Does "Good stuff" mean "Good for you"?

Coca-Cola brand insulated neoprene can sleeve

According to the Coca-Cola website, Coca-Cola is made with "CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS, CAFFEINE". (Source: https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/coca-cola/products/original#accordion-c55f229edc-item-93131ee8b3) 

I'm not 100% sure that everyone would agree that the ingredients listed above are all "good stuff".

While everything listed on the label has been approved for human consumption, many people feel that an ingredient like high fructose corn syrup is an inferior sweetener to cane sugar. 

Most consumers would be surprised that 90% of the phosphoric acid production ends up in fertilizers, and yet it is still an ingredient in products deemed safe for human consumption. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes caffeine as "generally recognized as safe".  Hardly an overwhelming endorsement.

As American poet John Godfrey Saxe said in 1869, "Laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made".   (The quote is most often attributed to Otto von Bismark and reported as, "Laws are like sausages. It is best not to see them being made". But there is no evidence that Bismark ever said it.) 

I'm sure if we looked hard enough at many things we consume, we'd change our eating habits.

One of the busiest times of the year, so let's run out of stock.

Coca-Cola vending machine, Science World, Vancouver

The period between Christmas and New Year is always busy at places like Science World. Children are out of school and many parents get a break at work. So, parents, and grandparents, are looking for ways to entertain youngsters. On December 29, Science World was packed. There were standing room crowds for all of the shows and more children running around than I've ever seen at the place.

You'd think that both Science World and Coca-Cola, the provider of this vending machine, would know that there would be a big demand for drinks and stock up accordingly.

Coca-Cola vending machine, Science World, Vancouver (Detail)

But at 2:00 pm this was the display that greeted customers. Coke Zero and Barq's Root Beer were the only drinks on offer.

I wonder how much revenue was lost due to running out of stock?

Closing soon, if you have a time machine.

Advertisement for "Animal Inside Out", rear of Coca-Cola truck, Vancouver, BC 

The "Animal Inside Out" exhibition was at Science World in Vancouver, BC from October 15, 2015 to March 28, 2016. Coca-Cola was one of of the sponsors of the exhibition, hence the advertisement on the back of this Coca-Cola delivery truck.

So far so good, but I took the photo on April 10, 2017, over a year after the exhibit closed. One of the unfortunate realties of out-of-home advertising is that it often stays up long after the event it is promoting is over. In this case staying up over a year after the event finished. This sort of sloppiness just makes every look as if they are not paying attention.

What does "vapour-distilled" really mean?

Advertisement for smartwater, Vancouver, BC

I saw this advertisement on a bus shelter in downtown Vancouver. I was intrigued by the term "vapour-distilled" decided to look into this product a bit more.

Well, I should have known. This is a product from Coca-Cola. Its is just plain tap water that has been tarted up a bit.

"glacéau smartwater is inspired by the way mother nature makes water, known as the hydrologic cycle.  we simulate this process by vapor distilling water, making every drop as pure as the very first drop of rain (before it passes through pollutants, of course).  if that’s not smart enough, we then one-up mother nature by adding in electrolytes for a clean crisp taste.   if that sounds like genius, it is.  smartwater is smart because it’s made that way."
Source: http://www.coca-colacompany.com/brands/product-description#glacéau smartwater

So it look fancy, clean and pure, but it is just plain tap water that has been subject to a large-scale industrial boil and condense process. The smartest thing about "smartwater" is how the true nature of the product is disguised.

By one estimate that I saw a few years ago, bottled water sells for 10,000 times more than the tap water that is its raw material. Now that's smart!

Only 10 more months to Christmas

Christmas Coca-Cola can, Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, BC

Last week I stopped by to visit a friend at the Hotel Vancouver. I was thrilled to see that it was still Christmas. When I opened the minibar fridge I was that Santa, that jolly old elf, was smiling out at me trying to entice me to spend $6.00 on a can of Coke.

This can is probably at least two months old. Not quite as bad as the Soccer (Football) World Cup can I saw last year that was at least six months old.

Given the age of much of the contents of these fridges, and the prices, I wonder who spends their hard earned month on such overpriced beverages? Whoever they are, they must not be very observant.

