CATEGORY IS ADDED TO CLEAR CHOICE AWARDS

MARYELLEN LO BOSCO

WASHINGTON -- The Glass Packaging Institute here announced this year's Clear Choice Award winners and created a new category, "The Glass Classic," to highlight the competition's 10th anniversary.

"This year's entries exemplified the possibilities of glass," said Lewis D. Andrews, Jr., president of the GPI. "In today's market where consumers often make decisions based on a product's package, it's important to recognize that glass packaging adds value and indicates quality."

The Glass Classic award, this year's program addition, was given to Canandaigua Wine Co. for successfully packaging Almaden wine in glass for a minimum of 10 years. All entries in this category were judged on current design and appeal as compared with the original package.

Frappuccino captured the Success Story award by increasing brand sales by 300% and market penetration by 40%.

The Packaged Design Award was given to Jack Daniel's Monogram whiskey from Brown-Forman Beverages Worldwide.

In the Beer category, Coors Brewing Co.'s Painted Label Longneck Bottle and Original Coors & Coors Light Pigskin Bottles were tied for the award. Similarly, Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water tied Jones Soda as the Carbonated Beverage category winners. Smirnoff won the Distilled Spirits category, with its distinctive nutcracker decanter.

In the New Product Beverage Category, Snapple's WhipperSnapple took the award, while S&W Growers' Private Reserve won in the New Product Food category.

AriZona Honey Lemon Ice Tea won in the Non-Carbonated Beverage category, while Montevina took the wine category.

Other winners were Brianna's Fine Salad Dressings in the Soup-to-Nuts Packaged Food category, and SHE, from Revlon, in the Cosmetics/Toiletries category.

As in past years, judges included representatives of the package-design and brand-marketing industries, as well as members of the academic and trade media.