Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most iconic brands, is marking 80 years since it began making and bottling its famous drinks right here in Australia.
In a nod to its local heritage, the famous Coca-Cola logo on the iconic Kings Cross sign will be flipped upside down for the first time in the brand’s 132-year global history.
Coca-Cola will also showcase some of the stories of the everyday Australians who have been part of its story ‘down under’ over the past eight decades as part of the anniversary celebrations.
Dynamic Business had a chat to Christine Black, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability about what the iconic brand means to Australians, new drinks on the horizon and how Coca-Cola remains a household name.
DB: What does Coca-Cola mean to Australians?
CB: Since 1938, Coca-Cola has become part of the fabric of Australian culture and way of life. It remains an enduringly popular drink synonymous with good times, bringing people together and the classic Australian summer.
The first Australian made bottle of Coca-Cola rolled off the bottling lines in 1938 in a small building on the corner of Crescent and Dowling Streets in Waterloo, Sydney, and has been made, bottled, shared and enjoyed here ever since. Despite this, though so many Australians love our beverages, some people still assume that Coca-Cola drinks are shipped all the way from the US to our shores.
Our 80-year anniversary of being made in Australia is a good opportunity to break this myth and to celebrate Coca-Cola’s rich local heritage and strong connection to the Australian community.
Any new drinks in the line-up?
Coca-Cola is constantly innovating and developing new drinks for all tastes and lifestyles to respond to Australians’ rapidly evolving taste preferences. This is in line with the company’s global ambition of becoming a total beverages company, offering a range of drinks for all occasions.
Most recently, Coca-Cola acquired kombucha maker Organic & Raw Trading Co., which makes the MOJO brand of naturally fermented, live culture, organic kombucha drinks. This is the first time Coca-Cola has acquired full ownership of a brand in the category. Across Australia, we now have more than 165 products and 25 brands.
How does Coca-Cola keep up with all the new health trends?
Everything we do starts with our passion for what people want. We listen carefully, pay attention to how they live their lives, and learn what they care about most. We then turn that listening into irresistible drinks that make life’s everyday moments more enjoyable.
Why do you think the brand is so well known & continues to be a family name?
From the milk bars of the 50s, the yo-yo craze of the 60s and 70s, the Surfabout competitions of the 80s, to the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the ‘Love cans’, Coca-Cola has been a part the Australian community for many years.
In pop culture, television commercials such as Beachball, Canefields and Skysurfer were iconic representations that captured the essence of Australian culture, meanwhile others will recall the famous celebrity faces that have fronted campaigns over the years, from classic Coke TVCs to advertisements for TaB cola in the 80s.
Coca-Cola is passionate about doing business the right way by following our values and working toward solutions that benefit us all. We will continue our work in the communities around Australia contributing to the economy, the local population and those who need it most.
We are committed to Australia and look forward to continuing to be part of Australian culture and lifestyle for the next 80 years and beyond!
