What We Were Up To at NRA
The Coca-Cola Company shares innovations and insights at annual show
At the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago in May,
The Coca-Cola Company treated attendees to a showcase of thought leaders, industry innovations and strategic initiatives from
The Coca-Cola Company. And there were samples. Lots of samples.
Here's what you missed if you missed us.
Coca-Cola Freestyle® 7000 Headlines
The big news at the show was the Coca-Cola Freestyle® 7000 dispenser. In April, the National Restaurant Association awarded the innovative dispenser, currently in lead launch test markets, a 2015 FABI award. It was featured in the Coca-Cola exhibit — along with the Coca-Cola Freestyle 8000 dispenser, the Coca-Cola Freestyle 9000 dispenser, a vitaminwater® station and more — and will be available to foodservice operators this month. Coca-Cola executives explained how the dispenser provides the benefits of the original Coca-Cola Freestyle dispenser — including consumer engagement, variety and choice — but on a scale that works well for operators with limited space.
Each hour during the four-day show, Coca-Cola foodservice experts and industry partners held a presentation showcasing specialty beverages and discussing the trends and food pairings relevant to those recipes. Beverage industry experts shared with the crowds new recipes and existing favorites from the CokeSolutions Recipe Box. They gave out recipe cards as takeaways.
Everyone Loves Drink Samples
Additional sampling took place all during the day. Morning guests were treated to fairlife® chocolate and 2 percent milk;Minute Maid® Premium Blend – Tropical and Minute Maid Premium Blend – Berry (both new flavors since the last NRA show and available only in foodservice); and Simply™ OJ and Simply Cranberry.
Afternoon guests sampled Coca Cola Life®, Honest Tea Brewed Raspberry, Honest Tea Brewed Lemon Herbal, Gold Peak® Tea Classic Blend, Gold Peak Tea Green Tea with Peach and Papaya, Minute Maid Lemonade, Minute Maid Limeade and three flavors of Seagram’s® Specialty Syrups (Ginger Ale, Root Beer and Black Cherry). Four flavors of vitaminwater, two flavors of POWERADE® and other drinks quenched show-goers.
One thing is for certain, no one left the Coca-Cola exhibit thirsty.
The next NRA show is May 21-24, 2016.
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