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11.12.2012
App discovery remains one of the great challenges of the post-PC publishing world. With nearly a billion mobile apps across Android, Apple, now Microsoft and third party markets, simply getting new content noticed has itself become a multi-billion dollar industry involving in-app advertising and cross-promotion and always-evolving distribution tactics. Apple this week rolled out a slightly different structure to its App Store presence on iOS by adding feature pages to each of the App Store’s category sections appearing on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Magazine apps in particular benefit from the update.
Until now only the main home page and the Newsstand sections of the App Store called out specific apps as featured in an attractive swipe-able marquee as well as tiers of larger tiles. Once the user drilled into the specific categories of app (Entertainment, Lifestyle, Utilities, et. al.) she was met with walls of same-sized icons. With featured page structures now present on every category level of the store, more high-profile titles can bubble to the surface. Each section now has a rotating marquee of oversized app tiles atop the page, mimicking the home page.
But more to the point for magazines, digital editions are featured on most of these category feature pages as well. In the Entertainment section on the iPad App Store, for instance, People, US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair, Mental Floss, Vogue and Popular Science all occupy a tier of featured tiles . The Health & Fitness section specifically calls out “Healthy Lifestyle Magazines” with current covers from WebMD, Muscle + Fitness, Pregnancy, Prevention, Running Fitness, Health, Men’s Fitness and other titles.
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11.12.2012
U.S. advertising spending still hasn’t returned to the levels it attained in the frothy credit bubble economy during the middle of the last decade, and probably won’t for several more years, according to forecasts from four different research and analysis outfits.
While their numbers vary somewhat, due to the inclusion or exclusion of certain channels, like direct marketing, the figures from Kantar, ZenithOptimedia, Nielsen and GroupM note that ad spending followed the economy over a cliff from 2007-2009. Its recovery from 2010-2012 has been just as lackluster.
According to Kantar, total U.S. ad spending plunged from $158.2 billion in 2007 to $142.9 billion in 2008 and a low of $125.3 billion in 2009, for consecutive annual declines of 9.7% and 12.3%, respectively.
As the economy bottomed out and slowly began to recover, ad spending edged up 4.6% to $131.1 billion in 2010, then jumped 9.8% to $144 billion in 2011. But the rate of growth slowed considerably in the last year. Kantar is currently forecasting 2.2% growth to around $147 billion in 2012 -- still 7% short of its 2007 level.
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11.12.2012
Flint Group is proud to announce that their FlexiStar ™ BRC inks for packaging applications are the first solvent-based flexo inks certified by NAPIM as a biorenewable ink with a BRC Index of 80, and was developed using NAPIM certified bio-based raw materials.
NAPIM’s BioRenewable Content (BRC) program identifies printing ink formulations using bio-derived renewable resources; furthermore, this program identifies the amount of bio-derived components used. The soon to be released FlexiStar ™ BRC ink system boasts a BioRenewable Content Index rating of 80 - providing the market with high quality packaging inks that also address concerns related to our environment and sustainability.
The targeted surface printed application segments for FlexiStar ™ BRC are:
•Frozen food bags – for vegetables and meat
•Feminine hygiene packaging
•Diaper packaging
•Grocery / retail bags
Grant Shouldice, VP Technology and Marketing for Flint Group Packaging Inks in North America, had this to say, “The development of FlexiStar ™ BRC is in-line with Flint Group’s goal of continuous improvement and innovation. We strive to develop products that assist our customers to be sustainable from a product/consumable perspective; providing inks that are inline with the value propositions of the suppliers of film substrates that are also geared toward sustainability. Flint Group is very proud to introduce a tangible sustainable solution.”
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11.12.2012
Catalyst Paper today announced that it has received partial pre-payment of the $8.6 million purchase price for the Elk Falls site in Campbell River from Pacifica Deep Sea Terminals Incorporated. The transaction includes the 400-acre industrial site and adjacent properties.
Catalyst has also agreed to grant the purchaser an extension to complete the sale. Progress continues to be made on all outstanding terms and conditions.
Sale of the property is the final step in a comprehensive site preparation and sales process which began following the permanent closure of the paper mill in 2010.
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11.12.2012
Brent crude halted a two-day advance in London before European finance ministers meet to discuss aid for Greece amid concern that the region’s debt turmoil will constrain fuel consumption.
Futures dropped as much as 0.8 percent as ministers prepare to assess whether the latest round of cuts agreed by Greece are sufficient to warrant further assistance. Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said that prices, down 15 percent in London from this year’s peak, are “good.” U.S. oil output is poised to surpass Saudi Arabia’s in the next decade, the International Energy Agency said. Hedge funds and large speculators cut bullish bets on West Texas Intermediate crude to the lowest in more than two years.
“We are no closer to a comprehensive solution for Europe,” said Guy Wolf, a strategist at London-based commodities broker Marex Spectron Group Ltd., who predicts oil prices will recover in the first quarter. “While Europe remains a source of concern for the market, the global growth outlook has improved.”
Brent for December settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange was at $109.10 a barrel, down 30 cents, as of 11:15 a.m. local time.
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11.12.2012
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has been awarded a multi-year print management agreement by Scotiabank that renews and expands the companies' relationship. Scotiabank is a leading multinational financial services provider and Canada's most international bank.
Under the terms of the agreement RR Donnelley will provide a broad range of products and services that includes digital printing, forms, kitting and fulfillment services, regulatory communications and more. The relationship also draws on RR Donnelley's proprietary CustomPoint system, which provides a highly configured suite of online services.
Several initiatives, such as instituting electronic invoicing and using effective print management strategies to consolidate documents and reduce page counts, have supported Scotiabank's sustainability goals and have helped to reduce consumption by almost 30,000 pages annually. Improved tracking of printing and paper usage have also supported the Bank's efforts to effectively size and report the strides made in using paper more efficiently.
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11.12.2012
The construction of the world’s first biorefinery producing wood-based renewable diesel in Lappeenranta is running according to schedule. The foundation stone of UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery will be encased today. Construction began last summer and the biorefinery will start producing renewable diesel made from tall oil in 2014.
