Since 1886, the world has been captivated with the refreshing taste of Coca-Cola Classic, and in January this American favorite hit the Plano West campus. In December 2011, PISD’s 13 year contract with Dr. Pepper expired leaving the administration to look at offers for the school’s next beverage deal. PISD chose The Coca-Cola Company after reviewing all other offers made to PISD. The Coca-Cola Company’s contract with PISD will expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
“The new vending machines provide a variety of beverages to the youthful community of our school,” junior Logan Elewitz said.
The newly installed vending machines placed on campus and in the cafeteria add a bright red glow to the already familiar surroundings.
“I feel that the new vending machines will appeal to a larger number of students,” Elewitz said.
Many students are excited about the new beverage provider for the school as some of their favorite soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola Classic, Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, Diet Coke, Barq’s Root Beer, Mr. Pibb Extra and Orange Fanta are now available. The assortment of vending machines also carry Nestle Iced Tea, Powerade and Dasani bottled water.
“I am happy we are a Coca-Cola school because I love Barq’s Root Beer,” junior Ana McNamara said.
Previously, the Dr. Pepper machines did not have as much a variety as the vending machines in place now, giving students the choice to pick the beverage to quench their thirst for a $1.25 after 4:15 p.m. A percentage of the sales are given to Plano West by Coca-Cola based on sales made during the current month.
“Kids have change after lunch, and they use that change on soda,” junior Alex Fletcher said.
On the other hand, some students are not too happy about the recent change regardless of whether they are Dr. Pepper drinkers or not.
“If you are concerned about your health and physical appearance then you should not drink soda, because it is high in sugar,” junior Allie Rivard said.
One of Coca-Cola’s major marketing projects is the endorsement of their products by famous personalities, such as pop culture icon Andy Warhol in the 1960s.
“A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking,” Warhol said. “All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it.”
That is what Coca-Cola is known for, a drink that can describe America because anyone and everyone can buy it, and based on Interband’s 2011 global brand research report, Coca-Cola was named the world’s most valuable brand. Since John Pemberton came up with the original recipe and Asa Griggs Candler released and marketed the product, the Coca-Cola enterprise has engulfed the globe with catchy phrases such as, “Have A Coke and A Smile”, sponsoring large events, such as the Coca-Cola 600 race, and continuously creating a product that makes their loyal customers come back for just another drop of the irresistible drink. The company continues to create new products, of course not all of them being successful, but they will always have the most popular soft drink in the world, in Coca-Cola Classic, which is sold all over the world in places such as Afghanistan, Australia, Djibouti and Rwanda, etc. The main fact is that Coca-Cola, the most successful beverage company in the world, is liked in places all over the globe and will now be a daily scene around the Plano West campus.
“I think it is an awesome idea because sometimes I feel like drinking a Coke, and I love Coke,” senior Jeanette Rojas said.