Stuck in a time warp

Coca-Cola Truck, Vancouver, BC

Coca-Cola Truck, Vancouver, BC (Detail)

The 1985 introduction of "New Coke" was either a recognition of failure in the face of a loss of market share to Pepsi, or a brilliant strategy to reinvigorate a brand that had grown old and stale.

From the introduction in 1985, until its final demise in 2002, "New Coke" was never a brand that got much love from the public. Consumers were overjoyed with the reintroduction of "Coke Classic" and it took until 2009 for the word "classic" to final be removed from Coke's packaging in North America.

So why does the Coca-Cola van still bear the "Coca-Cola Classic" brand on the side?

Making an effort

Coca-Cola recycling container, Horseshoe Bay, BC

Coca-Cola recycling container, Horseshoe Bay, BC (Detail)

Coca-Cola sells almost 2 billion servings a day. That is a lot of bottle and cans. In its earlier history Coke was sold in refillable glass bottles. Today, in most countries, Coke is sold in single-use aluminum cans and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles. 

The huge volume of empty Coke containers represents a consistent potential PR problem for the Coca-Cola company. 

Recycling containers, such as this one, serve two purposes. They position Coca-Cola as an environmentally responsible company, and they also serve to at least partially eliminate empty containers from the waste stream. 

So, regardless of whether you like Coke, providing recycling bins is a good things to do. (And the fact that the bins are in the iconic Coke bottle shape is just an added bonus for Coca-Cola.)

By your shape shall we know you

Drinks menu, Central City, Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC

The shape of the Coca-Cola bottle is one of the most recognizable and recognized pieces of packaging in the world. And the shape of the Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky bottle and the distinctive font are also quite easily recognized.

So the combination of the two bottle silhouettes on the cover of this drinks menu should tell customers what to find inside.

I'm just a bit surprised that Jack Daniel's and Coca-Cola would permit the use of their logos together.

It's green so it must be good for you

Pepsi Next truck and trailer, West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

Pepsi Next trailer, West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

Pepsi Next was launched in Canada in 2014. The company made a big deal out of the fact that it does not contain any artificial sweeteners. And the green-coloured vehicles seem designed to reinforce the natural appeal.

But even with 30% less sugar, and no artificial sweeteners, Pepsi Next is still a sugary, carbonated beverage. The question that remains is whether consumers will come to like the taste of  stevia. And if the bulk of consumers can be convinced that stevia is better for them than aspartame then the move will pay off.

Despite the fact that Pepsi is dropping aspartame from the ingredients in the US version of Diet Pepsi, it will remain in the Canadian formulation. Negative consumer reaction to aspartame has been growing for years with fears over the product's safety. Despite FDA and Health Canada approval, and over 100 studies that appear to reinforce the safety of the additive, many consumers remain unconvinced.

It will be interesting to see if the backlash against aspartame continues and other beverage firms, such as Coca-Cola, also abandon the chemical.

Not the worst possible choices

Dasani vending machine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Dasani vending machine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC (Detail)

Consumers are paying more attention to the perceived evils of sugar-filled foods and beverages.  I was intrigued to see that this vending machine, at the Vancouver General Hospital, offered a number of non-carbonated and lower calorie offerings.

Not that all of the offerings are on my list of prefered beverages. I dislike the artificial sweeteners in Coke Zero, Diet Coke, and Fresca both for their aftertaste and the chemical load that they place on your body. And Dasani is just tap water in an expensive package.

But the most interesting omission is that although sugar-laden Canada Dry Ginger Ale is for sale, regular Coke is not available. Has the Coca-Cola company's flagship product become such as pariah?

They go together like Coke and crackers?

Christie and Coca-Cola display, Rexall Drugstore, Royal Centre, Vancouver, BC

Christie and Coca-Cola display, Rexall Drugstore, Royal Centre, Vancouver, BC

I'm not saying these two brands are a bad fit, they are just not two that I would normally put together.

For me the obvious connection of a soft drink and junk food would be Coke and chips. But either way, it is too much fat and sugar (Or fat and aspartame) to be good for you. Best to steer clear of Coke, Ritz and Triscuit.

Glass of water and an apple; much better together.

One month on and one month older (Would you drink old Coke?)

Can of Coca-Cola in the minibar, Hotel Vancouver, BC

I was at the Hotel Vancouver last week and noticed a few odd things. (Lots of fodder for future postings.)