“The EUR 150 million investment to Lappeenranta is UPM’s spearhead project and the first step on our way to becoming a significant producer of advanced second generation biofuels. The Biorefinery is also a focal part in the realisation of our Biofore strategy, combining the bio and forest industries,” says UPM President and CEO Jussi Pesonen.
The UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery is the first significant investment in a new and innovative production facility in Finland during the ongoing transformation of forest industry. It will be realised without public investment grants.
Lappeenranta Biorefinery project is important for the local economy and employment. The construction of the biorefinery will offer work for nearly 200 people for approximately two years. When production commences, the biorefinery will directly employ nearly 50 people and indirectly about 150 people. The Biorefinery will produce 120 million litres of advanced, renewable diesel fuel annually.
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11.09.2012
’Tis the season, and for the 237th year the U.S. Postal Service is ready for The Best Holiday Ever! with 365 million packages expected to be delivered this holiday season — a 20 percent increase over 2011.
The Postal Service projects the record-breaking increase in its competitive package business due to consumers’ growing fondness for shopping online. In total, nearly 18 billion cards, letters and packages will be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
“This is one of the most exciting and busiest times of the year for the Postal Service, whether you’re sending a holiday card to Kentucky or military care package to Afghanistan, our employees do what it takes to process and deliver every single one,” said Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General and chief executive officer.
Today, Donahoe and Nagisa Manabe, chief marketing officer and executive vice president, announced the mailing and shipping forecasts for the 2012 holiday season during the holiday rush kick-off event in Washington D.C.
The busiest mailing day for holiday cards/packages is Monday, Dec. 17, when more than 655 million pieces of mail are expected to be processed — compared to 538 on an average day. The busiest delivery day for letters will be Wednesday, Dec. 19 and the busiest day for packages will be Thursday, Dec. 20.
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11.09.2012
Resolute Forest Products announced two major investments today, totaling C$11 million, at its Comtois sawmill in Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Quebec, and its Senneterre, Quebec, sawmill.
At the Comtois sawmill, $9 million will be invested in the construction of a new saw line. This equipment will enhance the sawmill's performance by increasing the volume of lumber produced and reducing fiber loss. The $2 million investment at the Senneterre sawmill will improve the performance of the planing complex.
Yves Laflamme, Senior Vice President, Wood Products, said that these investments will reinforce the Company's competitiveness, which is essential to maintaining jobs in the northern Québec and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions.
"After several difficult years, we believe that these investments will put us in a good position to benefit from a turnaround in residential construction in the United States. The upgrades will consolidate our activities in both regions by creating synergies, stabilizing our operations and preserving good jobs. The investments will make our two facilities more competitive and boost their performance. We are all the more pleased and proud because today's announcement will generate substantial economic spinoffs in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and northern Quebec," he added.
Given the market outlook for lumber, Resolute Forest Products plans to focus on wood products. In this regard, President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Garneau reiterated "the Company's ongoing commitment to be a sound, strong, profitable organization that produces top-quality products and supports sustainable development." He also repeated Resolute's intention to lay the foundations for its development and growth by investing in competitive assets and promising markets in order to contribute to the organization's overall profitability.
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11.09.2012
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt today announced that its Trade & Reference division has acquired the assets of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.’s culinary portfolio, in addition to classic reference titles Webster’s New World Dictionary and CliffsNotes.
Wiley’s celebrated cookbook collection includes the flagship Betty Crocker series, in addition to other General Mills-branded lines, the Better Homes and Gardens line licensed from Meredith Corporation, Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything franchise – including the bestselling culinary app for iOS, and high-profile authors such as Rose Levy Beranbaum, Marcus Samuelsson and Ellie Krieger. This acquisition will complement HMH’s premier authors and cookbooks, including Jacques Pépin, Dorie Greenspan, The Gourmet Cookbook and the Hello, Cupcake! franchise.
“This strategic acquisition reflects HMH’s continued commitment to consumer publishing, and represents an exciting growth opportunity within the culinary market. Even as digital sales increase, the print cookbook segment shows particular strength, both at HMH and within the market in general,” said Gary Gentel, President of HMH’s Trade & Reference division. “The combination of Wiley’s culinary, reference, and CliffsNotes lines with our existing business will significantly strengthen HMH’s market position in both the culinary and reference categories.”
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11.09.2012
The Atlantic had another strong month in digital sales and traffic. According to the company, October 2012 digital revenue was 28 percent higher than the same month last year. The increasing sales figures are expected to help push the brand into its third consecutive year of profit, with 2012 digital revenues projected to be 33 percent higher than 2011.
Citing Omniture numbers, TheAtlantic.com traffic jumped to 12.5 million unique visitors in October, up 45 percent. The brand's two spin-off channels Atlantic Wire and Atlantic Cities scored major spikes, up 114 percent and 197 percent to 4 million and 917,000 uniques, respectively.
The company says year-to-date digital sales are up 34 percent, with nine custom projects—a combination of content and display elements—that ran in October for brands such as Bank of America, Fidelity, IBM and Mercedes-Benz.
"Our writers did a terrific job in October. Analysis and commentary on The Atlantic, smart news curation on The Atlantic Wire, data and trends about urban life on The Atlantic Cities—our sites demonstrate there is an appetite among readers for intelligence, creativity, speed, and wit," said Atlantic Digital editor Bob Cohn in a statement. "Thanks to our hard-working editorial, tech, and product teams, we've now doubled our audience over the last 16 months."
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11.09.2012
AAA’s Fuel Gage Report as of 11/09/12
National Unleaded Regular:
Current Average - $3.456/gallon
Month Ago Average - $3.813/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.430/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.114/gallon on 7/17/08
Diesel:
Current Average - $4.011/gallon
Month Ago Average - $4.109/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.915/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.845/gallon on 7/17/08
Current Exchange Rates as of 11/09/12
American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 0.999334
American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.160055
American Dollar to Euro = 1.272102
American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.012625
American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.075732
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11.09.2012
Crude traded near its lowest level in four months amid speculation that risks to the U.S. and European economies will restrain demand while supplies increase.
