Grim Soda News

The news is grim again folks.  Soda sales have gone and chugged off a cliff once again.  At this rate we will all be skinny Europeans by 2025.

1999 Jar Jar Binks Mountain Dew

Soda sales dropped 3 percent in 2013.  That's an even bigger stumble of sales than 2012 where it dropped 1.2 percent.  In fact, according to my source, soda sales haven't been this bad since 1995. What to do, what to do?  I'll tell you what.  I need to find out what new soda debuted in 1995.  I need to find that superhero soda that pulled the soda market back onto its sugary legs again.  Then we need to either throw advertising dollars at that super soda, or tweak it, and then throw advertising dollars at it to get the industry back on course.  Lemme do some research and I'll post about it soon.

World Cup 2014 Exit Plan

Coca-Cola has always been a big sport sponsor.  They just got off the Sochi Olympics where they released a shy set of 3 Coke cans.  The next big sporting event?  They 2014 World Cup in Brazil. That means soccer, folks.

2013 Caffeine Free Mountain Dew

Yup, soccer isn't too big in the United States, so don't expect to see any World Cup cans here. But Coke is armed with a marketing blitz for the World Cup down in Brazil with all its traditional feel good celebrating vibe...unless...unless what?  Unless there is rioting in the streets and other crazy stuff happening during the World Cup this June and July.  Apparently many Brazilians aren't to pleased about the extravagant spending on the World Cup.  (And just wait till they see the bill for Rio in 2016.)  So what's Coca-Cola doing?  Turns out they have a rapid exit plan for their advertising should things turn ugly.  No one wants to see happy people sipping Coke on billboards while buildings burn down and folks are looting cash and Pepsi from the local store.  Those Coke people, they think of everything!

Dr. Pepper Arena

Sometimes I am simply blown away at my ignorance of soda-pop things.  For example, who would have thought that a 27 million dollar soda shack could escape my eye?

2013 Mt. Dew Voltage

The soda shack I am referring to is the Dr. Pepper Arena located in Frisco, Texas.  It's home to the Texas Tornados and the Texas Legends, two hockey and basketball teams.  Dr. Pepper has held the naming rights since the place was built in 2003, but interestingly they first opted to name it after the bottle water they were pushing at the time: Deja Blue.  Well if that doesn't get you fire up for sports and thirst, what will?  Thankfully, they opted to switch it to the Dr. Pepper arena which jives much better with the rough and ready masses soft drinks these sports represent.

Lil Wayne and Mt. Dew

About a year ago I made note that Mountain Dew was under fire for racist advertisement that featured an all black police line up with a goat.  Turns out I also missed out on another Mt. Dew moment a year ago from today as well.

2013 Mountain Dew Throwback

Rapper Lil Wayne had been signed to plug Mt. Dew.  Turns out Lil Wayne used a reference to Emmett Till in one of his songs, which the Till family rightly found offensive.  Lil Wayne issued an apology to the family in writing, but it wasn't enough.  The family petitioned PepsiCo to drop Lil Wayne, which PepsiCo shortly did. I suppose that's one less celebrity on the Mt. Dew summit.

Summer Can Countdown 6 (It's here, baby!)

Summer is right around the corner.  Time to get ready for some white-water rafting, right?

Coca-Cola Summer Can 6 of 6 2013

That's it.  There is no more to say.  I'm making the grilling menu for Memorial Day, breaking out the camping gear, buying friendly chemicals for the swimming pool, and busting outta here. Summer 2014 is on!  (Now I just need to find the Coke Cans for this year!)