Coca-Cola Zero offers fans Black Carpet treatment in partnership with year’s biggest film release – James Cameron’s AVATAR

- New initiative offers Thai fans a trip to AVATAR special effects studio in New Zealand or free admission to 3-D IMAX screening from today until 31 December

- Limited-edition cans of Coca-Cola Zero A
VATAR available for keeps

Coca-Cola Zero – a beverage that gives the real taste of Coca-Cola with zero sugar from the Coca-Cola System in Thailand – today announced a partnership between Coca-Cola Zero Black Carpet and AVATAR, this year’s ultimate blockbuster epic film which took 14 years in the making by director

James Cameron of the ‘Titanic’ and ‘Terminator’ fame recognized for his innovative and creative cinematic adventures to entertain his audiences.

The AVATAR epic adventure features new special effects, computer-generated imagery (CGI), 3D and sophisticated film-making technologies that will give audiences a spectacular and exciting viewing experience.

Ms. Chanisa Kaewruen, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola (Thailand) Limited, said, “As a leading partner in this promotional campaign, the Thailand team has organized fun activities for our fans to derive an exclusive and aesthetic experience from this exciting epic film, AVATAR which shares similar aspirations and unconventional values with our brand.”

She added that two initiatives under the Coca-Cola Zero Black Carpet entertainment platform will be implemented to engage Thai consumers who have eagerly looked forward to AVATAR’s nationwide screening on 17 December. Participants in these activities may win a trip to New Zealand to visit WETA Studio that created AVATAR special effects or join 200 lucky winners to watch AVATAR in 3-D IMAX format for free.

“These prizes are valued at over Bht 1 million. We are also airing the unique ‘Coca-Cola Zero AVATAR’ commercial on television and in cinemas along with the use of a comprehensive mix of media. Limited-edition cans of Coca-Cola Zero AVATAR will be made available for sale at hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and leading retailers nationwide in the lead-up to the screening of AVATAR in Thailand.”, said Ms. Chanisa.

Enter to win a trip to New Zealand. Mail a Coca-Cola Zero bottle cap together with your name, address, phone number to P.O. Box 49 Phasicharoen, Bangkok 10160 or redeem 7 Coca-Cola Zero bottle caps for 7 coupons whereon to write your name, address, phone number before dropping them in an entry box at any Thai Ticket Major counter, now until 31 December 2009.

Taste of Australia at MGallery International Buffet Dinner VIE Hotel Bangkok

Food devotees will have their pleasure heightened at VIE Hotel Bangkok’s MGallery International Buffet Dinner featuring Australian cuisine and the ‘wine flights’. Moreover, the customers will receive a privilege throughout the month of November 2009.

VIE WINE & GRILL of VIE Hotel Bangkok invites you to experience good food and fine beverage that have become part and parcel of contemporary multicultural Australia. At MGallery International Buffet Dinner will highlight a corner with a wide range of Australian savory. Special for November, the popular ‘wine flights’ provide the opportunity to taste exceptional selection of fine wine from Australia.

Moreover, the customers will receive a choice of privileges either a month complimentary membership at VIE FIT, special discount voucher at VIE SPA and 50 percent discount at Enigma, Paragon Major Cineplex.

MGallery International Buffet Dinner is priced at only Baht 750 Nett (food only) and Baht 1,095 Nett includes 1 set of Australian Wine Flights. Open from 18.30-22.00hrs. on every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at VIE WINE & GRILL, located on the 11th floor of VIE Hotel Bangkok.