West Texas Intermediate futures, little changed this week, may decline next week on concern that Europe’s debt crisis will reduce economic growth and fuel demand in the region, a Bloomberg survey showed. WTI plunged to $84.44 a barrel on Nov. 7, its lowest close since July 10, after U.S. government data showed crude inventories rose for the fourth time in five weeks.
“The potential to the downside is higher than to the upside,” said Gerrit Zambo, an oil trader at Bayerische Landesbank in Munich. “There is still the chance of sliding into a mild recession, and the oil market is quite saturated with supply.”
West Texas Intermediate crude for December delivery slipped 16 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $84.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:38 a.m. London time.
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11.09.2012
NewPage Corporation (the Company) announced today that the Disclosure Statement for its Fourth Amended Chapter 11 Plan (the Plan) has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Court's approval of the Disclosure Statement allows the Company to begin the Plan voting process, leading to a confirmation hearing scheduled for mid-December and the Company's expected emergence from bankruptcy before the end of the year.
The Company also was authorized to enter into a commitment letter and related fee letters for its exit financing, consisting of a $500 million term loan facility led by Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC and a $350 million revolving credit facility led by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.
"The approval of our Disclosure Statement represents a significant achievement and another important step for the Company and its stakeholders," said George Martin, president and chief executive officer of NewPage. "We look forward to implementing the Plan upon emergence later this year with the financing and liquidity needed to support our operations."
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11.09.2012
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended October 27, 2012. For the quarter, jcpenney reported a net loss of $123 million or $0.56 per share. Excluding the net gain on the sales of non-core assets, restructuring and management transition charges, and non-cash primary pension plan expense, adjusted net loss for the quarter was $203 million or $0.93 per share.
Comparable store sales for the third quarter declined 26.1 percent and total sales decreased 26.6 percent. Internet sales through jcp.com were $214 million in the third quarter, decreasing 37.3 percent from last year.
Gross margin was 32.5 percent of sales, compared to 37.4 percent in the same period last year. Gross margin was impacted by lower than expected sales in the quarter and a higher level of clearance merchandise sales.
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11.09.2012
Nordstrom, Inc. today reported net earnings of $146 million for the third quarter ended October 27, 2012. This represented an increase of 15.0 percent compared with earnings of $127 million for the same quarter last year. Earnings per diluted share of $0.71 increased 20.3 percent from $0.59 per diluted share for the same quarter last year.
Third quarter same-store sales, which reflected a timing shift that moved a week of the Anniversary Sale event into August this year, increased 10.7 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2011. Combined second and third quarter same-store sales, which removes the impact of the Anniversary Sale shift, increased 7.3 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2011. Net sales in the third quarter were $2.71 billion, an increase of 13.8 percent compared with net sales of $2.38 billion during the same period in fiscal 2011.
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11.08.2012
Yankee Holding Corp. and The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 29, 2012. Yankee Holding Corp., a direct subsidiary of YCC Holdings LLC, is a holding company formed in connection with the Company's Merger with an affiliate of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC on February 6, 2007 (the "Merger"), and is the parent company of The Yankee Candle Company, Inc.
Sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $201.7 million, an increase of $6.6 million or 3.4% from the prior year third quarter. Retail sales were $93.1 million, an increase of $8.2 million or 9.7% from the prior year third quarter. Sales from the Company's Wholesale segment were $83.6 million, an increase of $0.4 million or 0.5% versus the prior year third quarter. Sales in the Company's International segment were $25.0 million, a decrease of $2.0 million or 7.3% from the prior year third quarter.
The Company recorded net income of $12.3 million, or 6.1% of net sales for the third quarter of 2012 compared to net income of $12.5 million, or 6.4% of net sales for the third quarter of 2011.
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11.08.2012
Quad/Graphics, Inc. today reported results for its third quarter ending September 30, 2012. For full financial results, please see the accompanying information.
“Our third quarter performance was in line with our expectations,” said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics Chairman, President & CEO. “We were able to expand and renew multiple major customer agreements. This was accomplished while we remained diligent in our efforts to implement sustainable cost reductions and improve productivity. Further, our ability to generate significant cash flow and strengthen our balance sheet through consistent debt paydown has allowed us to be flexible with our plans for capital deployment and take advantage of opportunities such as our recently announced agreement to acquire Vertis. The combination of Quad/Graphics and Vertis is a natural and strategic fit that further strengthens and expands our offerings, allowing us to better serve our clients while achieving additional efficiencies and building long-term value for our shareholders. We expect the closing to occur sometime in the first quarter of 2013, subject to Bankruptcy Court and customary regulatory approvals. Until then, it is business as usual and, given ongoing economic and industry challenges, we will remain focused on performing well for our clients, improving productivity and aggressively managing costs.”
Net sales for the third quarter were $1,040 million versus $1,109 million for the same period in 2011. Third quarter 2012 Adjusted EBITDA was $155 million compared to $174 million for the same period in 2011, and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 14.9% as compared to 15.6% in 2011. The quarterly results reflect expected volume declines as well as pricing pressures on print and byproduct sales. Partially offsetting these impacts in the quarter were lower selling, general and administrative costs and $23 million in incremental synergy savings.
For the first nine months of 2012 net sales were $2,964 million versus net sales of $3,109 million for the same period in 2011, reflecting expected volume and price pressures. Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA was $393 million versus $431 million in 2011, reflecting lower volumes and pricing pressures on print and byproduct sales, partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative costs and incremental synergy savings. Recurring Free Cash Flow was $220 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared to $143 million in the first nine months of 2011, continuing a track record of solid cash flow generation.
