Wine in a box finally became a reality, so could wine in a can be too far behind? A European beverage can manufacturer has unveiled a “protected quality,” airtight and light-proof seal for wine in cans, promising a shelflife of 12 months. It claims the 200ml or 250ml aluminum cans are suitable for all wines. In Europe, canned wine—admittedly a small portion of the market—has enjoyed double-digit growth, while single-serve bottle sales have remained stagnant.
Asia and Africa would appear to be the markets poised for the greatest growth in alcoholic beverages, judging by the latest statistics from market researcher Canadean. Beer volumes will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.8% in Asia and 4.6% in Africa through 2016. By contrast, North American growth is expected to dip to -0.6%, with Western Europe faring little better—0.5%.