New milk bottles

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c3rn

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#115319 21-Mar-2013 14:49

Article here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/8454933/New-milk-bottles-on-the-way

Surely you would need to be quite a milk connoisseur in order to taste any difference.

I think the negative of not seeing how much milk is left would outweigh any benefits!

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#785024 21-Mar-2013 14:59

Unless you are a low consumer. And get cartons anyway. Cause those aint see through

keewee01

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#785028 21-Mar-2013 15:05

We found that when we were in the states last year their milk bottles are also opaque. We found white ones and yellow... white milk in a dense yellow plastic bottle just seemed strange!!

jaymz

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#785053 21-Mar-2013 15:42

Known about the changes that Fonterra have been planning for a long time

The main reason isnt for the taste, it is to extend the life of the milk so there isnt so much waste due to the time it takes to get from the plant to the shops. They are now able to extend the life so there is less returns. Currently it takes up to 3 days for milk to get from the plant to the shop shelves.

Taste is the marketing ploy they are using to help get the idea more support from the consumers.

Actually a pretty neat/expensive machine that produces the bottles. Previous machines (producing the current bottles) are USA brand UniLoy blowmoulding machines. The new ones are from Italy :)

c3rn

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#785062 21-Mar-2013 15:57

jaymz:
Actually a pretty neat/expensive machine that produces the bottles.

Still no way to see how much milk is left without picking up the bottle lol

jaymz

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#785069 21-Mar-2013 16:07

brad_p:
Still no way to see how much milk is left without picking up the bottle lol

Yeah, that is a bit of an oversight (keep in mind i didnt design the bottles :P )

Though the same issue is present with the cardboard packaging of milk too, which seems to be the argument some on that stuff.co.nz argument are using.

I personally purchase "house brand" milk anyway which comes in the clearish bottles. The family goes through milk quickly so use by dates are never an issue in my house

mattwnz

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#785074 21-Mar-2013 16:19

The difference though is these bottles won't allow any light in them, so you can't see the contents. Cardboard ones do let some light in so the inside is partly illuminated.
I laughed when I read that this was seen as one of the biggest advancements. It is the same principle as blackout curtains so not that great. Really. 99% of people probably wouldn't care, but would prefer t at a lower price. These bottles are probably more expensive to make, but there are savings in less waste from spoliage. I wonder if it will be rolled out across the budget brands too, as all milk is the same, just branded and priced differently so I only buy the cheapest brand. As long as you keep it in the fridge it will last at least a week.

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keewee01

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#785075 21-Mar-2013 16:21

jaymz:
brad_p:
Still no way to see how much milk is left without picking up the bottle lol

Yeah, that is a bit of an oversight (keep in mind i didnt design the bottles :P )

Though the same issue is present with the cardboard packaging of milk too, which seems to be the argument some on that stuff.co.nz argument are using.

I personally purchase "house brand" milk anyway which comes in the clearish bottles. The family goes through milk quickly so use by dates are never an issue in my house

One of the milk bottles we encountered in the US had a 7 or 8mm stripe of more clear plastic running from the tip and down the side of the bottle to the bottom. Same sort of plastic as the current bottles, only thicker.

trig42

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#785086 21-Mar-2013 16:47

I know they have done testing (I know a milkman).

They have blind taste tested it with milk off the same run in the old bottle and the new bottle, and apparently nearly everyone who tried it picked the milk from the new bottle as tasting better. They have also done blind tests with baristas, who prefer the new bottle.

Light degrades milk, and the same thing that casues the BB dates to be extended with these new bottles (ie milk going 'off' later) means the milk tastes better.

Whether or not it tastes much better remains to be seen (the proof will be in how much more branded milk Anchor sells compared to the house brands they also sell).

mattwnz

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#785088 21-Mar-2013 16:49

keewee01:
One of the milk bottles we encountered in the US had a 7 or 8mm stripe of more clear plastic running from the tip and down the side of the bottle to the bottom. Same sort of plastic as the current bottles, only thicker.

That would make sense. But sometimes companies don't think logically. It could be covered with a removable adhesive light proof strip which the consumer could remove when it is purchased, to prevent light entering during transit. (copyright idea)

Skolink

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#785320 22-Mar-2013 09:08

I had to laugh about how much of a big deal they made of this at the press conference. Opaque milk bottles, what a step forward for mankind. Now to cure cancer.

old3eyes

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#785324 22-Mar-2013 09:18

Wonder if this will be an opportunity to put the milk price up??

Regards,

Old3eyes

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kiwitrc

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#785325 22-Mar-2013 09:30

I keep my milk bottles in a plain brown paper bag, just like my wine...

wellygary

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#785337 22-Mar-2013 09:58

Skolink: I had to laugh about how much of a big deal they made of this at the press conference. Opaque milk bottles, what a step forward for mankind. Now to cure cancer.

I really loved the comment from Fonterra management that "apple invented the ipad" "we invented a light blocking milk bottle"

Well Apple sold 23 miilion ipads and generated $10 Billion USD in revenue IN THE FOUR QUARTER ALONE....

I will bet Fonterra will not even come anywhere near these figures with its new super bottle :)

BlueShift

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#785338 22-Mar-2013 10:01

trig42:

Whether or not it tastes much better remains to be seen (the proof will be in how much more branded milk Anchor sells compared to the house brands they also sell).

That won't prove whether it tastes better - it'll just prove that people still prefer to pay 25%+ less for the identical product in a different bottle.

DaveDog

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#785342 22-Mar-2013 10:10

It's a marketing rort. Nothing more...

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