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11.08.2012
Summary
•Net profit US$107 million (Q4 2011 net loss US$127 million)
•Earnings per share of 21 US cents (Q4 2011 loss per share 24 US cents)
•Operating profit excluding special items US$118 million (Q4 2011 US$80 million)
•Net cash generated US$203 million (Q4 2011 US$279 million)
•Targeted net debt level reached a year early - US$1,979 million
Commenting on the key financial highlights of the quarterly and year-end results, Sappi (NYSE: SPP, JSE: SAP) Chief Executive Officer Ralph Boettger said:
"Sappi posted a solid set of fourth quarter and financial year-end results. Operating profit excluding special items for the quarter was ahead of market expectations and for the full year remained at similar levels as last year. This good performance was in spite of challenging market conditions and pulp prices that were substantially lower in Dollar terms which negatively impacted on the Southern African and North American businesses.
"The European and North American paper businesses performed well during the quarter, despite tough market conditions, benefiting from our ongoing actions over the past two years to further improve customer service, reduce costs and increase efficiencies.
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11.08.2012
Hurricane Sandy is being held responsible for reducing U.S. retail sales in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region by about $4 billion last week, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.
According to the report, the region, which accounts for about 24% of retail sales nationwide, typically generates $18.7 billion in sales for that particular week ended Saturday, the Associated Press reported. But revenue came in at about $15 billion. (The figures exclude auto sales.)
“This was a significant negative event for the region," said Michael McNamara, VP of research and analysis for SpendingPulse, which monitors all types of spending across retail.
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11.08.2012
That’s slightly higher than 15.0% growth in Q2 and the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth for U.S. online retail, comScore reports today. ComScore says consumers spent nearly $42 billion in Q3—and that more of those shoppers are using smartphones to shop inside stores.
Online consumers in the United States spent approximately $41.9 billion in the third quarter, 15.4% more than the $36.3 billion spent in the third quarter of 2011, comScore Inc. reported today.
That growth represents the 12th consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth for e-commerce spending, as well as the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, the web measurement firm says. In the second quarter of 2012, e-commerce spending increased 15.0% to more than $43.15 billion, comScore said in August.
The recent spending figure bodes well for the rest of the year, says comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “Such performance offers some optimism as we approach the holiday season, especially given recent improvements in consumer sentiment,” he says; comScore says that 48% of consumers rate the economy as “poor,” which is eight percentage points better than in the second quarter. “With the housing market beginning to show signs of recovery in addition to increasing, if still underwhelming, job growth, there appears to be strong enough footing to support a very healthy online holiday shopping season.”
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11.08.2012
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is asking the federal government to use Budget 2013 to continue to build on the existing momentum of innovation and transformation in the job-rich forest sector. This should include replenishment of the successful Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.
The original $100 million IFIT program generated 107 applications and was over-subscribed by a factor of five, demonstrating the significant appetite by the Canadian forestry sector to develop and commercialize new innovative technologies in the areas of bio-energy, bio-chemicals and new solid wood projects. About a third of these project applications were for world-first innovations. By investing $300 million over the next three years in IFIT, the government will continue to support the ambitious Vision2020 agenda of the Canadian forest sector.
“We know the government is facing an era of fiscal restraint,” says the President and CEO of FPAC, David Lindsay. “However by continuing to demonstrate support for our transformation agenda the government will maximize the return on its significant investment in industry transformation to date, help the Canadian sector lead the world in innovative products and unleash the potential of Canada’s vast forest resource.”
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11.08.2012
Consolidated Graphics, Inc. today announced financial results for its second quarter ended September 30, 2012.
Revenue for the September quarter was $263.6 million, a $3.8 million or 1.4% decline, compared to the prior year. The revenue decline was caused by lower same-store sales, partially offset by an increase in election-related revenue. Adjusted Operating Income for the September 2012 quarter was $14.7 million or 5.6% of revenue, compared to $15.2 million or 5.7% of revenue last year. Adjusted Net Income was $8.3 million or $.84 per diluted share for the quarter, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $8.4 million or $.77 per diluted share for the prior year quarter. (As a result of our share repurchase program, weighted average diluted shares outstanding in the September 2012 quarter declined 9.1% relative to the September 2011 quarter.) Adjusted EBITDA was $33.1 million for the September 2012 quarter, compared to $32.6 million for the same quarter of the prior year.
Operating income during the September 2012 quarter was $12.1 million and included other charges of $2.3 million primarily related to relocating certain production facilities and related asset impairments. Operating income for the prior year quarter was $13.9 million and included $.6 million in other charges due to withdrawing from certain multi-employer pension plans. Net income for the September 2012 quarter was $6.7 million or $.68 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $7.5 million or $.69 diluted earnings per share last year.
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11.08.2012
Oil rebounded from the lowest level in almost four months in New York on speculation that the biggest decline this year was exaggerated.
West Texas Intermediate climbed as much as 1.1 percent, after its 14-day relative strength index plunged to 38.5 yesterday, a sign that prices may be oversold. Crude slumped 4.8 percent yesterday after U.S. stockpiles gained and fuel demand dropped, while President Barack Obama’s re-election stoked concern that the struggle to resolve deficit-reduction talks may harm the economy.
“Oil prices have experienced quite a rollercoaster ride in the past days, and today’s move looks like technical trading as traders re-balance their positions after the election,” said Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management in Middelfart, Denmark. “There’s a slight bias to the upside today that might mean room for a move up of $1 or so.”
Oil for December delivery rose as much as 95 cents to $85.39 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract was at $85.19 at 10:56 a.m. London time.
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11.08.2012
In a survey of business-to-business, consumer and association publishers, the b-to-b publishers report that 16 percent of their revenue comes from digital sources, compared with 14 percent of revenue reported by consumer publishers and 7 percent of revenue reported by association publishers. The recently released "2012 Publisher Monetization" survey, conducted by Godengo+Texterity and BPA, focused on the monetization of digital editions, magazine apps and websites. There were more than 130 completed surveys from media professionals in b-to-b, consumer, association and niche sectors. Business-to-business publishers represented 30 percent of respondents.
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11.08.2012
UPM’s Label business UPM Raflatac is investing in new hotmelt adhesive mixing and coating technology at its self-adhesive labelstock factory in Changshu, China. With this in-house hotmelt manufacturing capability, UPM Raflatac will be offering label converters cutting-edge technology and expertise they require to develop cost-effective and high-quality label products. The new technology will be in use during the first quarter of 2013.
