When you ask McCormick Inc.�s President and Chief Operating Officer
Jim Zargo about the company�s new KeKe Beach Key Lime
Flavored Cream Liqueur, you get nothing but excitement and enthusiasm
about its introduction and overwhelming consumer acceptance.
"We�ve totally exceeded our initial sales forecasts and now our
challenge is to keep up with the demand," says the president of the
Weston, Mo., distillery which features a line of vodkas, gins, tequilas,
scotches, brandies, rums, margarita mixes and more.
To provide the all-important packaging aspect of this new
technology-driven product launch, McCormick turned to Saxco International
Inc. of Horsham, Pa., worldwide packaging specialists for the wine and
spirits industry and a long-time supplier to their company.
Saxco provided the private mold, flint glass, white organic
powder-coated bottle in a 750mL size. The tapered square bottles with
rounded shoulders and prominent side indentures came from Consumers Glass
of Toronto, Canada, while the powder coating was applied by Serigraphie of
Montreal. "The side indentures provided for additional ease in
handling from a consumer standpoint," Zargo notes. "They were
definitely an added plus." A standard 50 mL PET version also was
provided for the project.
In addition, Saxco coordinated the application of the green and black
pressure-sensitive label displaying a sliced lime graphic neatly on the
front of the bottle. The labels were applied by Pre-Deco of Bardstown, Ky.
Zargo says that the new KeKe Beach key lime product was in
development for more than 18 months, and the manufacturer employed a new
technology that allows it to be produced with two-thirds less butter fat,
while maintaining the mouth feel of whole fat cream liqueurs. "In
addition, with this unique recipe, you can actually taste the graham
cracker in it.
"Also," he explains, "the colder it gets the more it
congeals and, with its low pH factor, it mixes well with anything from
Coke to orange juice.
"Because of its unique mixing and gelling properties, we�re
earmarking it as an anytime drink to be enjoyed morning, afternoon,
evening and late evening," Zargo relates. "We have initially
targeted it to an upscale female consumer audience."
To date, McCormick has introduced KeKe Beach Key Lime
Flavored Cream Liqueur in 10 states � Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas,
Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, New York, New Mexico and Massachusetts, with
more to come.
