The next time you’re making lemonade from concentrate, make sure to check the bottom of the can for a secret code.
According to Chatham-Kent Economic Development Services, a local plant called Sonoco is responsible for making cans for Minute Maid and several other recognizable brands.
Officials say each can produced in Chatham has a ring at the outer edge on the bottom. Five notches are cut evenly throughout the ring.
The company produces 100 million cans for Minute Maid concentrated juice, along with cans for a variety of products including peanuts, coffee, drink mix, and alcohol.
Sonoco is headquartered in the United States, but has had an office in Chatham for the past 72 years.
“We are proud of the fact that our Chatham plant is the only food grade consumer goods division of Sonoco in Canada and that we have a special can code that helps people understand what we make here,” said John Shaw, Plant Manager at Sonoco. “The plant has a long history in Chatham and has changed hands several times over the years, but one thing that has stayed the same is our dedication to our employees, customers, being a good corporate citizen.”
The company is in the process of hiring millwrights and an operator. For more information, visit Sonoco’s website.
