http://finance.yahoo.com/news/a-frosty-reception-for-coca-cola-s-white-christmas-cans.html
QuoteThe end is near for a white can that has many Coke drinkers seeing red.
Coca-Cola Co. is switching back to its time-honored red just one month after rolling out its flagship cola in a snow-white can for the holidays. New seasonal cans in red will start shipping by next week, as white cans—initially expected to be in stores through February—make an exit.
While the company has frequently rung in the holiday with special can designs, this was the first time it put regular Coke in a white can. Some consumers complained that it looked confusingly similar to Diet Coke's silver cans. Others felt that regular Coke tasted different in the white cans. Still others argued that messing with red bordered on sacrilege.
James Ali, who owns Wall Street Deli in an Atlanta food court, said about half a dozen customers have returned opened white cans in recent days after realizing, too late, that they weren't drinking Diet Coke. He lets them take unopened diet cans without charging them again.
Coke regularly tweaks its packaging to create buzz and has a long tradition of holiday marketing, and says it helped shape the image of Santa Claus in his red suit with its 1930s advertising. Other Christmases past have featured snowflakes and polar bears, which appear on this season's cans.
Coke says this year's campaign is part of a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to highlight global warming's threat to bears' Arctic habitat. Coke is contributing up to $3 million to conservation efforts.
"The white can resonated with us because it was bold, attention-grabbing'' and "reinforced'' the campaign theme, says Scott Williamson, a spokesman for the beverage company. Coke's marketing executives wanted a "disruptive" campaign to get consumers' attention, he says.
The can-color debate pales next to the uproar of 1985, when Coke replaced its flagship cola with New Coke by changing the recipe, only to re-launch "classic'' Coke a few weeks later amid a consumer revolt.
Atlanta-based Coke says that it's happy with the campaign and that critics of the white can represent a minority. "The can has been well received and generated a lot of interest and excitement,'' says Mr. Williamson.
Coke says it will distribute more than one billion white cans and roughly the same number of seasonal red cans, which also include polar-bear images. The special red version is "a way to maintain the excitement'' until the campaign ends in February, added Mr. Williamson.
But the company initially said it would distribute more than 1.4 billion white cans in a press release that did not mention the red cans. The company now says red cans will be in the majority by Christmas and that there likely won't be any white cans on store shelves by the time February rolls around. A spokesman said a red holiday version was always part of its plans but wouldn't comment on whether the timing had changed.
Coke said it became aware of consumer complaints through Internet postings and some telephone calls to the company. Many Internet comments have been critical of the white cans. "PEOPLE! Don't be a victim,'' wrote one consumer on Twitter, warning that mixing up Coke and Diet Coke is "a SHOCK to the palate!''
Another person accused Coke of "trickery,'' and still another called the white cans "blasphemy,'' among hundreds of tweets. Some Coke fans emailed the company's official blog to complain about the company wading into the issue of climate change.
It isn't clear exactly how big the consumer reaction to the white cans was. One couple posted a video on YouTube in which the wife claims to be able to recognize whether Coke is in a white or red can during a blindfolded taste test. "This is the funky one!'' the wife shouts after drinking out of a white can.
Coke says it hasn't tweaked the taste of its cola and that protecting polar bears is a worthwhile initiative. It recently added a "fact sheet'' on its website highlighting how white Coke cans are distinct from silver Diet Coke cans. Among the differences: Regular Coke is labeled "Coca-Cola'' and states the calories at the front of the can, while Diet Coke's holiday can—silver as always—is labeled "Diet Coke'' and features snowflakes.
Most of the confusion seems to arise at small stores, where consumers grab single-serve cans from coolers. At supermarkets, packs of 12-ounce white Coke cans are wrapped in red cardboard, and packs of 7.5-ounce cans have a red plastic band announcing "RED CANS TURN WHITE.'' Coke bottles also have kept their red labels.
Mel Cyr, a 17-year-old Coke drinker from Sheboygan Falls, Wis., said she and other teenagers attending this week's National 4-H Congress in Atlanta scratched their heads after seeing the white cans. "You can't change something that's classic,'' said Ms. Cyr.
4-H delegates from Wisconsin said their chaperone was mistakenly served a regular Coke on the flight to Atlanta from Milwaukee after requesting Diet Coke. "The flight attendants were really frustrated'' and apologized for the mix-up, said Sara Harn, 17, of Brooklyn, Wis.
But Ed Rice, the 81-year-old chief executive of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, a longtime Coke distributor in Springfield, Mo., thinks the white can was innovative and engaged consumers. He downplayed confusion between the cans.
