the customer."

The packaging concept for Baileys Glide was highly commended in the pre-mixed spirits category. The packaging for Diageo's latest extension of the Baileys brand, was project managed by United Glass, produced by O-I's Estonian affiliate Järvakandi Klaas and sleeved by Mailways in Yorkshire.

"With Baileys Glide the designers have created a stylish pack designed to appeal primarily to women," said the judges. "The slender, curved bottle is combined with quality sleeving that echoes the parent brand's logo and colour."

The winner of the international category was a product produced by United Hungarian Glass Containers for Fresh and Co. This distinctive and technically challenging bottle was designed for a range of fruit juices competing in the convenience market. The ergonomically friendly design is complemented by the embossing of the brand name around the base of the bottle.

The third placed international entry, Tsarine Tête de Cuvée Brut NV Champagne from Chanoine Freres in France, was made by O-I's Spanish affiliate, Vidrierias Rovira. This bottle follows a traditional Champagne design but features a design that echoes the ornate style of the Russian Tsars.

The Shine Award winners were chosen by a group of judges from the design, packaging and marketing sectors of the industry. The judges included Kareem Baqai, creative head of packaging at Dragon Brands; Mala Gondalia, development co-ordinator at the Knowledge, Design Council and Bill Stewart, head of the Packaging Partnership at Sheffield Hallam University.

Glasspac.com is a one-stop resource for packaging professionals and consumers. The organisation aims to highlight the cost efficiency, ease of production and flexibility that modern glass has to offer.

"The Shine Awards are important, not just for the winners, but also as a showcase for the new techniques the glass container industry can now offer packaging designers," said Hartley. "During the last four years the awards have demonstrated how the practical application of new manufacturing technology, design processes and decoration systems can be combined to create stunning packs."