The latest hotmelt coating technology allows UPM Raflatac to expand its standard paper and film product ranges particularly in the food, retail and tyre industries as well as in variable information printing (VIP), where hotmelts provide advantages such as high initial tack and reliable adhesion on chilled, moist or rough surfaces. The new technology also enables the development of special products designed for niche markets as well as shorter runs, meeting the individual needs of brand owners.
In addition to a wider product range, UPM Raflatac’s customers will benefit from a hotmelt pilot-coating facility and strengthened local R&D capabilities. An accelerated development process will bring regionally adapted new products faster to market.
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11.08.2012
Cenveo, Inc. today announced results for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012.
The Company generated net sales of $451.3 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $475.8 million for the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower sales in our print and envelope product lines as a result of lower direct mail volumes from our financial services customers, the closure and consolidation of a print plant in the first quarter of 2012 and our decision to exit certain low margin businesses. The Company generated net sales of $1.3 billion for the first nine months of 2012, compared to $1.4 billion for the first nine months of 2011. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower sales in our print and envelope product lines as a result of lower direct mail volumes from our financial services customers, customer product launches in the first nine months of 2011 that did not repeat in the first nine months of 2012, the closure and consolidation of a print plant in the first quarter of 2012 and our decision to exit c ertain low margin businesses. Net sales from our label and packaging business lines remained relatively flat for the third quarter of 2012 and for the nine months of 2012 despite our decision to exit low margin businesses within those platforms, which has been offset largely by our e-commerce initiatives and new account wins in our packaging business.
Operating income was $35.0 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $33.2 million for the third quarter of 2011. The increase in operating income was primarily due to our lower cost structure as a result of the integration of our Envelope Product Group ("EPG") acquisition and lower compensation related expenses, offset by lower byproduct recoveries and increased pension expense. Non-GAAP operating income was $42.4 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $41.6 million for the third quarter of 2011. Operating income was $78.2 million for the first nine months of 2012, compared to $78.8 million for the first nine months of 2011. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to increased restructuring, impairment and other charges as a result of the closure and consolidation of a print plant in the first quarter of 2012 and other cost savings actions, lower byproduct recoveries and increased pension expense, offset in part by our lower cost structure due to the integration of our EPG acquisition and lower compensation related expenses. Non-GAAP operating income was $110.3 million for the first nine months of 2012, compared to $110.4 million for the first nine months of 2011. Non-GAAP operating income excludes integration, acquisition and other charges, stock-based compensation provision, restructuring, impairment and other charges.
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11.08.2012
Ahlstrom, a global high performance materials company, and a leading producer of release papers, has today announced a new initiative for recycling silicone coated paper release liners used by the pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) label industry.
This sustainability initiative aims to collect silicone coated supercalendered papers (commonly known as "glassine") once they have been utilized as carriers of PSA labels by end-users, such as brand owners or retailers. Ahlstrom will collect the materials through one or more logistics partners and will recycle them into specialty paper production at its Osnabrück plant in Germany.
Glassine paper release liners will be picked-up at no cost from end-users anywhere in Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands, provided a minimum quantity of two tons per load. Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials Division will support this initiative and utilizes its contacts across the value chain in order to make label printers and brand owners aware sof this new opportunity.
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11.08.2012
Cascades Inc., a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, announces its financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2012.
Q3-2012 Financial Highlights
· Sales of $906 million (compared to $944 million in Q2-2012 (-4%) and $947 million in Q3-2011 (-4%))
· Excluding specific items
o EBITDA of $78 million (compared to $84 million in Q2-2012 (-7%) and $79 million in Q3-2011 (-1%))
o Net earnings per share of $0.07 (compared to net earnings of $0.08 in Q2-2012 and a net loss of $0.02 in Q3-2011)
· Including specific items
o EBITDA of $83 million (compared to $77 million in Q2-2012 (+8%) and $53 million in Q3-2011 (+57%))
o Net earnings per share of $0.05 (compared to net earnings of $0.08 in Q2-2012 and a net loss of $0.21 in Q3-2011)
· Net debt of $1,542 million (compared to $1,585 million as at June 30, 2012), including $147 million of non-recourse debt
· Price increase announcement in our containerboard sector
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11.08.2012
Kohl’s Corporation today reported results for the fiscal periods ended October 27, 2012.
Kohl’s Corporation reported third quarter diluted earnings per share increased 14% to $0.91 per diluted share. Net income was $215 million compared to $211 million ($0.80 per diluted share) a year ago. Net sales were $4.5 billion, an increase of 2.6% for the quarter. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 1.1%.
Year to date, net income was $609 million ($2.54 per diluted share) compared to $711 million ($2.56 per diluted share) a year ago. Net sales were $12.9 billion, an increase of 1.2%. Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 0.5%.
Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, “Our sales performance in the third quarter was consistent with our expectations, while our gross margin results were better than expected. Thanks to our dedicated teams, expenses were again well-managed. We have made noticeable investments in Holiday inventory - both in depth and content - and the in-store experience. Our stores are festive and fun to shop. We are also very excited about our expanded gift strategy and our ability to offer great products at great values."
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11.07.2012
Resolute Forest Products announced today that it is permanently shutting down paper machine No. 10 at its Laurentide mill in Shawinigan, Quebec. The permanent shutdown comes after an important drop in demand and an increase in market capacity of the paper grade produced on machine No. 10.
The Laurentide mill, which currently has 388 employees, produces over 350,000 metric tons per year of commercial printing papers with two machines. Machine No. 10 produces 125,000 metric tons per year. This machine will cease production on November 26, eliminating nearly 111 jobs. The shutdown will not affect paper machine No. 11, which has an annual production of nearly 225,000 metric tons per year.
The Company is aware of the impacts this decision will have on the employees concerned and their families and will work with union representatives and the governments to mitigate these impacts with a focus on retirement. Management intends to make sure that all the employees affected receive the necessary support, in compliance with the relevant collective agreement terms, and that as many employees as possible are reassigned to other Company facilities.