"If you put the cans side by side and blink, you might have to take a second look,'' said Mr. Rice, who loaded his first Coke truck in 1945. "But I think there's a distinct difference."
I at first was sad as I didn't think my lunch place had any coke. -_-
/just saw this was on whitewhine.com
Why are you posting this? :huh:
So we can laugh at the people who are upset by the white cans.
k.
Quote from: Zoupa on December 12, 2011, 01:16:13 PM
Why are you posting this? :huh:
About as relevant as De Villepin, no?
Sure. :console:
One affects my life, one does not. :)
QuoteSome consumers complained that it looked confusingly similar to Diet Coke's silver cans. Others felt that regular Coke tasted different in the white cans. Still others argued that messing with red bordered on sacrilege.
So people can't be bothered to check labels first, are too stupid to understand that it's the same drink in a different can, or have some weird pseudo-religious superstition about stuff...what a bunch of fucking morons.
Coke drinkers are the most brand fanatical people out there. When will Coca-Cola learn do not mess with anything they are doing with regards to Classic Coke?
I live just outside of Atlanta, so I know all about this hilarious "Coke culture" crap. I like Coke itself from time-to-time, but it's mostly just too harsh and "industrial" flavored for me to order it with every meal. Gimme a Dr. Pepper any day.
:yuk: You drink soda with meals?
Quote from: sbr on December 12, 2011, 02:18:23 PM
:yuk: You drink soda with meals?
You are the heretic here.
Also, the solution is obviously to change the Diet Suck Coke Can to something other then Silver.
Really? There have to be more people here who agree with me.
I don't drink much soda at all anymore, probably less than 5 servings a year. Even when I did drink it more often I didn't drink it with a meal, too sweet and carbonated to go with most food.
With meals, with snacks, by itself...
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 01:25:20 PM
One affects my life, one does not. :)
Your life isn't that interesting though.
As for soda with meals, I do that maybe once a month on average. If you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
Quote from: sbr on December 12, 2011, 02:43:24 PM
Really? There have to be more people here who agree with me.
I don't drink much soda at all anymore, probably less than 5 servings a year. Even when I did drink it more often I didn't drink it with a meal, too sweet and carbonated to go with most food.
That's fine on a cutting back thing but to act as though soda doesn't go with meals...
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:50:14 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 01:25:20 PM
One affects my life, one does not. :)
Your life isn't that interesting though.
I never claimed it was. That said - I'm not sure that paying attention to French elections would help matters.
Quote from: sbr on December 12, 2011, 02:43:24 PM
Really? There have to be more people here who agree with me.
I don't drink much soda at all anymore, probably less than 5 servings a year. Even when I did drink it more often I didn't drink it with a meal, too sweet and carbonated to go with most food.
You don't drink much soda at all any more, yet find it weird that other people drink soda with meals. :hmm:
I'm usually having Coke Zero with lunch.
I had half lemondae and half iced tea as lunch.
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 02:54:39 PM
Quote from: sbr on December 12, 2011, 02:43:24 PM
Really? There have to be more people here who agree with me.
I don't drink much soda at all anymore, probably less than 5 servings a year. Even when I did drink it more often I didn't drink it with a meal, too sweet and carbonated to go with most food.
That's fine on a cutting back thing but to act as though soda doesn't go with meals...
Even before I cut back, from very little to almost none, I didn't drink soda with meals much. Maybe when we went out for pizza or to a game where there wasn't much choice.
Quote from: Habbaku on December 12, 2011, 03:01:56 PM
Quote from: sbr on December 12, 2011, 02:43:24 PM
Really? There have to be more people here who agree with me.
I don't drink much soda at all anymore, probably less than 5 servings a year. Even when I did drink it more often I didn't drink it with a meal, too sweet and carbonated to go with most food.
You don't drink much soda at all any more, yet find it weird that other people drink soda with meals. :hmm:
Well, yeah.
Where all the white cans at?
Quote from: sbr on December 12, 2011, 02:43:24 PM
Really? There have to be more people here who agree with me.
No, there probably aren't.
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 03:14:45 PM
I had half lemondae and half iced tea as lunch.
Arnold Palmer. Gross.
I just had an Orange Sunkist in SBR's honor.
It's only acceptable to drink soda with meals if you are American or, worse, working class.
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 03:14:45 PM
I had half lemondae and half iced tea as lunch.
Those rock. Very refreshing.
People still drink that shit ? <_<
I like the way the acidity cuts greasy food.
I've mentioned it several times before: what you get if buy a Coke is actually New Coke.
