From 1st April 2009, increased sanctions in England and Wales came into force, which are designed to penalise those who persistently break the law by illegally selling tobacco to those under the age of 18.

African Coffee with hints of fruit and berries and robust aroma Tanzania by Starbucks will soon be introduced into the Russian market. Packaged Tanzania is a medium-bodied coffee with unmistakably East-African characteristics. It has crisp, clean flavor with refined berry and bright citrus notes.

The classic Hershey’s Kiss shape is an icon. Now this packaged candies became jewelry. The new collection by World Trade Jewelers, which celebrates the Hershey’s Kiss and is the official Hershey’s Kiss jewelry line

The extra special new Pepsi Shiso herb-infused soda is coming to Japan soon. Shiso is a Japanese name for perilla and it is used for salads, sashimi and pizza.

Campari®, the legendary one-of-a-kind spirit, announced today a new range of contemporary art initiatives bolstering its role as both a modern patron and muse for the visual arts. Through its patronage, Campari seeks to support and highlight the work of emerging artists through exhibitions, commissions and programs

Bacardi and cocktail mixer company Funkin have partnered to launch a co-branded Mojito mixer product and persuade pubs of the profitability and ease of making the cocktail.

Suntory Foods Ltd. will introduce a 10 per cent thinner product label on its nonalcoholic beverages coming in 500ml PET bottles with the aim of cutting down carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 10 per cent.

The recession is taking a bite out of the once-hot 100-calorie pack business. A report by market research firm Mintel last week outlined the reasons why: Concerns about taste, price, sustainability and efficacy are trumping 100-calorie packs’ raison d’etre.

Richard Petty, the most decorated driver in the history of NASCAR, and Anheuser-Busch announced today they are teaming up on a new Budweiser responsibility campaign aimed at reminding fans to use a designated driver.

Mars Snackfood US highlighted its innovations through new products and promotions, while underscoring its values to consumers through the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act™.

Coca-Cola’s famous curvy contour bottle hits Philadelphia store shelves this week, and it is bigger and better than ever! The Philadelphia market is the first in the northeastern U.S. to introduce the convenient two-liter version of the iconic package.

Ketel One, a super-premium vodka created in Schiedam, Holland, now owned 50/50 by Diageo and Nolet family, unveils a new advertising campaign, “Gentlemen, This is Vodka.”

Swedish vodka brand Absolut is to introduce Absolut No Label – a limited-edition bottle without a label – in a bid to challenge prejudice against sexual minorities.

McDonald’s Europe aims to use packaging produced using 100% renewable sources by 2010, the fast-food chain revealed in its sustainability report this week.

After a full day judging event and interviews conducted with three finalists, Pierre Collard from university ENSAV La Cambre in Brussels was rewarded the Amcor Flexibles Packaging Design Prize for his entry ‘Squeeze’.

British American Tobacco, which owns brands such as Lucky Strike, Kent and Pall Mall, has made three prototype products made of “less toxic” tobacco  for the GBP 6m analysis.

Thandie Newton is the face of a new Martini campaign, it has been announced. The British-born actress will front their Stay Beautiful campaign and will be the ambassador for a new rose version of the drink.

Diageo Global Travel & Middle East (GTME) has kicked off a major global celebration of the 100th anniversary of its best-selling deluxe Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Bacardi-Martini has planned some promotion activities for Jack Daniel’s whosky brand this summer and autumn. The ‘Friends of Jack’ training is part of a range of initiatives announced by the company with a view to cementing Jack Daniel’s place in the top 10 UK drinks brands.

Nestle S.A. today launched its first Japan-based research unit for fundamental scientific research. The research unit, part of Nestle Science and Research in Switzerland, is based at the University of Tokyo, and focuses on fundamental research in nutrition and health.

Coca-Cola Great Britain has launched a mobile voucher scheme, provided by PayPoint and i-movo, to allow consumers to try a free 500ml bottle of ‘Fanta’, ‘Sprite’ or ‘Dr Pepper‘.

Starbucks Coffee Company today announced that Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew has been voted “Most Innovative New Product of the Year” following an industry-wide survey by Allegra Strategies1.

Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division has unveiled plans to focus on gifting opportunities and sampling experiences, despite the economic downturn.

French dairy giant Danone has unveiled plans to open a new research and development centre in the Netherlands to specialise in baby and medical nutrition.

Suntory, the Japanese drinks firm, has launched Hibiki 12-year-old whisky in the UK as it looks to expand the brand on the world stage.

Jim Beam will sell specialty bottles of Bourbon to help raise awareness for the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, an organization dedicated to the well-being of firefighters and their families and Operation Homefront

Carlsberg Chill, the Asian brand in Carlsberg Group portfolio, has launched an outdoor interactive campaign in Shanghai’s bus shelters to record the happiness levels of citizens.

P&G’s Downy fabric softener, in partnership with Quilts for Kids, Inc., has launched the Downy Touch of Comfort program. This program will deliver personalized, hand-made quilts to children staying in Children’s Miracle Network hospitals throughout the country, helping to give them a moment to smile during their tough times.

7UP invites consumers to enter for a chance to win seven days of natural fun and relaxation through the 7UP “7 Dias de Sevenisima” contest, running May 18 through August 2 nationwide.

Havana Club International has unveiled a revamp of the packaging for its seven-year-old Havana Club rum variant.

The company, a joint venture between Pernod Ricard and Cuba Ron, said late last week that the makeover of Havana Club Añejo 7 años will roll out globally during the summer.

Pepsi Max will be giving away £1 million pounds in its Max it for a Million on-pack promotion, which will give consumers the chance to win £10,000 everyday, announced Britvic and PepsiCo.

India’s largest beer maker, United Breweries (UB), has reached a deal to bottle and distribute Heineken brands in the country, according to the Economic Times.

PepsiCo has unveiled a press campaign for Gatorade, which features Brazilian footballer Kaka and supports the TV activity.

The overall campaign, called ‘we love sweat’, is being back by GBP 2m and rolls out on 16 May. The press ads also feature Usain Bolt, the 100m Olympic Champion and Delon Armitage, the England Rugby back.

With the heat of summer fast approaching, Starbucks welcomes the season with the arrival of its refreshing classic cold coffee beverages. Flavors come alive when freshly brewed Starbucks Terraza Blend is served over ice, lightly sweetened and customized with or without milk.

Nestle UK is gearing up for the launch of Rowntree Randoms, which is set to be the company’s major new sugar confectionery event for 2009.

Muller UK is opening up a whole new chapter in development of Cadbury’s hugely successful Wispa brand which has taken the market by storm since it was re-launched in October 2007.

Backyard chefs looking to add extra flair to steaks and standard grilling fare this season can turn to a savory new sauce with the flavor of a classic favorite – Lea & Perrins Thick Classic Worcestershire Sauce.

The Coca-Cola Company is developing a new type of bottle that could replace at least some of the environmentally harmful plastic it and other beverage makers now use with more Earth-friendly material made from sugarcane and molasses.

Kraft Foods is expanding its reach of consumers through the launch of a new mobile Web site, which will be promoted via mobile search and banner ads on Yahoo’s Web portal.

Loctite® Super Glue by Henkel has secured a spot in the record books, earning the Guinness World Record™, the world authority on record-breaking achievements, for the “heaviest vehicle ever lifted with a commercially available glue.”

Cadbury has overhauled the packaging for its Dairy Milk Buttons range to highlight the brand’s ‘playfulness’. The redesigned packs, by agency Pearlfisher, feature images of cartoon animals with chocolate-button eyes.

This year Nestle is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beloved Nestle Push-Up frozen snack. To celebrate this occasion the company is introducing two whimsical flavors to delight a new generation of families.

A new PepsiCo resource devoted to growing the foodservice trade is coming online, bringing valuable data and insights to restaurant operators within one click at GrowMyRestaurant.com.

Groupe Danone is to remove its Taillefine bottled water brand from the shelves by the end of the year, because it’s not in compliance with European regulations on bottled water.

Danimals brand yogurt from The Dannon Company, Inc., White Plains, NY, offers a new wrinkle: The yogurt is sold in “crush cups.” The cups are molded with accordian-style pleated sides that permit them to be squeezed to dispense the yogurt for direct eating from the cup.

