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CU Business Review: Colorado’s becoming “beverage”-can capital
Oct 15th
More than 92 billion aluminum beverage cans were sold in the U.S. in 2011 reflecting a decline in annual sales — particularly among standard 12-ounce cans — since the industry’s peak five years prior.
But a number of Colorado companies, including Ball Corp., are well positioned to tap new markets in the evolving industry. Ball employs more than 3,000 workers statewide, and packaging accounts for 90 percent of the company’s sales.
“Beverage industry employment is growing faster than manufacturing employment and total employment in the state and is outperforming beverage manufacturing employment nationally,” said Richard Wobbekind, editor of the quarterly Colorado Business Review.
According to the latest edition of the review, published by the Business Research Division of the Leeds School of Business, the U.S. beverage can market remains quite healthy with a unit share of just over 40 percent.
Experts attribute the sales decline of 12-ounce cans to weak economic growth, which has consumers “trading down” to less expensive products, among other factors.
By contrast, demand for specialty can sizes grew at a robust rate of approximately 15 percent last year. From the 5.5-ounce mini-can to the 32-ounce jumbo can, brand owners are leveraging the unique sizes and shapes of the beverage cans to drive differentiation in the market.
One well-known specialty package from Ball is the Alumi-Tek bottle, or aluminum pint. Brewers have enjoyed great success with the bottles, which offer re-closable caps. Craft beers and wines have increasingly found their way into aluminum cans. Even water sold in cans has grown more than 30 percent since 2008.
“The current decrease in the U.S. beverage can market is more a sign of progress than one of decline as the industry shifts away from reliance on just the 12-ounce can,” says Jim Peterson, vice president of marketing and corporate affairs for Ball Corp. “Ball is expanding into new products and capabilities to meet demand.”
Peterson cites more than $175 million in investment across the U.S., including $60 million in Colorado for a new specialty can line in the company’s Golden, Colo., facility and a nearly $5 million expansion of its package research and development operations in Westminster, Colo.
Colorado beverage makers also benefit from state laws that support self-distribution, allowing young brands and small producers to go to market. New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colo., America’s third-largest craft brewery, started selling beer out of the back of a station wagon.
The Business Research Division of CU-Boulder’s Leeds School of Business conducts Colorado-focused economic and marketing studies, collaborating with faculty researchers, government entities, business leaders, nonprofit organizations and students. For more information visit http://leeds.colorado.edu/brd#coloradobusinessreview.
New Medicare open enrollment period runs Oct. 15-Dec. 7
Oct 15th
Boulder County, Colo. – The new Medicare open enrollment period begins today, Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7.
Open enrollment gives seniors a chance to make changes to their Part D (prescription drug) and Medicare Advantage plans.
These changes can only made during the open enrollment period.
“It is so important for seniors and caregivers to look at their plans every year, because plan costs and what they cover can change,” said Jan Van Sickle, Medicare Counselor for the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging.
The BCAAA is hosting free one-on-one counseling sessions throughout the county to help seniors choose the right plan. All sessions are by appointment and can be made by calling the session location directly:
- Boulder, 303-441-4388
- Lafayette, 303-665-9052
- Longmont, 303-651-8411
- Louisville, 303-666-7400
- Mountains, 303-441-1546
For more information, please call the BCAAA Medicare Counseling program line at 303-441-1546 or go to www.BoulderCountyMedicareHelp.org.