It’s a good thing (my) hometown Coca-Cola has diversified into healthier beverages with acquisitions like Glaceau (VitaminWater) and Odwalla.
Beverage Digest (an industry publication and data service that tracks soft-drink sales in supermarkets and other retail outlets, vending machines and restaurants) is reporting that U.S. soft-drink volume fell 2.3% last year. This decline dwarfed the 0.6% and 0.2% slips in 2006 and 2005, respectively, and brought overall soda sales down below 2000 levels.
I still maintain that Coke Plus’ approach: infusing soda with vitamins (yuck) is a marketing mis-step, as noted in an earlier post. However, it’s good to see that they clearly recognize that wellness is not a fad but here to stay, and they’re interested in bringing us the kinds of products that fit within our wellness practices.
- Jennifer Silverberg, www.thewellnessadvisory.com, www.landmarkconsulting.com