Success Story: Widget Technology for Kenco Ice Cappio

The first non alcoholic drink in the widget can. Ball Packaging Europe widget technology opens new market segments for the beverage can: The coffee and milk drinks segments now also benefit from the integrated plastic capsule which was originally used in the beer segment. 

Kenco Ice Cappio, a coffee-flavoured soft drink produced by Kraft Foods was the first non alcoholic beverage to be launched on the market in the widget can.

The capsule which is attached to the base of the can ensures that an appropriate foam head forms when the drink is poured out, remaining stable for at least fifteen minutes.  Kenco Ice Coffee appeals to all five senses with its characteristic opening sound, accompanied by the fragrant smell of coffee and the creamy consistency of the drink.

The 250 ml slim-line can with that certain something was first presented to British consumers in the summer of 2002.  Since then consumer acceptance has been very positive.

In the past, widget capsules were used exclusively for 0.5-litre beer cans.  Ball Packaging Europe has now, for the first time, fitted a widget in the 250 ml can for Kenco Ice Cappio coffee.  Particular precision is required to insert the capsule in the smaller format can at the high production rates.  Working in close co-operation with Kraft Foods and the technical team at the filling plant, Ball Packaging Europe was also able to resolve a series of other tricky problems.  For example, the Ice Cappio product requires sterilisation because of its ph value.  And a special filling technique is required to fill cans with an integrated widget.

Having made a successful start, the future of the coffee drink on the ready-to-drink market also looks very promising.