25.02.2009

Whey-based soft drinks conquer the German can market

New brand "Key" available in a Sleek can from Ball Packaging Europe

Ratingen, 25th February 2009 – The soft drink "Key", produced by Rhodius Mineralquellen, is a healthy innovation on the German drinks market. The trendy beverage is filled in modern "Sleek cans" made by Ball Packaging Europe, one of the leading European beverage can makers. And because it is a whey-product, the can is exempt from the mandatory deposit. Beverage distributor GS Getränke Vertrieb GmbH & Co. KG is also promoting other whey-based products in cans: whey-based beers "Anno 1337" and "MOBIE" will be available through retailers soon.

Rhodius is launching its new soft drink Key on the German market. It is available in cola, orange or lemon flavour and is filled in the modern 330 ml Ball Sleek can. “Our high-quality sleek can is ideal for Key: it keeps the drink cool, is light-tight and is appealing to young, open-minded consumers,” explained Frank Sasse, European Retail Manager at Ball Packaging Europe. The Sleek can also scores highly for convenience and excellent printability. Family-owned Rhodius Mineralquellen based at Burgbrohl, Vulkaneifel, sells its own brands and also PepsiCo products under licence.

The recently launched Key brand is based on Permeate which consists almost entirely of water. In various filtration processes, it is distilled as an end product of whey. Whey contains only 0.3 percent salt – less than drink¬ing water. It is particularly popular with fitness and wellness fans because of its low calorie level.

Comeback of whey beer – in the can

Beverage distributor GS Getränke Vertrieb GmbH & Co from Seligenstadt is planning to introduce whey beers i.e. beer-like whey products.
Anno 1337 and MOBIE, which will appear on retail shelves in Ball’s convenient 500 ml can. Whey-based beer has been known since World War II when, due to the lack of other raw materials, beer was made using whey. Producer GS claims that whey-based beer looks and tastes no different to traditional beer. It is targeted at young, open-minded consumers.

Whey-based beers Anno 1337 and MOBIE will also be brewed using Permeate. Since at least 51 percent of the whey by-product is used in their production, they too count as whey-based products and are therefore exempt from the mandatory deposit.

Modern Packaging: Sleek Cans are trendy

In 2009, Ball's Sleek cans will continue to be the eye-catcher on retail shelves. In 2008 sales of Sleek cans rose to more than 700 million – with trend rising. To satisfy the increasing demand, Ball set up an additional swing production line in Weißenthurm, Rhineland Palatinate. Both 330ml standard cans with a 66mm diameter and 330ml sleek cans with a 58mm diameter can be produced on this line which can be re-tooled within 48 hours.

Beverage cans are completely recyclable. The recycling of beverage cans saves up to 95 percent of the energy required to produce primary material, thereby also reducing CO2 emissions by up to 95 percent.

Ball Packaging Europe

Ball Packaging Europe is one of the leading beverage can makers in Europe with 2,900 employees and twelve production sites in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland and Serbia. The company is a subsidiary of Ball Corporation, which produces quality metal and plastic packaging for the beverage, food and household products industries. In addition Ball Corporation supplies aerospace technology as well as other technology and services, primarily to the US-American government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 staff worldwide and in 2008 reported sales of 7.6 billion US dollars.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including our beverage can end project; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the current global credit squeeze and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including in respect of chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

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