BALI INTERFOOD EXPO 2026
2 September – 4 September 2026
Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre
Foodpackagingnetwork.com © COPYRIGHT 2020
EASTFOOD (IIFEX) 2026
18 June – 21 June 2026
Grand City, Surabaya
Capri Sun has expanded its beverage portfolio with the introduction of Capri Sun Hydrate, a new electrolyte drink specifically formulated for children. Positioned among the first offerings of its kind, the product is rolling out across major retailers nationwide. Capri Sun Hydrate features a blend of essential electrolytes and Vitamin E, contains 50 percent less sugar than leading regular sports drinks, and is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. It is available in three flavors—Fruit Punch, Tropical Punch, and Lemon Lime—catering to kids’ hydration needs during activities ranging from sports to everyday outdoor play.
The launch responds to a growing demand from parents seeking healthier hydration options for children. Existing sports drinks in the market are often designed for adults and may not align with children’s taste preferences or nutritional expectations. Capri Sun Hydrate addresses this gap by offering a balanced solution that combines appealing taste with functional hydration benefits, aligning with evolving consumer expectations for lower-sugar, clean-label beverages.
According to Kristina Hannant, Director of Ready-to-Drink Marketing, the new product reflects the brand’s effort to meet the needs of modern families by delivering hydration solutions suited to active lifestyles without unnecessary additives. The launch also coincides with the rising demand for functional beverages, particularly during the summer season when hydration becomes a key concern.
With a significant portion of Capri Sun households already purchasing sports drinks and hydration emerging as one of the fastest-growing beverage segments, the brand is strategically positioned to enter this category. The introduction of Capri Sun Hydrate further builds on the brand’s recent innovations, including multi-serve formats and single-serve bottles that have expanded its presence across convenience and on-the-go consumption channels.
The product also highlights Kraft Heinz’s broader focus on innovation, aimed at addressing shifting consumer preferences through convenience, nutrition, and new consumption occasions. Capri Sun Hydrate will be available at major retail outlets such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon, reinforcing its accessibility to a wide consumer base.
As demand grows for healthier and more balanced menu options across cafés, hotels and institutional kitchens, oats have emerged as a versatile ingredient in modern foodservice. Responding to this shift, Earthling Consumer Products has introduced Wonderfills Oats, designed to support evolving breakfast and nutrition-focused offerings.
Made from 100% whole grains and naturally high in dietary fibre, the new range is developed to help chefs create wholesome and satisfying dishes while maintaining ease of preparation. The product is processed without artificial additives or preservatives, aligning with the increasing preference for clean-label ingredients in professional kitchens.
Suitable for a wide range of applications, Oats by Wonderfills can be incorporated into porridges, breakfast bowls, baked goods and other health-oriented menu formats. Their adaptability allows foodservice operators to cater to diverse consumer preferences, including those seeking lighter, fibre-rich and nutritionally balanced meals.
Beyond versatility, the product is designed to support operational efficiency in high-volume kitchen environments. Consistent quality and ease of use enable chefs to streamline preparation while maintaining taste and nutritional value across servings.
Cherrapunji Eastern Craft Gin has been awarded the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026, one of the most respected industrial design honours in the world. Dating back to 1954, the Red Dot Award evaluates thousands of products annually – from medical devices and automobiles to precision hardware and consumer electronics across over 50 categories. Past winners include Apple, Bose, Ferrari, Sony, and Philips.
Within this context, a spirit bottle appearing in Product Design is an anomaly. Cherrapunji Eastern Craft Gin has been awarded the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026, placing it in a field where alcohol brands rarely exist. The category is not built for packaging. It is built for products that solve, simplify, or rethink use.
The award recognises two specific departures from conventional bottle design. The first is material: the Cherrapunji bottle is constructed from SS304 stainless steel rather than glass — lighter, more resilient, and built for extended use beyond a single lifecycle. The second is function: integrated into the closure is a calibrated measuring system, a built-in jigger delivering precise 30 ml and 60 ml pours. What is typically an external accessory — a separate tool requiring a separate gesture — becomes part of the object itself.
