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The Mason jar was once the main vessel used to preserve food. Now it is being used to preserve – or perhaps increase – Grolsch’s hold on the beer market. Grolsch is making use of the growing popularity on mason jars in trendy bars and cafes as a way of displaying home-made goods and released its lager in “The Jar” or Borcanul.

Grolsch has launched its lager in mason jars in just one market for now, Romania. Beer consumption represents 25.6% of the country’s drinks market by volume while the European average is 12.8%.

Beer consumption is growing most significantly in the Romania, Poland and the UK – due almost entirely to the new phenomenon, flavoured beers. Worldwide, 14%  of consumption in the lager market is triggered by a desire for new experiences. And with standard beer consumption declining at 3% per annum globally, many “new experiences” – including, but also outside, flavoured beers are being trialled. A bottle cap that unlocks movies is another new experience that has been launched by Grolsch.

Also this month, Grolsch launched a multipack that targets people who love creative challenges, especially at get togethers. On the side of the multipack are seemingly absurd stories in the style of De Bono’s lateral thinking challenges. These are the basis for a game to play with a bunch of friends. One of the participants is nominated to be the storyteller and knows the solution published on Experimentalist.ro, while the others must find out the solution by thinking outside the square.

Food & Drink Business

The Victorian government has invested $160,000 to support the sustainability and profitability of the state’s wine industry, matched by $240,000 from Wine Australia. The funds will help Wine Victoria to provide the wine industry with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to improve practices and outcomes.

Australian spirits producers had an outstanding showing at the 2025 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, with top scoring producers including 30 Knots Spirits, Australian Distilling Co., Ester Distilling, Mt. Uncle Distillery, Nine Circles Distillery, and Turner Stillhouse.

The recent innovation forum hosted by the Australian Marketing Institute and research company, T Garage, examined the reality for the rapidly evolving landscape of consumer goods that innovation is now table stakes. Experts from three of Australia's Top 100 food and drink companies shared their experiences and confirmed innovation is not just a corporate strategy, but a mindset permeating personal and professional life.