The last time I was at the hotel, February 2015, I noticed that the can of Coca-Cola in the minibar was a commemorative can from the 2014 Football World Cup in Brazil. I mentioned this to someone working on the concierge desk and they said that they'd look into it.

The rule at the Hotel Vancouver must be look but don't touch, because there are still cans that are at least nine months old in the fridge.

Perhaps not everyone is as observant as me, but the age of the in-room food and beverages should make anyone think twice. I'll be back at the hotel in July. I wonder if the can of Coca-Cola will enjoy its first birthday.

A nice campaign, but perhaps lost on today's youth

Coca-Cola advertisement on bus shelter, 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

The iconic Coca-Cola bottle is celebrating it 100th year. To mark the occasion, Coca-Cola is using images of historic figures drinking coke.

While this is a great idea and a nice campaign I fear that demographics may be the undoing of it.

Marilyn Monroe died in 1962. I wonder how many of today's Coke drinkers know who she is? I would think that they might be more familiar with Marilyn Manson. But that is probably a person that Coca-Cola does not wish to be associated with.

You can always find a Coke, but how old is it?

Minibar at The Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, BC (February 11, 2015)

Can on Coca-Cola in the minibar, The Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver, BC (February 11, 2015))

The prices for snacks and drinks in hotel minibars are known to be a bit on the high side. (This can of Coca-Cola is $6.00 and the bottle of Evian water is $9.00.) But does this have an effect on guests' willingness to crack open a cold refreshing can of Coke?

In this case I think that we have evidence that it does. The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil ran from June 12, 2014 to July 13, 2014. Coca-Cola, as one of the official sponsors, produced a series of commemorative cans. Great, except this can was still in the minibar seven months after the end of the event.

These days we all kind of expect to be charged high prices for stuff in the minibar, but high prices for obviously stale goods is adding insult to injury.

The right display in the right place

Coca-Cola display at the baggage claim area Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, ON  

I saw this display at the baggage claim area of Toronto Pearson International Airport. It is a pretty clever display. Passengers have come of the flight and are waiting for their baggage. What could be better that a caffeinated pick-me-up? And the three machines are even dressed up to look like a big suitcase. Very cute.

I just shudder to think how much they had to pay the airline for the oversize luggage.

A special glass for drinking Coke?

Riedel Coca-Cola glass at William Ashley, Toronto, Ontario

I was familiar with Riedel glassware for wine. The company makes special varietal-specific glassware that is designed to help maximize the taste characteristics of different varietals. The Sauvignon Blanc glass is not the same shape as the Chardonnay glass. The firm's Vinum series includes 28 different glass shapes specifically designed for almost every conceivable wine and spirit beverage.

This is a far cry from the array of wine glasses that was available thirty years ago. You were doing well if you had three different shapes; red, white, and sparking.

So it is not a huge stretch that the different shapes for different drinks concept should extent to non-alcoholic beverages. This glass is a modern take on the traditional Coke glass. Will it enhance the taste of a bottle of Coca-Cola? Could the same glass also enhance the taste of Pepsi? I'm not a cola drinker, but I'm sure that some people would notice the difference, and Riedel will give them the chance to pay for the experience.

McDonald's is getting ready to disappoint customers

McDonald's billboard, Vancouver, BC

It appears that McDonald's is intent to take over all of our food requirements. In addition to ground coffee, McDonald's want us bring home the "Holiday ShareBox".

With chicken nuggets, fries, cookies, and a couple of soft drinks, this would appear to be competing head on with offerings from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

So, if I buy this I will get everything in the picture. Right?

Well actually I don't. The two Coke glasses in the background are not part of the offer. So, if they are not part of the offer, why show them? Why not show me the paper cups that you are going to give to me?

McDonald's is not showing the fires on a plate, or the chicken nuggets in a bowl, so why show the Coke in a glass? My guess is branding. The glasses are obviously Coke glasses and are embossed with the Coke logo, and because the glasses are transparent we can assume that the beverage inside is Coke. (Although from a photo would you be able to differentiate Coke from Diet Coke, root beer or even Pepsi?)

I wonder if any pedantic customers will complain that they are not getting the Coke glasses with the "Holiday ShareBox"? Given the litigious times we live in, I suspect it will happen sooner rather than later.