The interaction compresses into a single sequence: open, measure, pour.
The visual language of the bottle, drawing from the landscape and culture of Northeast India, remains, but it does not carry the weight of the design. It is defined by material choice and functional intent. The Red Dot jury evaluated the object for clarity of function, efficiency of interaction, and integration of form and use. On all three criteria, it was found to meet the standard of the category.
For Cherrapunji Eastern Craft Gin, the award does not position the brand within spirits. It places it adjacent to a different lineage — objects designed to perform, not just to be seen.
Avvatar, India’s leading homegrown sports nutrition brand, continues to shape the evolution of the country’s protein snacking category with the launch of its limited-edition Matcha Protein Wafer Bar. This strategic introduction reflects Avvatar’s role in anticipating consumer trends and setting new benchmarks in flavour innovation within functional nutrition.
Blending authentic Japanese matcha with a light, crunchy wafer format, the 40 g bar priced at INR 100 delivers 10 g priced at INR 100 is of high-quality whey protein isolate, offering a differentiated snacking experience that brings together performance, taste, and global inspiration.
As India’s protein consumption narrative shifts from necessity to lifestyle, Avvatar has consistently stayed ahead by not only addressing protein deficiency but also redefining how protein is consumed; making it more accessible, enjoyable, and culturally relevant. The introduction of matcha, a globally celebrated superfood, underscores the brand’s ability to translate international wellness trends into locally relevant offerings.
Speaking on the launch, Akshali Shah, Executive Director, Parag Milk Foods, said:
“At Avvatar, we see ourselves not just as participants in the category, but as its architects. Our focus has always been to lead the shift in how India consumes protein; moving from functional supplementation to experiential nutrition. The Matcha Protein Wafer Bar is a reflection of that vision, where global trends meet Indian consumer aspirations. Having built strong momentum across flavours like Chocolate, Coffee, Tiramisu, and Cheese, this limited-edition launch allows us to stay culturally current while continuing to expand the category.”
Over the past few years, Avvatar has emerged as a key growth engine within Parag Milk Foods’ new-age business, witnessing strong consumer adoption and rapid scale. Its protein wafer bar portfolio has already created a distinct niche by combining indulgence with nutrition; bridging a critical gap in the Indian snacking ecosystem.
Crafted with whey protein isolate and designed for both fitness enthusiasts and flavour-forward consumers, the Matcha variant caters to a new generation of urban consumers who seek clean-label, globally inspired, and convenient nutrition. The limited-edition launch also reflects Avvatar’s agile innovation strategy – leveraging seasonal and trend-led formats to engage its growing community and continuously refresh the category.
The Matcha Protein Wafer Bar will be available across Avvatar’s official website and select retail outlets for a limited period.
With this launch, Avvatar further strengthens its position as a thought leader in India’s evolving sports nutrition landscape driving not just product innovation, but a larger shift in consumer behaviour and expectations.
Tetra Pak, in collaboration with leading Italian dairy company Sterilgarda Alimenti, has unveiled the first-ever 1-litre package featuring a paper-based barrier, marking another significant milestone in the carton packaging industry’s transition towards low-carbon, renewable materials.
Introducing a paper-based barrier into the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1000 Edge carton package – one of the company’s most popular formats with its distinctive slanted top panel – increases the renewable content to 90% when combined with plant-based polymers.
Designed for ambient distribution, the carton supports shelf life and performance comparable to traditional aseptic packaging with an aluminium foil barrier, while reducing the carbon footprint by up to 50%, as verified by the Carbon Trust1.