Coke bottlers invest B1.5bn

       Thai Namthip and Haad Thip, the local Coca-Cola bottlers, plan to invest 1.5 billion baht in their manufacturing and distribution facilities next year.
       The investment will also expand the companies' product lines and distribution fleets. Thai Namthip serves most local markets in 62 provinces and Haad Thip covers 14 southern provinces. Their products include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Light, Fanta, Sprite,Schweppes, A&W Root Beer, Minute Maid Splash, Minute Maid Pulpy juices and Namthip water.
       Pornwut Sarasin, vice-chairman of Thai Namthip, said the beverage industry could grow as Thai per-capita consumption was less than elsewhere in this region.Coca-Cola sales in other countries also regularly register 15-25% growth.
       "We continue to lead the nonalcoholic sparkling beverage market in Thailand with a market share of almost 50%," he said.
       Col Patchara Rattakul, chief operating officer of Haad Thip, said sales of its products were an important part of the incomes for 300,000 small retailers,100,000 food shops and modern-trade outlets.
       "We believe that any investment in our business and growth in our sector can significantly contribute to grassroots income growth. It also supports growth in related industries, such as suppliers of ingredients and raw materials, since 99% of our raw materials are locally sourced," he added.
       Despite a challenging two years for the industry, Coca-Cola is committed to Thailand.
       "In particular, we are expanding our juice and beverages portfolio through new innovations such as our recently launched Minute Maid Pulpy, a naturally refreshing orange juice with real orange pulp," said Col Patchara.
       In only six months, Pulpy has become the best-selling juice in hypermarkets,supermarkets and convenience stores.

Khao Shong opens first cafe

       Khao Shong Industry 1979 Co, the maker of Khao Shong coffee, will open its first outlet in December after suspending the plan for two years.
       The firm will spend 2 million baht to open its first Khao Shong coffee outlet on Rama IX Road as a showcase for investors interested in franchises.
       The company is in the process of developing new coffee products to widen its customer base.
       It wants to be ready to cope with increased competition in the local industry after the Asean Free Trade Area takes effect next year.
       Under Afta, the 5% import tariff on instant coffee will be eliminated. This will attract a number of new instant coffee and ready-to-drink canned coffee brands into the Thai market.
       Managing director Chana Chiralerspong said the company was confident it could meet the challenge with more marketing activities to be launched in the future.
       In the past few months, the company has appointed sales agents to distribute its products upcountry, and refreshed its brand image with more modern packaging and a new logo.
       "With our 50 years of experience in Thailand's coffee industry, we are confident we can survive in the market in the long term,"he said.
       The firm this week hired "Bie The Star", or Sukrit Wisetkaew, as the brand ambassador for Khao Shong 3-in-1 coffee.
       "Bie The Star will help communicate and link our 3-in-1 coffee to younger customer groups faster than in the past,"Mr Chana said.
       Thailand's total coffee market is estimated to be worth 20 billion baht, with 3-in-1 coffee making up 8.4 billion baht and the remainder ready-to-drink canned coffee and instant coffee. The market is estimated to grow by 10-15% per year,but with 20% growth for 3-in-1 coffee.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE BATTLE OVER JUNK FOOD

       To what extent should a govt interfere in the eating habits of people, even unhealthy ones? The pop beverage and junk food war is simmering in the US as America is caught in the debate on freedom to consume versus responsible eating. Schools are cutting back on campus access to fatty, salty snacks and soft drinks, according to a report released by the US Federal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention early this month. And more measures are being introduced.
       USA Today quoted the report on October 6 as saying the states of Mississippi and Tennessee have made the greatest strides. "In Mississippi, the percentage of secondary schools that didn't sell soda or sugary fruit drinks rose from 22 per cent in 2006 to 75 per cent in 2008; in Tennessee, it rose from 27 per cent to 74 per cent".
       In New York, billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg is forcing chain restaurants to post calorie counts. "[Bloomberg's] food issue has become New York City's. Although he has described his battle against unhealthy foods as common-sense public policy that will shed pounds (and save lives), many of his targets overlap with his own cravings," the New York Times said last month, followed by Bloomberg's admission that he likes Big Macs, "like everybody else".
       At the national level, President Barack Obama is still toying with the idea of taxing calorie-rich soft drink giants to partly fund his healthcare reform.
       The junk food/drink industries are fighting back, however. Coca-Cola ran an advertisement in the New York Times insisting that it's cooperating with schools worried about obesity and will even make the calorie level marking more noticeable for consumers.
       A fast food advocate calling itself the Centre for Consumer Freedom also ran a full-page ad in The Times earlier this month, claiming that the government views Americans as being "too stupid … to make good personal decisions about foods and beverages".
       It attacks Bloomberg for using tax dollars to launch an advertising campaign "to demonise soda".
       In a classic debate between right and responsibility, the ad asks: "Food cops and politicians are attacking food and soda choices they don't like. Have they gone too far? It's your food. It's your drink. It's your freedom".
       Increasingly, the junk food/drink industry is feeling as if it's being treated more like a pariah - like the tobacco industry with more and more restrictions being thrown up.
       America is unique in the sense that one-third of its population is obese and roughly half is overweight.
       While people ought to be able to decide, the American public should bear in mind not just the weighty power of the state but also that of the fast food giants. Having the government unilaterally decide everything cannot be politically healthy in the long run. At the same time, unrestricted, harmful for-profit activities should be reigned in.
       Youths deserve special attention and protection, however. And how events unfold in the United States may set a precedent for many other parts of the world as the export of American junk food culture has pervaded nations near and far - even those once remote.

