The Tempo soft drink company has recently inaugurated a
special "Shabbos cap" on its plastic bottles, thus solving
the halachic problem of opening them on Shabbos. Until now,
Tempo bottle caps, as those of other soft drinks, could be
opened only by ripping the ring surrounding the cap off of
the cap.
The new cap, which constitutes a novel technological
solution, was announced last week by Tempo at a special press
conference. At the conference, findings of market surveys
were noted that indicate that 81% of the shomrei
Shabbos sector are aware of the problem of opening regular
bottle caps on Shabbos, and that most of them open them
before Shabbos.
The new ringless cap, has a special plastic "sleeve" -- a
shrink wrap -- which totally seals the bottle, guaranteeing
hygiene and maximal safety. The innovative invention has been
recommended by the major poskim including HaRav Yosef
Sholom Eliashiv, HaRav Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Shmuel Wosner
and many additional rabbonim.
Drinks with the Shabbos cap will cost the same as other
drinks, but bear the stamp: "Shabbos cap." They will be
marketed soon in stores in religious neighborhoods.
More than NIS 3 million were invested in the development of
the cap, in an effort which took over a year. In the first
stage, Pepsi, Merinda and Seven-Up drinks, which are marketed
by Tempo, will appear on the shelves with Shabbos caps. Later
on, diet sodas and non-carbonated drinks will be added, until
all Tempo products bear "Shabbos-caps."
At the press conference, Jackie Ber, chairman of Tempo's
board of Directors, noted that the launching of the Shabbos
cap is an unusual event, and that Tempo considers it a
privilege to honor the Shabbos in this way. "Tempo believes
that it is vital to cater to the religious needs of its
customers and to consider the shomrei Shabbos
community. Tempo is the only soft drink company which does
not advertise on Shabbos. It has also opposed indecent street
posters."
Benny Greenapple, assistant director of Tempo's marketing
department who has studied the economic and other aspects of
products enhancing Shabbos observance, noted the purchasing
habits of the chareidi consumer. These include a preference
for top-quality hechsherim, product quality, and
attractive, economical and effective packaging. Over the past
five years, the expenditures of the shomer Shabbos
family have risen by 23%.
A market survey conducted by the Israel Trademark Institute
indicated that 81% of the shomer Shabbos sector is
aware of the halachic problem of opening bottles on Shabbos,
and 79% opens them before Shabbos. This inconvenience, along
with the fact that the product thereby loses some carbonation
and taste, is what led Tempo to search for a suitable
solution, which was developed at the recommendation and under
the supervision of halachic authorities.
"Although the problem is so widespread, no other company
thought of it until now," stated Greenapple. The marketing
surveys claimed that 82% of the shomer Shabbos
consumers would prefer a soft drink product that addresses
the problem of opening it on Shabbos.
