Crown, Guinness Partner For Commemorative Packaging

Crown Holdings, Inc. develops a 330ml metal packaging that pays tribute to Guinness' close to 150 years in the Lion City. Global supplier of metal packaging Crown Holdings, Inc. and Guinness together developed limited edition packaging for the Foreign Extra Stout brand that commemorates the dry stout’s nearly 150 years of presence in Singapore. The special 330ml beverage pays tribute to Guinness’ roots in Singapore, which date back to the 1880s. In the lion city, the Guinness brand name is known as “Ang Ji Gao” in the Hokkien dialect It translates to “Red Tongued Dog,” in English, and this served as the iconic emblem for the brand’s first package label and has remained in place in modern times. Illustrator Ben Qwek reinterpreted the brand’s original label design for the anniversary package, which features familiar local references. These include typical Singaporean coffee shop sights to significant figures like Sir Stamford Raffles. These eye-catching graphics are set against Guinness’ signature black background and take on a photo-like quality produced by Crown’s offset printing process. The end result is a package that effectively balances the premium look and feel that consumers have come to expect from Guinness with the nostalgia of the past.

“We are very pleased to have created this limited edition design to celebrate the national identity of Singapore and pay tribute to the many things that define our local culture, including the classic Guinness ‘Red Tongue Dog’,” said Venus Teoh, Head of Marketing, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore. “We hope that this new design will be enjoyed and celebrated by everyone, prompting conversations about what makes Singapore, Singapore.” Guinness took the celebratory nature of the packaging one step further by leveraging the tab of the beverage can as the centerpiece for a special contest. Three cans were printed with the letters “D-O-G” on the underside of the tab; the consumers that purchased these cans received vouchers for home furnishings valued at S$10,000. Crown’s inkjet printing technology enabled Guinness to take advantage of this underutilized part of the package and further engage consumers with the brand.

“Limited edition packaging offers a powerful marketing platform that brand owners can use to mark an important milestone, support a cause or create a tie-in to a larger campaign,” said Robert Bourque, President of Crown Asia Pacific. “Beverage cans are particularly well suited for promotional packaging due to the large billboard space available for messaging and imagery. In this case, we were able to work with Guinness to create a package that acknowledges the brand’s long history in the local Singapore market and injects some fun into the drinking experience.”

Source: Crown Holdings