Giampaolo Rossi, Plant Director at Sterilgarda Alimenti said: “We at Sterilgarda Alimenti stand for tradition and innovation. Through our continuous improvements in technology and product quality, we aim to provide the best possible answers to evolving consumer needs. Conscious consumption is becoming increasingly important, which is why adopting pioneering technologies is key across all our activities. Tetra Pak’s new paper-based barrier is a groundbreaking innovation in beverage packaging and represents a significant contribution to our journey towards greater sustainability.”
Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak commented: “As environmental sustainability continues to shape the food and beverage industry, this innovation is an important step forward. It introduces a new barrier material that helps producers move closer to their environmental goals. For me, this is about harnessing the power of paper to make beverage cartons more renewable. This is the result of working hand-in-hand with our customers, supporting them as they offer responsible choices that consumers increasingly expect.’’
This industry-first news follows another major step in Tetra Pak’s development of next-generation sustainable packaging materials: a €60 million investment in a new pilot plant for paper-based barrier technology at the company’s facility in Lund, Sweden.
Tetra Pak’s aseptic beverage carton with a paper-based barrier was first launched in 2023 in a portion package format on flexible lines. The technology was later expanded to high-speed lines and in 2024, it was recognised as a groundbreaking sustainability innovation in packaging, receiving the “Resource Efficiency” award at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2024.
The paper-based barrier simplifies the carton’s material structure, reducing it from three to two main materials: paper and polymers. The increased paper content can support recycling infrastructure by improving material recovery and quality, while maintaining the strength and rigidity required to protect aseptic products throughout their lifecycle.
To further enhance the environmental profile of food cartons, Tetra Pak is committed to investing approximately €100 million annually through to 2030 in the development of sustainable packaging solutions. This includes the creation of packages with simplified material structures and increased renewable content.
The new GEA MultiJector 500 provides a more adaptable injection platform with a 2mm or 4mm needle pattern. 2mm OptiFlex needles are ideal for tender meats such as poultry, pork bacon, and fish. For denser meats, the taller 4mm OptiFlex needle is recommended. Left: fish – salmon, middle: pork ham, right: chicken wings. Source: GEA
GEA has expanded its injection portfolio with the MultiJector 500, a new brine injection system developed for small- to mid-capacity marination lines handling ham and deli meats, bacon, poultry, and fish. The machine combines configurable needle setups with a modular filtration concept intended to improve product consistency, line availability, and sanitation efficiency. GEA will present the MultiJector 500 at interpack 2026, taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from May 7 to 13. (GEA in hall 6 – booth C27).
The MultiJector 500 joins GEA’s MultiJector family and succeeds earlier systems in the 450 mm width category. It is aimed at processors looking to increase throughput, broaden their product range or update equipment in response to accurate injections to improve brine retention, stricter hygiene requirements, safety, and sustainability requirements.
Built around application-specific injection needs
At the center of the new system is an application-specific needle configuration. Processors are guided towards 2 mm or 4 mm OptiFlex needles, depending on the product and process objective. In injector technology, needle diameter and needle density determine the injection pattern — the distribution of injection points across the product surface. A denser pattern can improve brine dispersion, which is particularly important where uneven curing may lead to microbiological risks, yield loss, or inconsistent product quality. The system is also designed for relatively fast conversion between applications, allowing processors to switch product categories without extended changeover times.
“Processors in the small- and mid-capacity range are under pressure due to greater recipe variation, that results in more and shorter runs and tighter operating margins at the same time,” said Willem Poos, Product Manager at GEA. “The MultiJector 500 was developed to provide a more adaptable injection platform while optimizing the process factors that most often affect uptime, retention, and cleaning effort.”
Injection – a challenging step in the process
In industrial meat processing, injection is more than a dosing operation. It has a direct effect on product safety, yield, retention, and final product uniformity. Yield refers to the right composition of the product after further processing. Retention describes how well the product holds the injected brine during downstream stages such as tumbling, thermal treatment, or packaging. When retention is poor, processors may see drip loss or purge — the release of free liquid after injection — which affects appearance and shelf life.
