Latest news with #RealMagic
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Coca-Cola brings back controversial Coke flavor
Coca-Cola has seemingly been using flavor creation as a publicity stunt. The beverage company created "Coca-Cola Creations," a global innovation platform designed to make adding lime to Diet Coke sound a lot more fancy. The company has been creating new flavors for decades, but that's fully different from having a global innovation platform, or at leas that's what the company wants you to believe: Related: Starbucks considers sale of a major business to huge new rival "Coca-Cola Creations will take the iconic Coca-Cola trademark and lend it to new expressions, driven by collaboration, creativity and cultural connections. Through limited-edition, sequential releases, Coca-Cola Creations will introduce new products and experiences across physical and digital worlds," the company shared in a press release. That sounds like a lot of nonsense, well, because it is, but the new beverage platform has helped the company partner with famed DJ Marshmello, something nobody was asking for and few people wanted. It also led to the even less-needed first ever soda created by AI, and several other soda flavors that sound more pretentious than say "Vanilla Coke." Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Coca-Cola, however, which appears to have a very high opinion of itself, sees Coca-Cola Creations, which is built on a platform it calls "Real Magic," as a positive, not just for people bored with Coke Zero, but also for humanity at large: "For over a century, Coca-Cola has maintained its iconic status around the world as a symbol of optimism that has refreshed generations. When we launched 'Real Magic,' we wanted to connect with and celebrate the experiences that bring joy to young people today, and that has taken us to an exciting new territory," said Global Brand Strategy Senior Director Oana Vlad back in 2022. While the Marshmello collab came close, Coca-Cola has not yet taught the world to sing in perfect harmony so to speak. It did, however, release perhaps the most nonsensical cola flavor (and that's something to be proud of too). The first product that launched under Coca-Cola Creations was Coca-Cola Starlight. "Coca-Cola Starlight was created with the vision that – in a world of infinite possibilities – somewhere in our universe, another kind of Coca-Cola, another way of connecting with each other might exist," the company shared in a press release. "Coca-Cola Starlight combines great Coca-Cola taste with a dash of the unexpected, including a reddish hue. Its taste includes additional notes reminiscent of stargazing around a campfire, as well as a cooling sensation that evokes the feeling of a cold journey to space." More Retail News: Starbucks executives to get huge bonus as baristas demand better payWalmart, Sam's Club makes major donation for Texas flood reliefHome Depot spends billions on major acquisition That seems like a lot for one beverage to deliver, but it's not living in vacuum (like space). Instead, it traces to a bit of the company's history. "Thirty-five years ago, Coca-Cola partnered with NASA to become one of the first soft-drinks to travel to space," Vlad said. "That same passion for space still exists today. With Coca-Cola Starlight, we wanted to celebrate the remarkable ability of space exploration to inspire generations to discover new worlds of infinite possibilities." So far, every Coca-Cola Creations product has been a one-off. Coca-Cola Starlight will change that later this year. "It looks like Coca-Cola Starlight is coming back!Coca-Cola updated the nutritional facts page for Starlight less than two months ago; that page features this new product design (missing the Coca-Cola Creations logo seen on the initial release), which matches the render seen in a promotional image that leaked online earlier this month," the Snackolator web page reported. It appears Coca-Cola Starlight is only coming back in 20 ounce bottles. Fans of the product, as you might imagine, are very excited. "I cannot tell you how much I am literally crying over this. Real tears. I love this flavor so much," @GallowMeReGhost posted. Related: McDonald's menu adds a premium Big Mac alternative @BootlegFoodReview has similar thoughts, but likes their space soda sugar free. "Our prayers have been answered! Definitely need a Zero option," they posted. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Campaign ME
01-07-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Why smart CMOs are quietly outsourcing entire functions
There's a quiet transformation reshaping global marketing departments – and it's changing the game for good. As highlighted at the 'CMOs in the Spotlight – Creativity, Longevity and Business Impact' panel at Cannes Lions Creativity Festival 2025, modern CMOs are evolving beyond traditional roles. They're becoming business architects who expertly balance creativity, commercial rigor, and strategic collaboration. In an era where agility, ROI, and strategic thinking are everything, many Chief Marketing Officers are dismantling legacy marketing structures and outsourcing entire functions to specialist strategic partners. The results are clear: Leaner teams Better ROI More time to actually think And some of the world's best-performing brands are reaping the rewards. CMOs in the spotlight -shift from in-house to impact Recent data from Gartner's CMO Spend and Strategy Survey 2024 shows nearly 60 per cent of CMOs are increasing reliance on external agencies or partners for core marketing functions such as content production, brand strategy, and