Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Coke and the Kids

My project for this class involves Coca-Cola's introduction of a healthy carbonated juice for kids. In support of this idea, I recently realized that Coca-Cola has actually taken actions to ensure kids are more healthy. According to a company press release on Feb. 27, Coca-Cola joined Kraft Foods and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in an initiative that supports children's health.

The "Triple Play Parents Game Plan," according to the release, is "a parents guide to encourage young people to better understand nutrition, get them active and teach them to get along better in social and recreational situations." In the written "plan," a sort of pamphlet, the organizations seek to teach the importance of keeping one's mind, body and soul healthy. The president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Roxanne Spillett, said she hopes the initiative will inspire families to visit a nearby club.

Partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to promote this health-focused program seems like a good choice for Coca-Cola because it indicates the company cares about establishing a strong relationship with local communities. The move also would be beneficial in supporting the release of the new product in that it shows Coca-Cola supports healthy children, which is also a key message of the new campaign. However, I am interested to see if anyone thinks this new program seems superficial. Is Coke just doing this for publicity, or is the company really concerned about kids?

3 comments:

mflip said...

I think it is great that a large corporation, like Coca Cola, has teamed up with The Boys and Girls Club. I volunteer at a local Boys and Girls club as a part of a mentor program, and I know first hand that these non-profits need some support. It shows a tremendous amount of integrity that Coca Cola has chosen to enhance its image through working with such non-profits. I'm impressed!

Monica said...

So, in response to the comment you left about my blog on the bargains at Buckle I can totally see where you're coming from. Not all college students think a $100 pair of jeans is a good deal and honestly if I didn't work at Buckle I would probably keep the spending to a minimum. The fact remains that there are girls and guys who are willing to spend any amount of cash for that perfect pair of jeans.

There is a certain public Buckle caters to and these are the guys and girls who are pretty faithful to the brands. They shop here not for the price, but because of the fit. Most of the guests are regulars and don't mind spending whatever it takes to get that perfect fitting pair of jeans.

Sheena said...

I also think it's great that Coca Cola has teamed up with The Boys and Girls Club. I don't think it is just for publicity, I think they are really focusing on building new, positive relationships. What kid doesn't know about Coca Cola? So this is a great way for the company to reach out and recognize a unique public. Becoming involved with children is always a good thing, so I applaud Coca Cola!