The MultiJector 500 was engineered to minimize these effects through a revised drive concept, improved brine distribution, and the continued use of OptiFlex needle technology. The drive concept refers to the motion system that controls the injector head, now flexible for 2mm and 4mm execution, reducing mechanical stress on the product and supporting a consistent injection result.
Cleaner-label bacon increases demands on brine distribution
These capabilities are becoming more relevant as formulation trends shift. In bacon processing, for example, producers are increasingly working with cleaner-label formulations that reduce sodium and nitrite levels. These changes can weaken the osmotic effect, the natural movement of water and dissolved substances through meat tissue during curing. If brine is distributed unevenly under those conditions, under-curing may occur, leading to visible color differences, lower yield, and increased microbiological risk. For these applications, GEA offers a 2 mm needle option with a tighter injection pattern intended to improve distribution accuracy.
Poultry applications place filtration under greater strain
Poultry presents a different set of process demands. Because the tissue structure is comparatively delicate, protein release during processing can contaminate recirculated brine more quickly. When filtration performance is limited, needles may clog, leading to unplanned downtime and reduced line availability. To address this, the MultiJector 500 executed with 2mm needles can be configured with the module ScreenFilter of the new Modular Injector Filter, which was developed to maintain brine cleanliness in more demanding applications.
Filtration and cleaning move to the forefront
One of the key engineering additions is the Modular Injector Filter. Filtration plays a central role in injector performance because blocked needles can disrupt both product quality and production flow. The filter is designed for meat, poultry, and seafood applications, with the selected execution matched to the product being processed.
“Filtration performance has a direct impact on process stability,” Willem Poos said. “When needles begin to clog, the consequences extend beyond maintenance. It affects injection accuracy, shift continuity, and ultimately product consistency. The modular filter concept was developed to simplify cleaning while keeping brine quality under control.”
GEA also highlights a special belt removal system that allows tool-free cleaning in less than 10 minutes. In operational terms, this is intended to reduce the burden of intermediate cleaning, which in many plants consumes labor, increases water use, and leads to unnecessary brine disposal.
Ham and deli processing calls for flexibility
In ham and deli applications, where processors often handle wider product variation and smaller batch volumes, GEA offers a 4 mm needle configuration. This version benefits from optimized height adjustment and smooth needle head movement, increasing productive time while supporting gentler product handling with GEA’s renowned stripper plate technology. The machine’s hygienic design also allows for quick rinsing between products and extreme fast exchange of needles and needle blocks, which can be particularly relevant in operations with frequent product changeovers.
Responding to current pressures in food processing
The launch comes as processors face growing pressure to reconcile product quality with leaner formulations and tighter resource management. Across meat, poultry and fish applications, recurring challenges include uneven brine distribution, under-curing, clogged needles, repeated intermediate cleaning, and time-consuming sanitation of all machine components. These issues influence not only throughput, but also water consumption, waste generation, and labor allocation.
GEA positions the MultiJector 500 as a response to those combined pressures. In one operating scenario cited by the company, uninterrupted production over an eight-hour shift — without stopping for filter cleaning or needle replacement – can save one to two hours of lost production time. Additional gains may come from lower water and brine losses and reduced dumping of contaminated brine. The patented needle block system and the further-improved OptiFlex needles are designed to be particularly robust and durable. The needles’ high mechanical strength helps extend replacement intervals and reduce associated operating costs.
Part of a broader marination line concept
The MultiJector 500 and 700 are at the heart of the line in larger GEA marination lines covering defrosting, brine preparation, injection, shaking/tenderizing, and tumbling. This allows processors to configure complete lines around specific capacity targets and product mixes rather than treating injections as a stand-alone process step.
For over three decades, Britannia Industries’ iconic brand, 5050, has shaped everyday snacking in India through its distinctive dual-flavour proposition. After successfully pivoting into the premium segment with its “Cheeze Dipped” Crunchy Layered Sandwich earlier this year, the brand has extended its premium range with the new Britannia 5050 Caramel Dipped Crunchy Layered Sandwich, a caramel nuanced flavour with the range’s signature 50% crunchy, 50% melty experience.