Resolute President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Garneau noted that market demand and capacity, the strong Canadian dollar, rising freight and fuel costs, and the continuing high cost of fiber also factored into management's decision. "Resolute must prove that it is profitable with mills that perform well, which forces us to improve our competitive edge by focusing on our best assets and cutting costs," stated Richard Garneau. "This is a major challenge and we are confident that we, with our employees, will be able to meet it."
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11.07.2012
The European paper recycling rate reached an impressive 70.4% as announced on 11 October 2012 by the ERPC (European Recovered Paper Council) in their annual monitoring report. The report shows that the total amount of paper collected and recycled in the paper sector remains stable at 58 million tonnes, the same as in the previous years, but with an increase of 18 million tonnes since 1998, the base year for the first voluntary commitment the paper value chain set itself for increasing recycling in Europe. Since 2000 the recycling rate has increased by 18%-points due in part to the excellent work of the ERPC.
A new reporting format includes more indicators in addition to the volumes and recycling rate. For example, the number of European countries exceeding a 70% recycling rate going up to 13, whereas 12 EU countries still have under 60% recycling rates for paper, indicating further potential for increasing paper recycling in Europe. The number of cycles a paper fibre goes through in the loop reached, on average, 3.4 (compared to the global average of 2.4).
In addition to the quantitative progress, a lot of qualitative work has been done to establish an ecodesign towards improved recyclability and in the area of waste prevention. The results include pioneering work to give recycling solid and scientific support, such as the adoption of scorecards to assess the recyclability of paper-based products.
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11.07.2012
Twin Rivers Paper Company, a leader in lightweight specialty packaging, label and publishing papers, answers the market need for more environmentally-responsible packaging by expanding its Acadia® Natural portfolio to include basis weight offerings as low as 18 lb and up to 50 lb. Acadia® Natural, a fully recyclable and compostable packaging paper, is made from unbleached pulp and offers an environmentally-friendly alternative for packaging applications such as bread bags, carry-out bags, fast-food sandwich wraps, french fry bags and basket liners.
“The demand for sustainable packaging is growing and Twin Rivers is well-positioned to meet this demand with both our portfolio and our ability to codevelop products tailored to the unique needs of the packaging market. By broadening our product offering we are able to support lightweight initiatives as well as serve a broader set of end-use applications,” says Dave Deger, Director of Business Development and Marketing.
Acadia® Natural is an ideal solution for food service, retail-food applications and Quick Serve Restaurants (QSR). It offers excellent runnability, printability, sustainability and FDA-compliance, while available in both a standard and an oil and grease-resistant (OGR) option up to kit 7.
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11.07.2012
Time Warner Inc. today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2012.
In the third quarter of 2012, Revenues decreased 3% to $6.8 billion as growth at the Networks segment was more than offset by declines at the Film and TV Entertainment and Publishing segments. Adjusted Operating Income declined 1% to $1.6 billion in the quarter as growth at the Networks and Publishing segments was more than offset by a decline at the Film and TV Entertainment segment. Operating Income also fell 1% to $1.6 billion. Adjusted Operating Income and Operating Income margins were both 23% in the third quarter of 2012, unchanged from the prior year quarter.
In the third quarter, the Company posted Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Common Share (“Adjusted EPS”) of $0.86 versus $0.79 for the year-ago quarter. Diluted Income per Common Share was $0.86 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $0.78 in the prior year quarter.
For the first nine months of 2012, Cash Provided by Operations from Continuing Operations reached $2.3 billion, and Free Cash Flow totaled $2.0 billion. As of September 30, 2012, Net Debt was $16.7 billion, up from $16.0 billion at the end of 2011, due to share repurchases and dividends, partially offset by the generation of Free Cash Flow.
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11.07.2012
Highlights:
- Strong EBITDA outcome of €280 million in the third quarter
- Industry-leading EBITDA margins reflecting SKG’s continued focus on innovative packaging, cost and operating efficiency
- Two successful bond offerings totalling €690 million resulting in reduced debt servicing costs,improved debt maturity profile and further diversification of funding sources
- Acquisition of Orange County Container Group for US$340 million at 5.1x 2012 EBITDA post synergies
- Expect year-end EBITDA in line with 2011
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11.07.2012
News Corporation today reported total revenue for the three months ending September 30, 2012 of $8.14 billion, a $177 million, or 2%, increase over the $7.96 billion of revenue reported in the prior year quarter. The revenue increase was led by 16% growth at the Company’s Cable Network Programming segment, which was partially offset by declines at the Company’s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television and Publishing segments.
The Company reported first quarter total segment operating income(1) of $1.38 billion compared to $1.39 billion reported a year ago. The results reflect operating income improvements at the Company’s Cable Network Programing, Television and Filmed Entertainment segments, led by a $178 million, or 23%, increase at the Cable Network Programming segment. These improvements were more than offset by decreases at the Direct Broadcast Satellite Television, Publishing and Other segments. The first quarter results included a $67 million charge related to the costs of the ongoing investigations initiated upon the closure of The News of the World as compared to $17 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. This year’s first quarter results also included $5 million of costs related to the proposed separation of the Company’s entertainment and publishing businesses. Excluding these charges from both years, respectively, first quarter adjusted total segment operating income of $1.45 billion increased $48 million, or 3%, from $1.40 billion in the first quarter of the prior year.
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11.07.2012
Oil traded near the highest level in two weeks in New York, paring an earlier decline, after U.S. voters returned Barack Obama as president of the world’s biggest crude-consuming nation.
Futures were little changed after dropping as much as 1 percent. Oil rallied with gold while the dollar fell after television network projections showed Obama winning re-election and Republican challenger Mitt Romney conceded defeat. Investors speculated the victory increases the chance the U.S. will continue monetary stimulus that tends to weaken the currency and boost dollar-denominated commodities.
“The idea in the market that Obama is more in favor of further monetary intervention than Romney helped lift gold and oil and weaken the U.S. dollar in response to his election,” said Jeremy Friesen, a commodity strategist at Societe Generale SA in Hong Kong.
