SIG Combibloc to supply Costa Rica’s biggest dairy company
Costa Rica is a nation of milk drinkers, with an average annual per-capita consumption of 200 liters, putting the country third in Central and South America, close behind Argentina and Uruguay.
The 2015 “Brand Footprint” annual report published by Kantar World Panel showed that 99.7% of survey participants said they had purchased products from Dos Pinos during the previous year.
Its three production facilities today process more than 1.4 million liters of milk every day. The company’s portfolio now also includes non-carbonated soft drinks in addition to milk products.
The first stage of the new collaboration will involve installing a filling machine, CFA 712, from SIG Combibloc at the Alajuela location to fill combiblocSmall and combifitSmall carton packs.
Initially, they will fill 16 milk products in combiblocSmall 250 and 330 ml, as well as in combifitSmall 250 ml with screw cap combiSmart. In a subsequent stage, Dos Pinos juices will also be filled in carton packs from SIG Combibloc.
Antonio Fiumara, Head of Sales Mexico at SIG Combibloc, told DairyReporter, “Opting for the CFA 712, Dos Pinos will be able to fill products in combiblocSmall and combifitSmall formats on one and the same machine. And this can be done in a range of different volumes and with any design required. This enables the customer to position products optimally, in exactly the right way to suit the market and the target group in each case.
“Switching between different filling volumes takes just a few minutes. The rapid volume change offers a whole raft of possibilities for positioning products so that they are tailored to specific target groups.
“Carton packs that are fitted with the combiSmart screw cap are hugely practical for pouring out products such as evaporated milk or cream. And when you are on the move, handy carton packs with combiSmart are the perfect companion: they are ideal for drinking directly from the package when you are on the go.
"After you have taken a sip, the carton pack can be tightly reclosed and securely carried around with you. The little combiSmart screw cap has a special plus: 'wings' on the sides, which add to the cap's positive opening characteristics. The wings make it easy to grip and turn the cap.”
Fiumara said that this is simply the first phase of the collaboration.
“The installation of the filling machine CFA 712 is the initial step in the new partnership with Dos Pinos. In a subsequent stage, we expect to have a wider range of products and volumes filled in our filling machine,” he added.
Presence in 10 countries
Gonzalo Chaves, CEO of Dos Pinos said, “We strive to offer high-quality food, which means we have to use the best quality ingredients and operate at the highest technological level. We are confident that SIG Combibloc will be a partner that we can rely on in this context.”
Dos Pinos was established in Costa Rica in 1947, when 25 dairy farmers combined to market their milk together to ensure fairer and more stable prices. The cooperative now counts 1,400 milk suppliers among its members. In Costa Rica it has 3,900 employees, with 600 in other countries. It focuses on manufacturing dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and butter.
The umbrella brand “Dos Pinos” covers more than 600 different products. Dos Pinos has a presence in a total of 10 countries in Central and South America, as well as the US and the Caribbean.
SIG Combibloc is one of the world’s leading system suppliers of carton packaging and filling machines for beverages and food. In 2014, the company achieved a turnover of $1.76bn (€1.630bn) with around 5,000 employees in 40 countries.