Mecca-Cola
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| Mecca-Cola | |
|---|---|
 Product logo |
|
| Type | Cola |
| Manufacturer | Mecca Cola World Company |
| Country of origin |  France |
| Introduced | November 2002 |
| Related products | Coca-Cola, Zam Zam Cola, Qibla Cola |
Mecca-Cola is a cola-flavoured carbonated beverage. The flagship product of the Mecca Cola World Company, it is marketed as an alternative to U.S. brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola to pro-Muslim consumers. The product's name contains the traditional Latin-alphabet transliteration of مكة المكرمة (Makkah al-Mukarramah, or "Mecca"), the holiest city of Islam located in Saudi Arabia.
It was launched in France, in November 2002, by Tawfik Mathlouthi, as a means of aiding Palestinians by tapping into demand for alternative products in European countries. He had been inspired by a popular Iranian soft drink, Zam Zam Cola, which was already successful in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and in fact only decided to launch his own brand when he was unable to agree on terms for a distribution contract with Zam Zam. [1]
Mecca-Cola is now sold in the Arab World as well as in certain regions of Europe. It has also been bought and consumed in certain parts of Western India. Although the product was created in France, the company is currently based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Part of its corporate philosophy is its pledge to donate 10% of its profits to fund humanitarian projects (such as schools) in Palestine, and another 10% to charities in the countries in which the drink is sold — particularly (to quote its website), "associations who work towards peace in the world and especially for peace in the conflict between Palestinians and fascist Zionist apartheid". This activist stance is reflected in the company slogan, which appears on all its products: "Shake your Conscience." Every can also has the request that people avoid mixing the drink with alcohol.
In addition to several different presentations of its cola, the company also sells a range of fruit-flavoured soft drinks under the Mecca-Cola name. The company was the sponsor of — and Mecca-Cola the official drink of — the October 2003 Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), held in Malaysia.
In a BBC documentary produced in 2003, Qibla Cola's Zafer Iqbal and Mecca Cola's Mathlouthi are shown promoting their "Message in a Bottle".
[edit] International distribution
Mecca Cola is now distributed in 64 countries across the world.[2] Distribution in each country started on a unique date. The list of countries where it is distributed is as follows:
| Country | Date launched | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| France [3] | November 2002 | The company originally started in France before moving to Dubai. It is also the company's top market, however, it only holds 1.7% of the market share.[4] |
| India[5] | March 2004 | Launched first in Kashmir, then Gujarat, and now can be started in many different parts of the country. |
| Pakistan[6] | November 2003 | In the company's top 5 markets |
| Malaysia[7] | October 2003 | In the company's top 5 markets |
| Yemen[8] | June 2003 | In the company's top 5 markets, holding 22% of market shares |
| Algeria[9] | August 2003 | In the company's top 5 markets, holding 19% of market shares |
| Saudi Arabia[10] | February 2003 | All products are distributed through an $80 million plant set up here |
| UAE[11] | April 2003 | The company is currently headquartered here. |
| Bangladesh[12] | May 2005 | |
| Oman[13] | 2003 | |
| Qatar[14] | 2003 | |
| Kuwait[15] | 2003 | |
| Iraq[16] | April 2003 | |
| Lebanon[17] | February 2003 | |
| Jordan[18] | 2003 | |
| Syria[19] | 2003 |
[edit] References
- ^ [1] BBC News
- ^ Bangkok's Independent Newspaper
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2000574.stm 'Islamic' cola benefits from boycott
- ^ Bangkok's Independent Newspaper
- ^ Mecca Cola launched; Gujarat may be hub
- ^ pakistani perspective: Mecca Cola launched in Pakistan - PakTribune
- ^ MECCA COLA FOUNDER TO LAUNCH "MECCA BURGER", "HFC". | Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (October, 2003)
- ^ Mecca Cola introduced to the Yemeni market - Yemen Times
- ^ ‘Chorba For All’
- ^ FRANCE: Mecca Cola to launch in Middle East: Beverage News & Comment
- ^ Road to Mecca
- ^ Mecca Today
- ^ Mecca-Cola - BetterCuisine
- ^ Mecca-Cola - BetterCuisine
- ^ Mecca-Cola - BetterCuisine
- ^ BW Online | April 17, 2003 | After Iraq, Cola Wars Heat Up
- ^ THE-EDGE: News
- ^ Mecca-Cola - BetterCuisine
- ^ Mecca-Cola - BetterCuisine
- Islamic cola 'selling well in Saudi' BBC News - August 21, 2002
