Coca-Cola Continues to Make Moves

Coca-Cola continues to make moves, I write about Coke because they think with a creative edge and have a lot of money to think with. It seems like thier hand is in every cookie jar it can fit into. It is not even a dirty lil hand, either. The internal testing that I just read about with-in Coca-Cola NA is very impressive; and I am not surprised. Digital Signage focused on POP of course, would be a great way for Coke NA to establish and retain for keeps the strongest brand awarness in the industry....if Coke is Coke then I can assume that we will see digital POP displays deployed on a national level by Coke or one of thier agencies will push it through after the agency world gets a little more warmed up to signage....

Can Coke and Godiva Cook Up a Hot Chocolate Winner?
June 25, 2007
By Kenneth Hein

NEW YORK -- Coca-Cola is considering mixing up some hot cocoa with Godiva.

As part of its newly expanded partnership with Campbell Soup Co., the cola giant is mulling a ready-to-drink version of Godiva hot chocolate, per a source close to the plans.

Godiva, which is owned by Campbell, is looking at packaging the hot chocolate in Campbell's Soup at Hand microwaveable packaging.

"We've seen with the launch of [Godiva's proprietary beverage] Chocolixir in 2005 there is potential for growth in new categories," said Godiva rep Erica Lapidus. "It helped expand Godiva into the beverage category and let us appeal to a broader audience." She would not comment on future plans with Coke. Coke declined comment.

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Users join the Sprite community by texting a code that returns a link to the mobile site.

Users join the Sprite community by texting a code that returns a link to the mobile site.


SMS, Bluetooth, WAP, connecting the consumer in an engaging fashion to the brand that has allowed marketers to take a calculated and measured risk in emerging media. The next major growth area will be mobile internet such as Coke has done with Sprite. Bringing me to my point; most all digital signage will benefit from the application of mobile communication and allow for solid metrics on an added bonus feature....and can even help to push the industy forward as a whole if done with caution and education to the general public consumer.

Sprite Launches Mobile Social Net
June 06, 2007
By Brian Morrissey


NEW YORK Coca-Cola continued its aggressive forays into digital media with the launch of a mobile social network aimed at teens and young adults.

Called The Sprite Yard, the mobile community application allows users to set up a profile, send messages and photos to friends, and download content like visual ring tones and animated mobisodes. The Sprite Yard launched in China earlier this month and will go live in the U.S. on June 22. Those two markets represent over half of Sprite's sales, a Coke executive said.

Users join the community by texting a code ("YARD" in the U.S. market) that returns a link to the mobile site.

In a press conference at the Mobile Marketing Forum, Coke executives painted The Sprite Yard as a long-term commitment from the company and a sign of its shift from one-way messaging in traditional media to community-based bonding in digital channels.

"We're looking at an opportunity to move from impressions to consumer connections," said Mark Greatrex, svp, marketing communications and insights at Coke. "We think we're on the cusp of transforming the marketing model."

Coke last July remade Coke.com as a YouTube-like community. After initially disavowing the Diet Coke-Mentos viral video sensation, the company has fully embraced it, running subsequent contests on Coke.com and YouTube, and even bringing its creators, Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz, to its headquarters. Greatrex called it a "wonderful viral marketing phenomenon."



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Coca-Cola Goes...

The beverage industry has seen vast changes recently. With bottlers and distributors hooking up with one another in different markets and selling products other than thiers---there is no telling what is next.

The Story
Coca-Cola (KO) shares popped higher May 25 after the beverage giant announced it will acquire Energy Brands Inc., known as Glaceau, and its full range of enhanced water brands for $4.1 billion in cash. The company said the deal gives it "a strong platform to grow its active lifestyle beverages."

The deal is Coke's largest acquisition, and the company expects it to shave 1 or 2 cents from earnings per share this year. But it expects the deal will add to its earnings in the first full year following the completion of the deal.

The deal will also curb Atlanta-based Coke’s share-buyback plan. Coke said it now expects to buy back $1.75 billion to $2 billion worth of shares this year, down from its previous plan of $2.5 billion to $3 billion.




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