West Texas Intermediate crude for December delivery was at $88.72 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 1 cent, at 3:42 p.m. Singapore time.
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11.07.2012
Arctic Paper S.A. has announced a public offer to acquire all shares in Rottneros AB, a non-integrated and customized supplier of high quality paper pulp listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. Rottneros’ Board of Directors has unanimously recommended the offer.
The combined group will be a leading European producer of bulky book paper, high-quality graphic fine paper and pulp for paper producers. In addition, it will remain a significant supplier of market pulp. The combined group will have a good balance between pulp production and consumption in the fine paper mills and thus be less volatile than the two companies as stand-alone entities. It will have four fine paper mills and two pulp mills.
Arctic Paper does not anticipate any material effects of the implementation of the offer for Rottneros’ business or employees, including employment conditions and employment levels at locations where Rottneros currently conducts business.
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11.07.2012
Ahlstrom, a high performance materials company, today celebrates the inauguration of its new production facility in Longkou, Shandong Province, in eastern China. The plant is a joint venture together with Longkou Yulong Paper Co. Ltd, and it produces medical papers used for sterilization wraps and masking tape base papers for the building industry in the Asian market.
"This joint venture in Longkou supports Ahlstrom's growth strategy and strengthens our presence in Asia. Crepe paper used in the medical and building industries in Asia provides us interesting opportunities for growth in the area," says Jan Lång, Ahlstrom's President & CEO.
The new plant in China is the outcome of a EUR 21.9 million investment, of which EUR 13.1 million contributed by Ahlstrom, and employs approximately 140 people. Located in the Zhu You Guan Industrial Park in Longkou, the plant is conveniently positioned near a large commercial port with excellent connects to China and Asia by road and sea, ensuring easy logistics for both incoming raw materials and shipment of products. The investment was initially announced on October 28, 2010.
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11.07.2012
Neenah Paper, Inc. today reported earnings from continuing operations of $0.55 per diluted common share in the third quarter of 2012 compared with earnings of $0.42 per share in the third quarter of 2011. After excluding costs of $0.01 per share ($0.3 million pre-tax) to integrate purchased fine paper brands, adjusted earnings in the third quarter of 2012 were $0.56 per share.
“Our teams continue to execute well, with both business segments delivering double-digit earnings growth and improved efficiencies. With working capital improving as expected, we generated record cash flow that was used to further reduce debt”
Net sales of $206.3 million in the third quarter of 2012 rose 18 percent compared to $174.9 million in the third quarter of 2011, while consolidated operating income increased 30 percent, growing to $16.3 million in the current quarter from $12.5 million in the third quarter of 2011. Results include the acquisition of selected fine paper brands from Wausau Paper Corporation in January 2012.
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11.07.2012
September 2012 US commercial printing shipments were $6.97 billion, down -$232 million, or -3.2% versus September 2011. On an inflation-adjusted basis, shipments were down -$375mil, or -5.1%.
For the first nine months of 2012, shipments were down -$1.3 billion on a current dollar basis (-2.1%, and -4.2% an inflation adjusted basis).
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11.07.2012
The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor increased 6.8 points from September to October, the largest one-month increase in the history of the Monitor. The Monitor is a 5-year-old daily poll tracking economic confidence and spending intentions of nearly 8,200 consumers throughout the month. October’s 98.1 rating is an all-time high for the Monitor.
The percent of consumers rating the U.S. economy as good or excellent increased to 18 percent in October, up 5 percentage points from September 2012 and 11 percentage points from October 2011. In advance of the last presidential election in October 2008, only 8 percent of consumers rated the U.S. economy as good or excellent.
While 51 percent of consumers viewed the economy as poor in October, this was a 5-point decrease from September 2012 and an 18-point decrease from October 2011.
From September 2012 to October 2012, male and female respondents who rated the economy as good or excellent increased by 7 points to 20 percent and 4 points to 16 percent, respectively.
Respondents expecting the economy to improve increased 5 points from the prior month and 21 points from October 2011 to a Monitor-high 35 percent.
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11.07.2012
Macy’s, Inc. today reported strong third quarter earnings that underscore the company’s continued progress in implementing key business strategies to drive growth. Earnings were 36 cents per diluted share for the third quarter of 2012, ended Oct. 27, 2012. This compares with earnings of 32 cents per diluted share in last year’s third quarter.
Sales in the third quarter totaled $6.075 billion, up 3.8 percent from total sales of $5.853 billion in the third quarter of 2011. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc.’s third quarter sales were up 3.7 percent.
For the year to date, Macy’s, Inc. sales totaled $18.336 billion, up 3.7 percent from total sales of $17.681 billion in the first 39 weeks of 2011. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc.’s year-to-date sales were up 3.7 percent.
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11.07.2012
MWV Specialty Chemicals, a division of MeadWestvaco Corporation, announced a definitive agreement to purchase the remaining outstanding ownership stake of Resitec Industria Quimica, Ltda., a Brazilian company that serves the Latin American Pine Chemicals industry. MWV and South Africa-based AECI Limited (JSE: AFE) have held a 50-50 joint venture partnership interest in Resitec for the past four years. The decision to move Resitec to one owner was made jointly. The agreement is contingent on final government approvals. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We’ve had a successful four-year joint venture partnership interest in Resitec, and we are pleased to have them join MWV as we continue to accelerate our growth in emerging markets,” said Ed Rose, president, MWV Specialty Chemicals. “The Resitec employees have built a strong business, and we look forward to their continued support in serving our customers. This transaction represents MWV’s commitment to pine chemicals, which is core to our business in Brazil and in Latin America. We will leverage our innovative products and strong technical expertise with current customers, and in expanded markets, including oilfield, adhesives and paving solutions to profitably grow in this important region,” he added.
“Growth in Brazil remains an important component of AECI’s strategy,” said Dr. Graham Edwards, CEO of AECI. “The company has reviewed and refined the details of this strategy in terms of its preferred target markets and business model. Whilst involvement in Resitec has been invaluable for acquiring local knowledge and experience as a platform for future expansion, AECI concluded that Resitec is not ideally aligned with its core strategy.”
