Coca-Cola ads for Glaceau Vitamin Water Banned

Summary:

Several of the Glaceau ads that Coca-Cola came out with were banned because of misleading health and nutrition claims. Specifically, one of the posters said “avoiding a trip to the doctor’s waiting room” implying that the drink had vitamins that could cure what ills you. Complaints were made about the ads that argued they were misleading because they were implying the vitamin waters were just as good or better than eating vegetables and they would help avoid illness. These complaints were made mostly because most of the vitamin waters in fact contain 26% of one’s daily sugar intake. The Advertising Standards Authority stated that these ads must not be used again and that the product could not be considered a healthy option since it still contained high amounts of sugar.

Opinion:

This type of false advertising from Coca-Cola would do nothing but hurt their sales even more. It seems to me as though Coca-Cola attempted to create a healthier option in hopes that their sales would increase but decreasing the sugar count to a measly 10-15 grams less than a can of coke is really not much considering a can of coke contains 12 tablespoons of sugar. In order for Coca-Cola to come out with a healthy product that they can promote as 'healthy' without being accused of false advertisement, the product should contain next to no sugar at all. The company needs to understand that it is competing against other companies who have tasty drink options that more often than not contain 6 grams of sugar or less.

Feedback:

After reading this article, would you still purchase coke products or would you be angry that their ads have become misleading?
Do you think Coca-Cola has the ability to produce a truthfully healthy product?
Did you know that Coca-Cola owned Glaceau water?




Resources:

Sweney, M. (2009, October 7). Coca-Cola ads for Glaceau vitamin water banned. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/06/coca-cola-glaceau-ads-banned-asa

 

Photo retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/06/coca-cola-glaceau-ads-banned-asa

Introducing "Coca-Cola Life"

Summary:

The article “Coca-Cola life: coke with fewer calories and less sugar to tackle obesity”, by Rebecca Smithers was published on June 11, 2014. It was published in The Guardian. The article introduces a new healthy take on Coca-Cola products. The company plans to introduce a coke can with a third less calories and a third less sugar in each can of coke in plans to help drop obesity rates. Unfortunately, health campaigners complained that the product was misleading shoppers. The new “Coca-Cola Life” product did have less sugar but still contained more than 4 grams of sugar in each can. This is equivalent to a quarter of a child’s daily intake of sugar. In the UK the government has committed Coca-Cola to reduce the amount of calories in their sparkling drinks by 5% by the end of 2014 as a part of their aim to improve health. Coke admits that they will continue to take actions that will help to better the population’s health.

 

Opinion:

As an avid coke drinker, I would be forever in debt to Coca-Cola if they came out with a product that had one third less sugar and calories. I think that it may not necessarily be the way to drop obesity rates but I do very well believe that it will help in a significant way. I also think that with introducing a healthier option, it will only lead to more healthy options to come. This is just a start to Coca-Cola creating drinks that follow a healthy lifestyle.

Feedback:

If you drink Coca-Cola, would you be interested in their new “Coca-Cola Life” product?
Do you think that introducing this product will help raise their revenue?
Do you think with the promotion of healthier options it will lead to creating more healthy options to come?




Resources:

Smithers, R. (2014, June 11). Coca-Cola life: Coke with fewer calories and less sugar to tackle obesity. The Guardian. Retreived from http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/11/coca-cola-fewer-calories-less-sugar

 

Photo retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/11/coca-cola-fewer-calories-less-sugar

Coke Confronts Its Big Fat Problem

Summary:

The article “Coke Confronts Its Big Fat Problem”, by Claire Suddath and Duane Stanford was published on July 31, 2014. It was published in Bloomberg Business Week. The article starts off by explaining that the Sandy Douglas, the president of Coca-Cola, limits himself to one can of coke a day. He explains that he drinks coke every day but he limits himself to one can because there are already too many calories in one can, he is not going to have more than that. Sandy Douglas has been with Coca-Cola for 26 years and it seems that telling the public that he limits himself to one can per day might not be beneficial when trying to promote the product. Recently, the Coca-Cola Chairman and Chief Executive of the company gave Sandy Douglas the task of changing the decline in sales to an increase but Sandy Douglas is finding it to be almost impossible. He knows that people simply just are not drinking as much coke as they used to. Consumers are now more often than not, turning to water as an alternative to sugary drinks. The President ran into a former coke drinker who said that she gave it up a few years ago, has lost 7 pounds since and feels so much better without coke in her diet. Although Americans have yet to figure out the answer to obesity, they are easily pointing the responsibility at Coca-Cola. Over the past 10 years the Coca-Cola sales have plummeted so much due to a variety of other options that have been brought into the market so now people just aren't as thirsty for Coca-Cola.

