Coke to offer slimmer sips with smaller cans

Coca-Cola is to introduce new smaller cans for its Coke, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero brands in an effort to head off rising concerns that sugary drinks are contributing to an obesity epidemic across the UK.

CocaColaMiniCans-Product-2013_460
Coke’s new cans will feature the Spotify logo as part of its 2013

The company is rolling out new 250ml slimline cans later this month that contain 105 calories, compared with the 139 found in normal cans. Coke says it has been designed as part of its ongoing commitment to adjust to the demands of consumers trying to maker better decisions about their health.

The cans, which feature a new music design logo, are also the first to carry the Spotify logo in the UK, as part of its global tie-up with the streaming service. The business is also preparing music-themed activations across TV, outdoor and online to support the launch as well as serve as the latest phase of its “Year of Music” global push.

Additionally, the business is working with Blippar to allow shoppers to “Blipp” the cans in order to access music tracks from their mobile devices.

Jon Woods, general manager for Coca-Cola GB and Ireland, says activity will target on-the-go shoppers looking for convenience.

He adds: “It also forms part of our ongoing commitment to provide the people who enjoy our drinks with greater choice in terms of calories and portion size, supporting our goal of helping to promote greater awareness of energy balance in diets across the UK.”

It is not the first time the drinks business has launched slimmer mini variants of its drinks. The brand trialled smaller variants of its Coke and Diet Coke brands   throughout the noughties and in 2011 it introduced what it described at the time as a “pocket sized” Coke bottles to UK shoppers.

The launch comes just months after the company, along with some of its biggest rivals, vowed to step up efforts to promote the good work done it does in areas such as nutrition though marketing and PR. The sector has been shoved under particular spotlight in the past few months with policy makers, charities and doctors suggesting it should be punished for producing calorific products, which they say – along with junk foods – are fuelling the country’s obesity problem.

In May, the soft drinks giant pledged to stop advertising to under 12s as part of its global efforts to tackle obesity. The company said it would “market responsibility” while also including calorie information and other nutritional information on all its products.

Recommended

Royal  Mail

London Underground and Royal Mail ‘most improved’ brands

Lara O'Reilly

London Underground’s role in making the Olympic Games a success has driven consumer perceptions of the transport operator to rise faster than any other brand in the UK this year, while a recent revival of the  Royal Mai’s financial fortunes has lifted public opinions over the same period, according to YouGov’s half year brand rankings.