With approximately 115 employees, Resitec’s operations include a manufacturing facility located in the city of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, an administrative office located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro and a tall oil refinery in the city of Palmeira, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Resitec currently provides chemical products for the rubber, lubricants, food and adhesives markets, and will expand its offerings to include asphalt and oilfield markets following the acquisition.
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11.06.2012
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-based services in areas of scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly research; professional practice; and global education, today announced a partnership with The Sheridan Press, print and publication services provider to the STM and scholarly journal community. Through this partnership Wiley’s online only journal titles will be available as Print on Demand (POD) copies, delivered through Sheridan’s sophisticated production system. Starting in January 2013, a total of 145 online only titles will now be available in print via this solution.
Over the past several years, The Sheridan Press has built state-of-the-art digital capabilities that include a proprietary interactive customer portal that generates orders for high quality digital POD journals for a growing number of STM publishers.
The partnership provides Wiley customers with full order processing capability for print copies of journals. This new service reflects Wiley’s commitment to honor customer content delivery choices while providing a greater focus on digital publishing.
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11.06.2012
Some 85 percent of companies have more complex supply chains as a result of globalization, and adjusted climate forecasts mean businesses should expect climate change to have an even more destructive effect than previously assumed on supply chains, assets and infrastructure, according to two reports from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The first PwC report, 10 Minutes – Risk ready: New approaches to environmental and social change, says many companies now view preparation for climate change as not only an indicator of resilience, but also as a competitive advantage.
The report, published as the northeast begins recovering from Hurricane Sandy, says the ability to anticipate — and plan for — potential weather disasters is vital. Companies should embed sustainability practices into their business models to mitigate the risks associated with these major weather events.
One way to build resilience is to increase buffers — the margins that provide short-term space needed to absorb shock after a disaster. PwC uses PG&E as an example of how to put these buffers in place.
Because California’s temperatures rise between May and October, which means higher electricity demand, the utility implemented a voluntary program for small commercial and residential customers who agree to shift their power use in exchange for discounts. PwC reports there are 25,000 PG&E customers participating, resulting in a 16 percent reduction on high-load days.
Natural disasters are costly, PwC says, and only 33 percent of $380 billion lost in 2011 to natural disasters was covered by insurance. Natural resources like water and energy continue to be strained, and working closely with suppliers can help pinpoint issues.
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11.06.2012
HarperCollins and R.R. Donnelley have signed a new agreement that will create one centralized warehouse that will serve as the distribution site for all HC U.S. titles, including those published by its Christian publishing division that houses Zondervan and Thomas Nelson. Harper said it expects the new facility to be opened next summer and that it will close its two warehouses in Scranton, Penn. and Nashville.
“We have taken a long-term, global view of our print distribution and are committed to offering the broadest possible reach for our
authors," said HC CEO Brian Murray."We are retooling the traditional distribution model to ensure we can competitively offer the entire HarperCollins catalog to customers regardless of location.”
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11.06.2012
National Geographic magazine has launched an iPhone edition with its November 2012 issue, providing daily updates and rich content, including stunning video of penguins leaping out of icy waters by BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Paul Nicklen as well as never-before-seen, high-definition, slow-motion footage of cheetahs.
The iPhone edition has daily feeds of news, Instagram photographs from magazine photographers on assignment and photos from the magazine’s online community of fan photographers, offering unique, fresh content each time a user opens the app. Additionally, users will get new, photo-based jigsaw puzzles daily, based on the popular puzzle page of the magazine’s website. Three of the feature articles in the app will be available as audio recordings.
“Designing the magazine for the iPhone required rethinking the entire user experience,” said Bill Marr, National Geographic’s creative director. “We’ve organized the content so that it is easy to navigate on the phone, with text, photos and video arranged in a way that allows users to quickly find what they want. We’ve also simplified our interactive graphics for the iPhone screen and added audio recordings, so users can listen on the go. Most of all, we’ve tried to make the app fun — with daily puzzles and photo feeds that people can enjoy any time they open it.”
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11.06.2012
Hearst Corporation today signed an agreement with Milliman, Inc., pursuant to which Hearst will acquire Milliman Care Guidelines LLC, a leading provider of evidence-based clinical healthcare databases. The announcement was made by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., CEO of Hearst Corporation, and Richard P. Malloch, president of Hearst Business Media.
Upon completion of the deal, Milliman Care Guidelines will be managed as part of Hearst’s healthcare group, which includes Zynx Health and First Databank. The healthcare group, along with information businesses serving the automotive and electronics industries and Hearst’s ownership in Fitch Ratings comprise Hearst Business Media. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 following receipt of necessary government approvals.
“The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly and Milliman Care Guidelines is positioned to benefit greatly from a shift to accountable care organizations and continued reliance on clinical decision support,” Bennack said. “Given all the factors, this is an area that we think is not only a good business for Hearst but one that will also significantly benefit the public as healthcare changes and advances are made.”
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11.06.2012
CROWN Beverage Packaging North America, a business unit of Crown Holdings, Inc., is debuting a new 10oz beverage can that offers specialty beverage brands a stylish alternative to traditional drink packaging. The sleek new can is the perfect choice for brands that are seeking to hit a different retail price point in certain markets as well as differentiate wellness and portion-controlled drinks such as low-calorie sodas by choosing a slimmer, eye-catching format.
The new can has been developed in part to meet the growing popularity among consumers for specialty beverages that are not typically packaged in traditional 12oz cans. The new addition marks the first time that a 10oz beverage can has been produced in the sleeker 58mm diameter line, providing increased flexibility for brands.
“While beers and carbonated soft drinks are typically packaged in 12oz cans, certain markets and consumers tend to enjoy their favorite brands and/or specialty beverages such as health drinks and iced coffee in smaller volumes. The new can meets that need while also enabling brands to stand out on store shelves with a fresh, original look,” said Neill Mitchell, Vice President Marketing and Strategic Development, CROWN Beverage Packaging North America. “Crown’s expansion of its product line reflects our commitment to help our customers respond to consumer demands.”
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