Frito-Lay North America, Plano, TX, a division of PepsiCo, has announced a new partnership with TerraCycle, Inc., an upcycling company that will take used packaging from Frito-Lay snack products and turn them into affordable, quality goods.

In a test of brand power, Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice hopes to entice visitors to its website with the lure of merchandise.

The Wrigley Company is delighted to announce some exciting news from its newly-acquired sugar brands portfolio. Wrigley is providing retailers with incremental sales opportunities by way of a hatrick of new initiatives which are set to shake up the confectionery aisle this summer.

London-based Bloom designed a limited edition bottle to mark the 100 year anniversary of both Johnnie Walker Black Label and Selfridges. The Coca-Cola Company and Absolut have launched their Yellow Centenary Bottles as well.

Specially for the Mother’s Day in US Diageo North America offers holiday $3 rebates for each purchased Baileys’ bottle. In order to take this offer the customers in US should fill in the discount coupon and send it by mail.

BACARDI(R) announced the launch of the BACARDI(R) Classic Cocktail Raspberry Mojito, the second addition to its ready-to-drink (RTD) portfolio.

Coca-Cola GB has unveiled its first ‘Open Happiness’ campaign in the UK, using an exclusive track called ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah, La La La’, by Scottish singer and producer Calvin Harris.

V8 V-Fusion 100% juice, the brand owned by Campbell Soup Company, is introducing two new delicious varieties with the on-trend flavors of some of today’s hottest superfruits: Goji Raspberry and Passionfruit Tangerine.

As part of its successful 2009 Footvolley campaign, Pepsi has today announced the launch of a gripping and interactive online game that allows users to compete as their favourite football stars.

Pernod Ricard, an extremely active group worldwide, is developing specific product creations for a number of international markets with a view to meeting its strategic and future-oriented objectives.

Kimberly-Clark is running ads promoting its Kleenex anti-viral tissues in UK following the launch of a government swine-flu prevention campaign that promotes the use of tissues.

Unilever is planning to encourage more women to engage with its portfolio of brands, which include Dove and Persil, through an incentive-driven “co-creation” site that launches this week.

The Coca-Cola Company announced a ‘refreshed’ line-up of fountain and bottle beverages that will be added to McDonald’s U.S. restaurants, beginning this year. This effort – part of a larger beverage strategy – will provide McDonald’s customers even more beverage choices

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., the leading American spirits company, and Courvoisier® Cognac, one of the world’s leading cognac brands, has launched a new decadent chocolate truffle range.

Smirnoff Ice, one of Diageo’s premium malt beverages, announced today a strategic partnership with Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group in the United States.

Rieke Dispensing’s versatile RS30 pump dispenser has been selected by P&G Professional, the business-to-business division of Procter & Gamble, for 5 litre containers of the company’s market-leading Fairy Expert washing up liquid.

Nestle Waters has confirmed plans to sell Russian water bottling company Saint Springs (”Sviatoy Istochnik”), to IDS Group, the Russian-Ukrainian bottler responsible for carbonated water brand Borjomi.

As BAT UK reports, Lucky Strike Silver packs from mid-May will feature a new blue bullseye. With its unique ‘toasted’ Lucky Strike blend, this blue bullseye packaging is designed to help smokers differentiate between the two blends

Famed French champagne house Veuve Clicquot is known for many innovative products designed to enhance the experience of enjoying their world-class wine.

The Spanish design firm with several offices worldwide CB’a Graell redesigned the packaging of the full range of Nestle Extrafino. A gamble to put their own codes and graphics to achieve a powerful brand architecture.

At the start of the ‘cans of beer season’ in The Netherlands – Queen’s Day – Grolsch offers the solution to lukewarm cans of beer: ‘COOL’. With COOL, Grolsch will help the consumer enjoy delightfully cold cans of beer.

Heinz has finally announced that it has appointed Pearlfisher to its design roster, almost six months after it initiated a review of its packaging design consultancies.

To celebrate Selfridges 100the Anniversary Absolut vodks brand unveils new bright yellow plastic limited edition case in UK!

Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever has announced its intention to buy Baltimor Holding, the parent of Russian ketchup maker Baltimor.

The British Cheese Board commissioned the ‘Cheese Futures’ competition to challenge and explore the current boundaries of cheese packaging, and identify what consumers might expect to see on supermarket shelves in the future.

Summit Publishing Company’s Greener Package will recognize outstanding achievement in the area of sustainable packaging with the 2009 Greener Package Awards.

Art. Lebedev Studio designed the packaging for marmalade “Lemon pieces”. Available in Russian branded stores at $ 5.77.

The packaging for the newer, larger sized sweet Anglo Bubbly for Tangerine Confectionary has been designed by The Spirit of… which will also work on the marketing of the bubble gum.

The Maestro is a new champagne opening system, developed by Alcan Packaging Capsules. It looks similar to a regular champagne top but there is a large lever on the side. You need to simpy lift it up and the bottle is opened without any sounds.

Magdalena Czarnecki is a graphic designer, Swedish by origin, based in Australia. She is a last year graduate of Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney, Australia.

Now the passengers of the Russian railways have a chance to taste for free the Knorr ‘Mug of soup’ and have fun with its ‘checkers’ packaging.

This summer SUN InBev presents Klinskoye Light in can with thermosign which is new for Russian market! It is well-known that the beer needs to be not only correctly chosen and consumed but correctly chilled. After all the beer chilled at right temperature exposes its best features.

Verena Panholzer from the Austrian design studio Wortwerk created a bold chic packaging for 70% dark chocolate produced by Oberlaa Vienna-based factory.

Juli Shore Design is California based brand and design studio, founded in 2007 by  the talanted designer Juli Shore.

Among her beautiful works one of them has caught our attention. That’s a range of tea produced by Highland Tea Co. The packaging was designed with “English” look and feel.

Inspired by the long sun-kissed summer days of the French Riviera, world-renowned hotelier Andre Balazs has produced a Sunset Beach Rose in collaboration with long time friend and local Long Island winemaker, Christian Wolffer.

The packaging designed by the Polish graphic artist Ryszard Bienert from 3-group studio has been named the “Package design of the day” by Design and Design.

The work called “Walking calendar” created for ТМ HUGGIES by Graphic design studio by Yurko Gutsulyak has won Gold at the European Design Awards 2009, nomination for the Best Calendar.

Randy Ludacer, the professioanl packaging designer and the author of great packaging blog Box Vox designed his own ‘glamourous’ bling-bling customized bottle.

Research Studios Paris is a creative agency specializing in graphic design, creative direction and brand identity. RSP has 4 European offices in Paris, London, Berlin and Barcelona.

At the end of 2003 international retailer HEMA contacted the Dutch design firm Koeweiden Postma to ask them to design a number oа packaging for food ranges.

The packaging for McVitie’s newly launched range of Mini Crossiants has been designed by Chilli. The Leeds based brand consultancy has created the packaging for both the Chocolate and Strawberry flavours to be brightly coloured and strongly branded as it looks to gain instant appeal with consumers.

Long Island Spirits, Inc. announced today that it has received a very prestigious score of “92” in the May 2009 edition of Tasting Panel Magazine.

One more interesting work by Danish DesignBolaget — Granola branding and packaging for a coffee range. The illustration by Rasmus Meisler features ‘a boy from the past’ in a military old-fashioned cap, who resembles a Soviet pioneer (boy scout).

This project by the Greek Chris Trivizas Design studio scooped a number of prestigious accolades in communication design, among which is the Red Dot Design Awards 2008.

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC [NYSE: WBD], Russia’s leading producer of healthy food products, today announced that it has been ranked 37th globally by Forbes magazine and the Reputation Institution in their 2009 survey of the World’s Most Reputable Companies survey.

The Belorussian Akim Melnik’s design studio has created the concept, brand icon identity and packaging design for a candy brand ‘Borka the Calt’.

The French design agency Id en Courbe under creative direction by Tommaso Nicolao has designed packaging for a natural cosmetic line Taaj.

The Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III demands admiration, reverence, honor.  This luxury single malt whisky from the Highlands of Scotland honors the selfless, heroic act of the MacKenzie Clan founder for saving King Alexander III in the year 1263. 

Not a new one, but really impressive packaging design for thr Japanese brand Askul created by the Swedish deisgn firm Stockholm Design Lab. The Winner of EDAwards 2007.

Quoted as being, “A beautiful brew by ES magazine,” Choi Time brings this magnificently refreshing delicate Chinese tea. Boasting a wealth of health benefits, the tonic will help relieve anxiety and stress, as well as boosting circulation giving your skin a healthy glow and nourishing your organs inside and out.

Being hailed as the smoker’s smart choice, e-cigarettes are easy to make considering the reality of becoming an instant modern smoker. Because they are absent thousands of additives and carcinogens, the new wave of e-cigarettes are more cost effective and more convenient than traditional cigarettes.

Beautiful packaging design (concept or real product?) for  22 Peñaclara mineral water by the Spanish agency of visual communications Calcco.

On the 16th May the winners of the National Advertising Festival in Russia IDEA 2009! were annonunced. There are 3 winners in the “Packaging anf label” subcategory.

The Bulgarian graphic designer Jordan Jelev has unveiled his new project – the labels with hand made calligraphy for Rousse Winery – Bulgaria.

After posting double-digit growth rates last year, Modelo Especial by Crown Imports, the rich, full-flavored pilsner-style beer and No. 3 imported beer in the U.S., will debut new creative as part of a two-pronged advertising campaign in 2009.

Pop-art illustrations inspired by 1960th, professional skills and a little humour – here is the recipe of a grat packaging for French Paper Pop Ink Soap by Minneapolis based design firm Charles S. Anderson Design.

203 year-old Gosling’s Rum of Bermuda has joined with 127 year-old Polar Beverages of Massachusetts to create, package and distribute what both are calling the definitive ginger beer soft drink.

Twelve Beverage is a sophisticated, culinary inspired non-alcoholic beverage for fine dining and entertaining.

Created in a base of organic white, green, and black teas with a select mix of herbs, spices, and citrus essence. Twelve complements food and is equally enjoyable on its own.

The Norwegian design firm Designers Journey won a gold, a silver and a diploma at Visuelt, Norwegian largest competition in Visual Communications.

Sometimes beer branding can be really surprising. Lobotomy Bock by Indian Wells Brewing Co. is a good example. Strange naming reflects the brand’s positioning:  ‘if you drink a lot you’ll feel like you’ve had a frontal lobotomy the next day’.

Packaging design for Cambria natural fresh juice – is a new work by US based creative Hangar Studio. Really fresh and clear, non-typical approach to juice tetrapaks.

Turner Duckworth has been nominated for a D&AD Silver pencil, and has been selected for inclusion in three sections of the prestigiousdesign annual. The already award-winning Coca-Cola brand identity is nominated for a Silver in the Integrated Graphics competition.

In this year D&AD competition Wolff Olins has won a number of awards for their package design work for Living Proof. Awards include

Tesco, the #1 UK retailer and the 4th in the world market, is taking in-store recycling to a new level by running trials in selected stores that allow customers to leave packaging behind in store for recycling.

The Norwegian design studio Tank have refreshed the seasonal beer range for Mack Brewing Company.

According to brief they were committed to create a redesign of an existing season series including Vårøl (Spring Beer), Sommerøl (Summer Beer), Høstøl (Autumn Beer) and Mørketidsøl (Dark Season Beer).

Not a new one, but a very designer solution, this project “Juice of the Barley” was a winner of the Nastro Azzurro Design Award Competition held in Milan for the best reuse of a Nastro Azzurro bottle.

Darts Farm near Exeter has become the first UK retailer to stock the locally produced five litre Frobishers. The award-winning food and drink emporium, which specialises in top quality local produce has already reported healthy sales and great interest in the “wine-box”

Hydrive Energy is extending their line of enhanced water energy drinks into a convenient new edible form – soft chew. According to the company, Energy Chews deliver all the benefits of Hydrive Energy Drinks – great taste, vitamins, electrolytes, antioxidants.

