Impulse purchases of sodas, Hershey bars and snacks are on the upswing at U.S. convenience stores, a sign the economy and consumer confidence might slowly be turning around, Bloomberg.com reported. The decline in soda sales at convenience stores slowed last quarter for the first time in at least a year, according to PepsiCo and Coca-Cola,…
Coke Plans New Distribution
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. is testing a new method of delivering beverages to 7-Eleven stores in Southern California, using Costco Wholesale Corp. as an intermediary, Reuters reported. Currently, under Coke’s direct-store delivery model, beverages are sent from the bottling facility to a warehouse and then to a distribution center, which distributes the drinks to individual stores.…
Coke To Aquire North American Operations Of Its Biggest Bottler
Coca-Cola Co. today announced it plans to buy the North American operations of its largest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., in a strategic reversal that would close a competitive gap after PepsiCo. reached a similar deal, Reuters reported. “Coke couldn’t sit back while Pepsi delivered $600 million (or more) in synergies for reinvestment and then transformed…
Diet Coke Unveils New Packaging, Heart Health Message
For the third consecutive year, Diet Coke is partnering with Klum and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in a national heart health awareness campaign called The Heart Truth. To bring heart health into the spotlight during February, American Heart Month, Diet Coke will distribute special limited-edition packaging in support of the campaign.…
No Choke Mixture
Full Throttle Energy Drink introduces a new full-flavored formula complete with reliable energy ingredients. Prominently displayed on the can’s back panel is Full Throttle’s new “No Choke Mixture” promise: “full flavor you don’t have to force down, and reliable energy ingredients that help you get the job done. No mystery ingredients. No bull.” The mixture…
Coca-Cola Launches Huge Campaign Around Winter Olympics
Coca-Cola is launching a multi-faceted Olympic Games-themed marketing program in the U.S., anchored by a group of high-profile U.S. Olympians and U.S. Champions, known as the Coca-Cola “Six Pack” of athletes, limited edition Olympic Games-themed packaging, media and digital experiences. Currently hitting supermarkets, convenience stores and mass retailers are limited edition, Coca-Cola Olympic Games-themed collectible…
Kum & Go Opens Missouri Stores
In celebration of the grand opening of its newest stores in southwest Missouri, Kum & Go, one of the nation’s leading convenience store chains, will give away a 2009 Harley Davidson Nightster motorcycle to one of its loyal customers. “The Harley Davidson giveaway is a perfect opportunity for us to get to know our newest…
Innovation Drives Frozen Sales
TOP PERFORMERS Coca-Cola Co. PepsiCo ICEE (J&J Snack Foods) HONORABLE MENTIONS F’Real! Foods Dr Pepper (Dr Pepper Snapple Group) Slush Puppie (J&J Snack Foods) It’s little surprise that The Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo were ranked as top performers in the dispensed cold beverages category, but innovators like J&J Snack Foods and F’Real! are certainly…
Soft Drinks
TOP PERFORMERS Pepsi Coca-Cola Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) HONORABLE MENTIONS Dr Pepper (Dr Pepper Snapple Group) Sprite (Coca-Cola Co.) Carbonated soft drink sales may be slowing a bit, but they still dominate convenience store coolers. Chalk it up to brand-loyal buyers or market saturation, but one thing is certain: This is a packaged beverage segment retailers…
The Calorie Burner
Enviga, the sparkling green tea proven to burn calories, will make its national debut from Beverage Partners Worldwide, Nestle S.A. and The Coca-Cola Co. Enviga is designed to work with bodies to increase calorie burning, providing an optimum blend of green tea extracts (EGCG) and caffeine. Scientific studies have shown that EGCG and caffeine…