The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s biggest beverage business, has begun testing a new drink fountain which can dispense over 100 branded beverages from a single machine. The decision on a roll-out of the product in the foodservice industry will be made after the second round of testing - which is due to begin early next year. The drink fountain amazingly takes up a similar amount of space to a standard eight drink dispenser and Coca-Cola is excited about the prospect of bringing it... ...Read more »
Seventy-seven per cent of US-based retailers indicate that in 2008, they expect their use of direct store delivery processes (DSD) will increase or remain constant, representing a significant opportunity to drive sales growth, according to a study released by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). DSD, which revolves around the supplier delivering directly to the retailer, has reportedly become increasingly prevalent as focus on more demand-driven supply chains is heightened. The research,... ...Read more »
Coca-Cola Amatil, Australia’s largest soft drink bottler, has reported their first half profit after tax has risen 22% to $171.9 million. The distributor of Coca-Cola in Australia advised that stronger cash control one of the reasons for the increase. New beverage products added impetus to the results, with the Mother re-launch, Kirk’s Ginger Beer, Powerade Edge and Recovery and Glacéau - which is likely reap sales 4 times the original forecasts - among the successful new products introduced... ...Read more »
Coca-Cola, the world’s leading soft drink company, is looking to create the next big thing at their research centre in Beijing. Analysts are predicting that the project, which involves creating beverages with Chinese herbal medicine, could be as vital to the company’s future as the iconic mix of coca leaves and kola nuts has been to its past. Coca-Cola announced the opening of the research centre in October last year but, until a recent tour provided for journalists, the details of what... ...Read more »
The Council of Better Business Bureaus has released its first report on the progress that participants in BBB’s groundbreaking self-regulation program - the ‘Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative’ - have made in changing the children’s food and beverage advertising landscape. BBB has assessed the participants’ compliance with their pledges regarding child-directed advertising of their food and beverage products and concluded that the participants... ...Read more »
The use of the stevia plant to create natural sugar substitutes threatens to become the new battleground for the traditional Coke and Pepsi rivalry to play out. Coca-Cola has teamed with Cargill to create their own natural sweetener from the plant, while PepsiCo has joined with Whole Earth Sweetener to create PureVia. Pepsi’s version, derived from stevia, has no calories and provides a natural sweetener for food and drink products. PepsiCo reports that PureVia will debut in a new nutritionally... ...Read more »
Fred’s Minit Mart, an American convenience store, recently announced their self-branded fountain drink line (Minit Mix), which involves the company changing the way they sell their beverages. Minit Mix machines offer sixteen different soft drinks, flavour syrups on demand and “pellet” style ice. Unlike many fountains, customers can choose between PepsiCo, Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola products and mix them with the four flavour syrups available: vanilla, cherry, raspberry and lime. Other... ...Read more »
Coca-Cola Amatil Australia is to pilot new cashless vending technology in partnership with Vending Management Services Limited (VMSL). The trial of the new Cashless Payment System and Cashless Reconciliation Engine (CRE) for Coke Vending will allow credit card and scheme-based debit card payments at vending machines. Gary Meier, General Manager of Coke Vending, says the initiative is in response to Australian consumer research. “In Australia, cards already account for more than half of all... ...Read more »
Coca-Cola Zero has proven to be one of the company’s most inspired product launches but a Chicago businessman is now initiating legal action against the company amid claims they stole the idea from him. Businessman Mirza Baig is requesting that the Chicago Federal Court ban the Coca Cola Company from using the “Zero” trademark on any of their products and asking for profits from sales of Zero-brand drinks. He claims that he started selling Naturally Zero Canadian spring water some... ...Read more »
Cadbury has been named as Australia’s most authentic food brand in the second landmark Authentic Brand Index (ABI) study released by Principals and Synovate, with Microsoft coming out on top overall. The ABI is the only study to measure the authenticity of global and local brands among Australian consumers. Technology brands, like Google and Microsoft, are emerging as more powerful brands than the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) giants that have dominated Australian marketing for decades. Microsoft... ...Read more »