Coca-Cola’s new holiday ads that pay tribute to a 1995 campaign called, “Holidays Are Coming,” have generated lots of attention this week over the company’s use of “Real Magic AI” to produce the spots.
The New York Times ran the headline, “Coca-Cola’s Holiday Ads Trade the ‘Real Thing’ for Generative A.I..” Commenters on social media said the ads look artificial, pointing out inconsistencies like truck tires that don’t spin. Others called the...
With gut health soda Olipop projecting $500 million in revenue this year, it’s no wonder the company has been the subject of takeover speculation, along with challenger Poppi. The premium functional brands, which promise to support digestive health with the inclusion of prebiotic fiber, have both notched growth rates in the +160% range in recent weeks, according to Nielsen data from Goldman Sachs. Both Olipop and Poppi position themselves as an alternative to traditional carbonated soft drinks, but at a much higher
Our lead story (pg. 3) uncovers how Olipop Cofounder Ben Goodwin intends to pursue $1 billion brand status — and he says he can do it without direct store delivery, at least for now. This digestive health drink, or gut soda as some refer to it, didn’t exist before six years ago. And Olipop helped spawn a formidable competitor in Poppi. Many alternative sodas have marketed themselves at the expense of traditional sodas. Olipop has been among the most successful so far. I’ll note, as well, that in an era when barriers to entry in non-alcoholic beverages are lower than ever, Olipop is a brand built on function, R&D, and efficacy. That’s worth watching.
The second story in today’s issue (pg. 6) features a conversation with former Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands executive Matt Hughes. He is a well-known and respected industry voice whose expertise bridges the gap between mainstream and emerging brands. Now with private equity firm Franchise Equity Partners, Hughes is tracking the winds of change within
