Crown Cork & Seal Introduces Innovative Packaging for Altoids® Launch

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Cork & Seal
(NYSE: CCK) today announced the development of an innovative specialty packaging solution for Altoids® Sours.

Designed by Crown's Specialty Packaging Division to help ensure acceptance of the brand's first move from mints to the fast-growing hard candy sour market, the circular tin package design reflects the uniqueness of Altoids. Available nationwide in two varieties -- Tangerine and Citrus (lemon and grapefruit blend), Altoids Sours meets the consumer's desire for an adult sour hard candy.

Altoids has a long tradition of enhancing bold products with bold packaging design, said Bruce Weiss, Senior Brand Manager, Altoids. The challenge was to create a package that embodied the heritage of the brand, while setting the tone for the experience to be found within.

The package is constructed of strong, premium-quality tinplate that conveys the sophistication of the product to the adult consumer. The logo and elements of the Altoids brand are embossed directly onto the can, reminiscent of antique canning styles. The strong color scheme, citron on silver for Citrus Sours, and orange on silver for Tangerine Sours, clearly identifies each flavor. The lid slips on securely to ensure product freshness and moisture resistance, and is easy to open with a gentle squeeze of the thumb and forefinger. At 78 mm in external diameter and 25.4 mm overall height, the package is designed for portability and fits conveniently inside the consumer's hand.

Crown has developed other successful packaging solutions for Altoids, including the traditional tin packaging for its popular mints, the pocket- sized Tiny Tin, a heart-shaped Love Tin, the over-sized Big Tin®, and a range of special edition tins aimed at the collectibles market.

Unique and distinctive packaging has become one of Altoids' most enduring equities, said Weiss. It reinforces and embodies our brand promise to deliver `Curiously Strong' products to consumers.

Altoids® and The Curiously Strong Mints® are registered trademarks of Callard & Bowser-Suchard, Inc. For more information on Altoids visit www.wrigley.com/global/brands/altoids.aspx.

Crown Cork & Seal is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, PA.

SOURCE Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.

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/CONTACT: For more information about Crown Cork & Seal's Specialty Packaging division: In the United States, Liz Goodwin, National Accounts & Marketing Manager, +1-410-273-1885, ext. 234, or liz.goodwin@crowncork.com; or in Europe: Didier Sourisseau, Sales & Marketing Director, Europe,

+33 1 49 18 4454, or didier.sourisseau@eur.crowncork.com, both of Crown Cork & Seal/

/Web site: http://www.wrigley.com/global/brands/altoids.aspx /

/Web site: http://www.crowncork.com /

(CCK)

CO: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.; Callard & Bowser-Suchard, Inc. ST: Pennsylvania, England
IN: FOD
SU: PDT

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5330 11/04/2002 10:23 EST http://www.prnewswire.com