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PMIf you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
People told me that by the time I got to my mid-20s that would happen to me. Well, I still drink an insane amount of soda of all kinds (usually Canada Dry, Dr. Pepper, and A&W Root Beer) and it hasn't happened yet. I barely exercise.
Quote from: JonasSalk on December 12, 2011, 06:55:11 PM
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PMIf you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
People told me that by the time I got to my mid-20s that would happen to me, yet. Well, I still drink an insane amount of soda of all kinds (usually Canada Dry, Dr. Pepper, and A&W Root Beer) and it hasn't happened yet. I barely exercise.
fixed.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 12, 2011, 06:38:20 PM
I like the way the acidity cuts greasy food.
I've mentioned it several times before: what you get if buy a Coke is actually New Coke.
:huh:
I know. It blew my mind too.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 12, 2011, 07:13:51 PM
I know. It blew my mind too.
So they just change the formula later without telling anyone and everyone accepted it?
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 08:06:56 PM
So they just change the formula later without telling anyone and everyone accepted it?
They change it slowly over time so no one notices and thinks they're still drinking the old formula.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 12, 2011, 08:11:02 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 08:06:56 PM
So they just change the formula later without telling anyone and everyone accepted it?
They change it slowly over time so no one notices and thinks they're still drinking the old formula.
Wikipedia has this on that notion:
QuoteCoke considered but rejected gradually changing the drink's flavor incrementally, without announcing that they were doing so. Executives feared that the public would notice and exaggerate slight differences in taste. In 1998, Joel Dubow, a professor of food marketing at St. Joseph's University, tested this "flavor balance hypothesis" and argued that it was not true. He and fellow researcher Nancy Childs tested mixtures of classic Coke and Coca-Cola II and found that the gradual changes of taste were not noticed by a significant number of tasters. Coke, he said, would have succeeded had it chosen this strategy
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PM
As for soda with meals, I do that maybe once a month on average. If you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
Coke Zero/Diet Coke is 0 calories, it'll take an eternity to get fat on this. It's basically soda with caffeine and aspartame.
However, it does make you more likely to be hungrier and eat more, and so can indirectly lead to fat.
Quote from: mongers on December 12, 2011, 06:59:13 PM
Quote from: JonasSalk on December 12, 2011, 06:55:11 PM
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PMIf you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
People told me that by the time I got to my mid-20s that would happen to me, yet. Well, I still drink an insane amount of soda of all kinds (usually Canada Dry, Dr. Pepper, and A&W Root Beer) and it hasn't happened yet. I barely exercise.
fixed.
I'll give you an update when I hit my 30s.
Quote from: JonasSalk on December 13, 2011, 12:46:10 AM
Quote from: mongers on December 12, 2011, 06:59:13 PM
Quote from: JonasSalk on December 12, 2011, 06:55:11 PM
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PMIf you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
People told me that by the time I got to my mid-20s that would happen to me, yet. Well, I still drink an insane amount of soda of all kinds (usually Canada Dry, Dr. Pepper, and A&W Root Beer) and it hasn't happened yet. I barely exercise.
fixed.
I'll give you an update when I hit my 30s.
It'll hit you around 28.
It'll hit you when you aren't looking.
Quote from: Zoupa on December 13, 2011, 12:48:22 AMIt'll hit you around 28.
So it's like marriage.
Shit.
Quote from: Jacob on December 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PM
As for soda with meals, I do that maybe once a month on average. If you're quaffing litres of the stuff on a daily basis that's your business, but expect to get fat if you're not already.
Doubtful.
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 08:13:44 PM
Wikipedia has this on that notion:
QuoteCoke considered but rejected gradually changing the drink's flavor incrementally, without announcing that they were doing so. Executives feared that the public would notice and exaggerate slight differences in taste. In 1998, Joel Dubow, a professor of food marketing at St. Joseph's University, tested this "flavor balance hypothesis" and argued that it was not true. He and fellow researcher Nancy Childs tested mixtures of classic Coke and Coca-Cola II and found that the gradual changes of taste were not noticed by a significant number of tasters. Coke, he said, would have succeeded had it chosen this strategy
That's a description of a rejected strategy for the original rollout of New Coke. I was talking about after they had shelved New Coke.
And contrails have chemicals in them that turns you gay.
Quote from: JonasSalk on December 13, 2011, 12:53:39 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on December 13, 2011, 12:48:22 AMIt'll hit you around 28.
So it's like marriage.
Shit.
