Popular and enduring Bärenmarke brand switched to Pure-Pak® cartons
For the first time since the Bärenmarke product arrived onto the German market in 1912, Hochwald Foods GmbH has launched its famous ‘bear brand’ in gable top cartons from Elopak. Today Bärenmarke is one of the best-known brands in Germany with 96% awareness level, and famous for its iconic bear character which first made an appearance in 1957 together with its slogan “Nothing beats Bärenmarke”.
The milk products have lived up to its legendary slogan and now its popularity is set to grow with the launch in Pure-Pak® cartons. Two products, Iced coffee and Chocolate milk are launched in 1 litre Pure-Pak® Sense aseptic cartons with the one-step opening Pure-Twist Optima closure. The new Barista milk, introduced in 2021, will follow shortly later this year also packaged in the cartons.
Hochwald Foods GmbH is the third largest dairy company in Germany and processes more than 2.3 billion kg of milk. With production sites in Germany and the Netherlands, the company covers the entire spectrum of dairy products including well-known brands Lünebest, Glücksklee, Elinas and Hochwald plus private labels and international brands such as Bonny.
For Hochwald Foods, the conversion to the Pure-Pak® cartons sharpens the brand profile of its traditional “Bärenmarke” brand and gives it more modern, fresh appearance to stand out more strongly from the competition. The design of the Pure-Pak® carton provides enhanced consumer convenience by combining the premium image of a gable top carton with more comfortable handling and drip-free pouring. The addition of the one-step opening closure is much preferred by consumers for easier opening, less hassle and less waste.
Hochwald Foods has invested in a newly built production site in Mechernich close to Cologne and not far from the BeNeLux boarder. The products are filled on an E-PS120A aseptic filling machine from Elopak installed at the site during challenging times.
“Elopak accompanied us in a highly professional manner from planning to commissioning. Thanks to state-of-the-art filling technology, we will be able to react even more flexibly to market changes and open up new sales markets in the future.”
Detlef Latka, Managing Director of Hochwald Foods GmbH
Commercial production began in spring of this year at the new site which is designed for an annual capacity of around 800 million kilograms of milk. The aseptic filling line for the Bärenmarke Brand range can process up to 12,000 packs per hour in a wide range of products, pack sizes and carton designs. The E-PS120A filling line is operated by Elopak Production Service, responsible for the entire technical support – including quality improvement, maintenance and spare parts management.