Coke rolls out "mini-cans" in calorie war

       Coca-Cola Co said on Wednesday it would launch 90-calorie mini cans of soda to help consumers manage their calorie intake.
       The world's largest soft-drink maker said the smaller packages would be available for the Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Cherry Coca-Cola and Barq's Root Beer brands. The cans will be sold in packages of eight.
       The mini cans will debut in New York and Washington D.C. in December. Their nationwide roll-out should be "well under way" by March, the company said.
       The Atlanta-based company said last month it would include calorie infor-mation on the front of nearly all its packages as it intensifies efforts to raise consumer awareness about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. The moves come in the wake of increasingly vocal calls in Washington for taxes on sugary drinks and junk food to help fight the problem of obesity in the United States.

READY-TO-DRINK SEGMENT RECORDS 20% GROWTH

       The fruit-juice market grew by 7 per cent to Bt8.2 billion over the last 12 months, thanks to brisk sales of mass market products.
       "We have seen growth at about 10 per cent each in both the medium and economy ready-to-drink fruit juice segments, worth Bt600 million and Bt2.7 billion respectively," Pathumrat Pianchorb, the director in charge of branded business for the country's leading fruit juice company, Malee Sampran, said yesterday.
       "However, the Bt1.4-billion super economy ready-to-drink fruit juice segment has enjoyed trementdous growth of almost 20 per cent over the past 12 months," she said.
       With the rebound in the economy and consumers' purchasing power, the company has witnessed signs of recovery in the fruit juice market over the last two months, she said.
       Only the premium ready-to-drink 100-per cent fruit juice segment worth Bt2.8 billion was expected to decline 3 per cent in the period, caused by a fall in pasteurised fruit juice as consumers opted for cheaper products, such as economy and super economy fruit juices.
       The market for pasteurised ready-to-drink fruit juice peroducts, which is worth about Bt300 million, dropped sharply by 20 per cent year over the past 12 months as consumers shifted to products with lower prices and longer shelf lives.
       There are also many new players competing in the economy product segment.
       Malee Sampran expects its sales to increase 5-10 per cent this year to Bt1.8 billion-bt2 billion, of which about 55 per cent is fruit juice and 45 per cent non-fruit juice.
       "We are looking to develop and launch non-juice products as well as below 100-per-cent fruit juices next year to balance our product portfolio," she said.
       Malee Sampran has budgeted Bt5 million to promote Malee i-Corn, a 100-per-cent corn milk beverage, during the 10 days of the Chinese Gin Je Festival starting on Saturday.
       During this period, Chinese like eating vegetarian food.
       "It is a great opportunity for us to boost the penetration of our Malee i-Corn corn milk beverage, particularly among the Chinese, who avoid drink dairy beverages during the Gin Je festival," she said.
       The company expects Bt200 million in sales of Malee i-Corn during the festival.
       Malee i-Corn now leads the Bt120-million UHT corn milk beverage market with a 30-per-cent share.
       The market is projected to expand by about 5 per cent this year.
       The company aims to increase Malee i-Corn's share to 35-40 per cent by next year.