Opinion:

In order to continue to sell Coca-Cola products, it is necessary to create healthier options as cultural shifts to eating better are on the brink. I do not think that the President telling reporters that he limits himself to one coke a day because there are too many calories in the product helps selling in any way. If people are aware that the President does not recommend drinking more than one can of coke then others will limit themselves too? The President also mentioned to the public that he ran into a former coke drinker who has lost weight since she has quit the product. This is another comment that will only push people away from wanting to continue to drink coke.

Feedback:

Do you think that the President made a wise choice in telling the media he limits himself to one can of coke per day?
Do you think that Coca-Cola sales have increased or decreased after this article was published?
What should Coca-Cola do to increase their sales?

Resources:

Stanford, D & Suddath, C. (2014, July 31). Coke confronts its big fat problem. Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-31/coca-cola-sales- decline-health-concerns-spur-relaunch

 

 

 

Photo retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-31/coca-cola-sales-decline-health-concerns-spur-relaunch

Is Your Name on a Coke Bottle?

Summary:

The article “Is Your Name on a Coke Bottle? Find out now...” by Whitney Matheson was published on June 23, 2014. It was published in USA Today. Whitney explains that she was shocked to find out that her name was written on one of the coke bottles nationwide. There are 250 popular names written on coke bottles as of the summer of 2014. The campaign is designed to get Coca-Cola drinkers to hunt down their names on these limited edition bottles. This summer Coca-Cola made 500 stops around the United States so that coke fans can get their own customized bottles. You can also browse coca-colas website for all of the named bottles they have.

Opinion:

I think that the idea of having a customized coke bottle is a great way to promote Coca-Cola products. I think that it will get people more interested in the product especially those who are already avid coke drinkers. I think that it is a campaign that was successful because although it only came out with 250 popular US names, the company provided a 500-stop around the US in order to create names for anyone interested in taking part in the campaign. This allowed for people with less common names to still have the opportunity to get a coke bottle with their name on it.

 

Feedback:

Do you think that the campaign is beneficial to all audiences? Do you think that the campaign is catered to certain audiences? Did you or would you take part in this campaign? Do you think that your name would be listed in the 250 popular names?

Resources:

Matheson, W. (2014, June 23). Is your name on a coke bottle? Find out now... USA Today. Retrieved

from http://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/06/23/coca-cola-share-coke/11256429/

Photo retrieved from: http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m8AecCTZOiN7eh-mhfZdC5g.jpg

Coca-Cola Losing It's Earnings

Summary:

The article "Coca-Colas Weak Earnings no Surprise: American’s Drink Less Soda", by Ricardo Lopez was published July 16th, 2013. It was published in the Los Angeles Times. Ricardo Lopez explains that American's are becoming more health conscious by drinking less soda. In the year 2013, executives were blaming weather and currency exchanges for the decline in Coca-Cola sales. Net income fell 4% in the year 2013. Executives say that although they're disappointed in their performance for the year, they are pleased to say that they have gained global volume. The consumption of cola has decreased dramatically over the past 8 years. In fact, although health advocates are pleased with the decline, Coca-Cola is not with 2013 being the year for the lowest soda consumption in 26 years. The only reason Coca-Cola's revenue has kept up is because of its readily available tea's and water products such as Dasani. Lopez explains these alternative beverages made by Coca-Cola -on top of expanding globally- were designed to increase revenue for the company and keep it alive.

Opinion:

Coca-Cola should be concerned about their decrease in revenue as the more healthy living ideas develop, the greater chance there is that the company will lose revenue. In order for the company to maintain stability, they need to continue coming out with healthier products that people will feel inclined to drink. Creating products such as Coke Zero, Cherry Coke Zero and Diet Coke was a good idea for a short period of time. It worked until health advocates advertised how bad products with Aspartame are for the human body. Coca-Cola is my favorite soft drink company but unless they come out with healthier options, I know that I will continue to drink less of it. I don't necessarily think its fair to blame weather and currency exchanges on the decline of Coca-Cola product sales. I think that the decline in their sales could have a lot to do with several new soft drink company's coming out with new product that people could potentially like better or find to be a healthier option. I also believe that in order for Coca-Cola to remain successful not only in the US but globally, they need to decrease the prices in certain countries as much as they can while still being able to profit from expanding globally. For example, I have heard the cost of a bottle of coke in certain parts of Europe such as Paris, can be very pricey. In order to sell more product in Paris Coca-Cola needs to decrease the cost as much as they can while still profiting.

Feedback:

What do you think? If Coca-Cola came out with more variety that includes healthier options would you be more inclined to purchase their products? What kind of products would you suggest the company come out with? Do you think that the creation

Resources:

Lopez, R. (2013, July 16). Coca-Colas weak earnings no surprise: American’s drink less soda.

The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/16/business/la-fi-mo-

coca-cola-earnings-soda-consumption-20130716