Don't worry, I don't think Cynthia McKinney is going to accept any proposals by you.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 13, 2011, 07:18:20 AM
Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2011, 08:13:44 PM
Wikipedia has this on that notion:
QuoteCoke considered but rejected gradually changing the drink's flavor incrementally, without announcing that they were doing so. Executives feared that the public would notice and exaggerate slight differences in taste. In 1998, Joel Dubow, a professor of food marketing at St. Joseph's University, tested this "flavor balance hypothesis" and argued that it was not true. He and fellow researcher Nancy Childs tested mixtures of classic Coke and Coca-Cola II and found that the gradual changes of taste were not noticed by a significant number of tasters. Coke, he said, would have succeeded had it chosen this strategy
That's a description of a rejected strategy for the original rollout of New Coke. I was talking about after they had shelved New Coke.
Do you have proof of this?
Quote from: garbon on December 13, 2011, 10:13:51 AM
Do you have proof of this?
I have copies of internal Coca Cola memos but I can't show them to you.
Ok but why would Coke want to change its formula? :huh:
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:18:15 AM
Ok but why would Coke want to change its formula? :huh:
To make more money.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 13, 2011, 10:00:44 AMDon't worry, I don't think Cynthia McKinney is going to accept any proposals by you.
Oh, I know. That's okay for me, see, I can get other women, whereas you are likely stuck with nothing or something like her. Have a great life.
I find that coke is a poor choice to pair with food, unless the food you're eating is low grade junk.
Quote from: DGuller on December 13, 2011, 12:03:39 PM
I find that coke is a poor choice to pair with food, unless the food you're eating is low grade junk.
I don't. :)
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:18:15 AM
Ok but why would Coke want to change its formula? :huh:
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:18:15 AM
Ok but why would Coke want to change its formula? :huh:
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
But they were using corn syrup in the US before New Coke. Again according to wikipedia.
Quote from: garbon on December 13, 2011, 12:07:08 PM
Quote from: DGuller on December 13, 2011, 12:03:39 PM
I find that coke is a poor choice to pair with food, unless the food you're eating is low grade junk.
I don't. :)
Reasonable people can disagree, though they really shouldn't if they're truly reasonable.
Quote from: DGuller on December 13, 2011, 12:03:39 PM
I find that coke is a poor choice to pair with food, unless the food you're eating is low grade junk.
The Turkey sandwich I made for lunch did well with my diet coke :unsure:
Are you calling my sandwich junk? :angry:
Quote from: garbon on December 13, 2011, 12:23:21 PM
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 13, 2011, 10:18:15 AM
Ok but why would Coke want to change its formula? :huh:
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
But they were using corn syrup in the US before New Coke. Again according to wikipedia.
Oh, dunno then. I'm going by a snopes article I read or misread a few years ago.
I guess they still use vanilla in current coke unlike 80's new coke since Madagascar's economy hasn't tanked.
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
I tried some of that Throwback Mountain Dew with sugar instead of corn syrup. Didn't care for it.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 13, 2011, 12:45:00 PM
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
I tried some of that Throwback Mountain Dew with sugar instead of corn syrup. Didn't care for it.
I do like Mexican coke.
Quote from: DGuller on December 13, 2011, 12:03:39 PM
I find that coke is a poor choice to pair with food, unless the food you're eating is low grade junk.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flolpics.se%2Fpics%2F4740.jpg&hash=44a3f03d49217403f9fe0dd435d066a73decc232)
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
Only due to tariffs.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 13, 2011, 12:45:00 PM
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
I tried some of that Throwback Mountain Dew with sugar instead of corn syrup. Didn't care for it.
Oh, I did. Has a cleaner taste/less aftertaste. Same for the Pepsi throwback & Mexican Coke.
What the soft drink companies need to do now is do throwback recipes for diet sodas. Nasty 1970s diet soda made with saccharin*-- the marketing practically writes itself :)
*yes, I know saccharin is officially no longer hazardous to humans, but I'm sure public perception hasn't quite caught up to that yet.
Quote from: Habbaku on December 13, 2011, 03:36:52 PM
Quote from: derspiess on December 13, 2011, 12:21:29 PM
Corn syrup is cheaper than cane sugar. Or what Yi said.
Only due to tariffs.
I suppose next you're gonna tell me corn ethanol subsidies are a bad thing? :yeahright:
There is a whole island not 90 miles away from the US with tons of sugar cane...
I saw the white cans in a deli today and my first thought, even having read this thread, was: "Hmm what is this new Diet Coke they have? :hmm:" :blush:
Quote from: Razgovory on December 13, 2011, 03:54:23 PM
There is a whole island not 90 miles away from the US with tons of sugar cane...
No blood for sugar!