The product addresses an evolving landscape in the Indian snacking category, where traditional crunch is now being complemented by a rising demand for indulgence. Indian consumer preferences are evolving towards more premium “melt-in-the-mouth” textures while actively seeking newer, more diverse flavour experiences.
India is also witnessing a growing adoption of caramel in both Western and traditional food segments, and the Britannia 5050 Caramel Dipped Crunchy Layered Sandwich delivers on this demand by blending meticulously baked layers of signature crunch with a smooth caramel enrobing.
This “crunch-to-melt” transition offers the multi-sensory contrast that frequent snackers now crave to elevate their routine. By bringing the melty taste of caramel and elevated 5050 crunch together in a single, defined bite, it offers a complete and premium snack for those seeking dual flavours and textures.
Siddharth Gupta, Vice-President, Marketing, Britannia, said, “When we look at how India snacks today, it is clear that consumers are looking for more innovative and engaging ways to enjoy their favourite products. With the launch of Caramel and Cheeze Dipped Layered Sandwiches, we have taken the 5050 idea beyond flavour and expressed it through texture, bringing together crunch and melt in a more premium format. As the brand continues to build on over three decades of celebrating contrast, this launch reflects our continued focus on evolving with consumer needs while strengthening our credentials in the snacking segment.”
Britannia 5050 Caramel Dipped and Cheeze Dipped Crunchy Layered Sandwich is currently available across select cities at leading retail outlets and Q-commerce platforms.
The innovation marks the homegrown brand’s strategic format expansion offering craft beers on-the-go
Independence Brewing Company (IBC), the homegrown craft beer brand backed by the Trenton Group today launched their premium beer brands in Cans for the Indian market. The two variants – ENZO and WIT UNO will now be available across 8 cities in Maharashtra at over 2000 outlets (retail touchpoints).
These brands are manufactured and marketed by Amalgamated Breweries Pvt Ltd., a newly incorporated Trenton Group Company. ABPL has set up a state of the art, fully automated microbrewery in Nashik. The manufacturing plant boasts of global standard brewing systems, dedicated canning lines for off premise perfection, high precision equipment to enhance production capability and to retain quality consistency. Prior to launching, ABPL has undertaken extensive consumer testing through the IBC craft bars to get first-hand reviews to enable changes if any at the production stage.
Anirudh Khanna, Managing Director, ABPL & Trenton Group shared his thoughts on the much-awaited launch, “We are excited to unveil our canned beers, and the timing aligns perfectly with the market’s peak consumption season. As we embrace the summer months, we’re bringing consumers precisely what the moment demands. The past decade has seen us build IBC in a manner that has sharpened our understanding of the Indian palate, the consumer preferences and our growth trajectory. Serving about 250,000 consumers annually helped us immensely in this endeavor. Every insight, feedback and challenge we received from our consumers paved way to this new strategic journey that we’re so proud of. The launch of our canned beers is a significant milestone for us as it marks our evolution from being a craft bar experience to becoming a brand that can travel with the consumer.”
The Indian beer market is experiencing robust growth and canned beer category is emerging as the fastest-growing packaging format. This shift toward cans is driven by structural changes in consumer behaviour, particularly among urban millennials and Gen Z, who are experimental, seek premium experiences, convenience of on-the-go, portability, and sustainability over conventional glass formats. While traditional beer consumption in India is largely restricted to bars and restaurants, the emergence of new occasions such as concerts, travel, home parties have made canned beers as the most suitable choice of beverage. And as disposable incomes continue to rise across India, the younger consumers steer towards quality, aesthetics and premium tags.
As far as future plans of expansions are concerned, ABPL is currently focusing on key cities in Maharashtra namely Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayander, Nashik, Nagpur and CSM Nagar.