Te Waihou Reserve – a premium New Zealand bottled water – is set to make a splash on the multi-million dollar local bottled water industry.

Sake continues its slow but inexorable push into cocktails and bottles, this time with Gekkeikan’s Zipang Sparkling Sake beverage.

Żywiec is one of the best known Polish beers with a long history and rich heritage. It belongs to the premium segment as the highest quality benchmark for years. However, the brand identity and the packaging started to lose their ‘modern classic’ edge.

Design of letterpress wine label for Shirah brand wine (Conflict of Interest winery, California) belongs to Miller Creative consulting design agency.

Provocation and sensuality are always in fashion trendy. The new niche alternative brand Neotantric Fragrances from Sweden confirms that.

Pacific Natural Foods has launched 12 new ready-to-drink organic beverages served in an aseptic prisma package.

Five more wholesome Chex cereals (General Mills’ brand) will now be gluten-free. Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex, Cinnamon Chex and Strawberry Chex are beginning to appear now on grocers’ shelves, and by early summer they will be widely available across the US.

Last year Sukker studio from Norway beautifully redesigned the packaging for the Norwegian specialty cheese “Gamalost frå Vik“.

Frank Tjepkema from Amsterdam based studio Tjep some time ago designed an innovative concept for a soft drink Jane&Jane.

This April the Russian design studio Hattomonkey represented the concept of packaging for a ‘hot’ sauces range  #@$#! (’Hashi’). The project was among the finalists of ADCR Awards 2009, the national competition in advertising and design).

This project by Korean designer Kim Soojung started with the question why no perfume packaging is as beautiful and extraordinary as the perfume scent.

Kimo from UQAM School of Design (Sylvain Allard’s packaging class) though of four beer pack that includes a bottle opener that can be kept for camping or any outdoor activities.

Puelles is a traditional family run winery located in the Rioja region with a strong winemaking tradition. The Puelles family estate produces wines with the utmost care and attention combining tradition with innovation.

The target for Gooh! was to be the first company in the world with three stars in Guide Rouge® for fast food. Implementing this business idea demanded a marriage consultant with the instinctive ability to match up an unexpected couple: The first-class Operakallaren restaurant and the Swedish Farmers Supply and Crop Marketing Association.

Pevonia, the world’s leading supplier of skincare products sold through spas and salons, was mainly established in the US and Asia. The packaging had not been updated in ten years and no longer met the expectations of a growing clientele for spa care products; sales volumes in this segment were increasing as spa and beauty salon visits became more accessible to all.

Founded in 1896, Perrier has one of the richest legacies in the beverage world. It has a unique status as both a mineral water and soft drink thanks to its powerful bubbles. The brand also has a well-known history of communication (the “Perrier saga”) and design (iconic 33cl bottle).

In keeping with its strategy of steady brand development, the Colgate group decided to capitalize on growth in shower gels and position itself on that market by finding an innovative positioning around one of its major international brands, Palmolive.

Number three in the cognac market when the brand was taken over by Pernod Ricard in 2002, Martell was a sleeping beauty. The flagship Cordon Bleu was popular in Asia, but the brand as a whole did not have the image it deserved and truly lacked coherency and uniformity.

Soupline is the leading fabric softener brand in France with more than 50% of the market. It wanted to give the category fresh momentum by developing a solid single-dose product with twofold benefits for laundry-doers: practicality and pleasure.

Last yaer the French division of Dragon Rouge created packaging and brand concept for a new product on the French market – Tropicana’s smoothies.

In January 2008 Gamburg-based office of The Brand Union has finished the redesign of one of the most famouse German mineral water brands Gerolsteiner. The range of more than 70 SKUs was revamped with the new logo and new graphic elements.

Moscow-based branding agency Plenum has created ‘from scratch’ the new fast food brand Supergyro. Gyro is a popular Greek fast food where the burgers contain potato and eggs. That’s a really fast, safe and substantial dinner for an urban citizen.

By Dr. Kjell A. Nordström

At times of crisis like these, everyone is eager to find a panacea. What can and should agencies do and how should they position themselves when economic and financial problems dominate the marketplace? What measures can be taken to ensure growth or, at least to secure their survival?