performance marketing. This shift is not tactical–it's deeply strategic. The new marketing model enables brands to stay lean, agile, and relentlessly focused on long-term growth instead of short-term deliverables. As Forrester's 2024 Marketing Predictions put it: 'The future marketing team will look more like a control tower and less like an assembly line.' During the Cannes Lions panel, industry leaders underscored how the best CMOs are moving from operational managers to ecosystem architects. By partnering strategically, they create nimble marketing organizations capable of adapting to rapid market changes while staying true to brand purpose. What are CMOs outsourcing? Brand Strategy: External strategists bring objectivity, trend foresight, and cross-industry intelligence. External strategists bring objectivity, trend foresight, and cross-industry intelligence. Creative Development: Great ideas can come from anywhere–decentralized global creative hubs tap into diverse talent pools beyond internal teams. Great ideas can come from anywhere–decentralized global creative hubs tap into diverse talent pools beyond internal teams. Content Production: Demand for speed and scale is met by studios that produce, iterate, and localize content rapidly. Demand for speed and scale is met by studios that produce, iterate, and localize content rapidly. Marketing Operations & Automation: With increasingly complex MarTech stacks, external experts maximize ROI and reduce operational drag. Who's Doing It Well? Coca-Cola Coca-Cola operates a networked marketing model involving over 200 partners globally working within a unified brand strategy. This approach powered campaigns like Real Magic, reducing internal complexity while unlocking creativity. Nestlé Nestlé consolidated its marketing into regional hubs and outsourced functions such as content production and media planning. This model accelerated content delivery across 180+ markets and improved efficiency, allowing internal teams to focus on brand purpose, sustainability storytelling, and product innovation. Airbnb Instead of scaling a large internal team, Airbnb partners with expert brand studios and local creators. Their 2023 Made Possible by Hosts campaign combined authenticity with agility, delivering powerful storytelling without bloating headcount. Why this works Leaner Teams, Stronger Focus By outsourcing strategic functions, CMOs free internal teams from daily executional fire drills and focus on big-picture challenges–customer experience, innovation, and market expansion. Better ROI Flexible cost models replace fixed overheads, paying for impact rather than headcount. According to McKinsey, companies that outsource strategically can save 15–25 per cent in costs and boost marketing effectiveness by up to 40 per cent. Time to Think In today's environment, attention is currency–not just for consumers, but for leaders. Delegating operational tasks gives CMOs time to reimagine their brands, lead digital transformation, and craft meaningful customer journeys. What this means for the future of marketing At GVGL, we witness this transformation daily. As strategic partners to global brands across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, we don't just execute campaigns–we help drive business transformation. Our collaborations with clients like Bayer, Heineken, Novo Nordisk, and Unilever demonstrate that the future belongs to brands that think boldly, collaborate deeply, and operate lean. The old model of siloed teams and internal execution is giving way to one that's smarter, faster, and more human. And the best CMOs? They're not afraid to let go – because they understand real control comes from clarity, not micromanagement. In a world where marketing leaders must deliver more with less, those embracing external strategic partners are leading the way. This is not outsourcing for mere efficiency–it's partnering for excellence. If your marketing feels stretched, reactive, or weighed down by execution, maybe it's time to ask: What could your brand achieve if your team had more time to lead–and less pressure to produce? By GVGL Marketing Management CEO, Ebru Tuygun
RTÉ News
05-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Amruta Vaidya apointed new Country Manager of Coca-Cola Ireland
Coca-Cola has announced the appointment of Amruta Vaidya as Country Manager of Coca-Cola Ireland. Ms Vaidya will be responsible for leading the growth of the company locally and for product marketing for the company's portfolio in Ireland. She replaces Agnese Filippi who was recently appointed as Country Manager for Coca-Cola in Sweden. The Coca-Cola System, comprised of The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner Coca-Cola HBC, employ over 1,500 people across the island of Ireland. The Coca-Cola system on the island contributes €3.66 billion to national economic output in the Republic of Ireland and €2.48 billion in Northern Ireland. Ms Vaidya joined Coca-Cola in 2017 and brings more than 20 years' experience in global FMCG sector. Most recently, she served as the company's Country Manager for Norway and Iceland, she has also held leadership roles across Franchise Operations, Marketing and General management in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. "I'm thrilled to take up the role of Country Manager and build on The Coca-Cola Company's exceptional track record of success in Ireland," said Ms Vaidya. "Along with our bottling partner, we strive to meet the evolving needs of our customers while bringing Real Magic to communities around the country through innovative digital experiences and meaningful connections.
