During last 10 years food processing industry was intensively increasing consumption of plastic, cardboard and aluminum package on the background of relative decrease of glass bottle consumption. Yet recent trend is gradual recover of interest to traditional glass package, inarguable advantages of which are correspondence to sanitary norms, usage of natural raw materials, see-through features, no interaction with content, and wide diversity of design and types from glass bottle manufacturer.
The article highlights main peculiarities and trends of Russian market of glass bottles revealed by the research executed by MRA “Business-Rating” in March 2007.
Investigation of the market of glass containers showed that this package type is preferred by 45% of beer consumers, by more than 80% of consumers of other alcoholic drinks, and by 10–15% of sauce consumers.
Main consumers of glass containers in Russian Federation are manufacturers of alcoholic glass beverage bottle. * Thus dynamics of demand for glass bottles is determined by production dynamics of alcoholic drinks including beer, vodka, liquors, hard drinks, wines and wine beverages. In 2006 beer accounted for 85% in total output of alcoholic drinks, vodka and liquors covered 10%, wines and wine drinks – 5%.
In 2006 output of alcoholic beverages constituted 1183.8 million decaliters which was by 10% more than in 2005 and by 80% more than in 2000.** The highest increase was demonstrated by still/sparkling grape wines and beer. Still grape wines grew by 48% as compared to 2005 and by 3.9 times as compared to 2000. Increase of champagne/sparkling grape wines constituted 8% as compared to 2005, and in comparison to 2000 output increased by 2.5 times. Average annual increase of beer constituted 8–11%. As compared to 2000 production of this beverage increased by 1.86 times. Vodka on the contrary demonstrated output reduction by 9% as compared to 2005. Production of this hard drink during the review period constituted on the average about 120 000 thousand decaliters annually.