Coca-Cola Freestyle

Coca-Cola Freestyle is a touch screen soda fountain introduced by The Coca-Cola Company in 2009. The machine features over 125[1][2][3] different Coca-Cola drink products,[4] and custom flavors.[5]

Contents

Design

The cabinetry was designed by the renowned Italian automotive design firm Pininfarina, via their Pininfarina Extra industrial and product design subsidiary[6]. Technologies involved include microdispensing technology and proprietary PurePour technology. Both technologies were originally developed to deliver extremely precise doses of drugs.[1] One Freestyle unit with a similar footprint to a current vending machine can dispense 126 kinds of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages from one freestanding unit. Microdosing blends one or more concentrated ingredients in 46-ounce packets with water and sweetener at the point where the beverage is dispensed,[4] thus avoiding the use of traditional 5-gallon boxes of syrup (also known as a bag-in-a-box).[7] Cartridges store concentrated ingredients in the dispenser cabinet and are RFID enabled. The machine uses RFID chips to detect its supplies and to radio resupplying needs to other units. The traditional ice cube dispenser remains.[8] The maximum rate of output is 95 drinks per hour.[4]

History

Testing began in Utah,[1] Southern California,[4][8] and Georgia in July 2009 with 60+ locations around America planned by the end of that summer.[9] Currently, test locations around Coca-Cola's home city of Atlanta include the World of Coca-Cola, AMC Theatres Southlake Pavilion 24 and Parkway Point 15,[8][10] and area food chains including Burger King, Firehouse Subs [8][11] Pei Wei Asian Diner (including the Newport Beach, California location), Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits, Sam's Club (including the Fountain Valley, California and Irvine, California locations), Subway, Wendy's, Taco Time (including Seattle-area locations[12]) and Willy's Mexicana Grill.[13] Three machines are available at the Richter's Burgers restaurant in the Universal Studios Orlando theme park as well as the AMC movie theater at Downtown Disney shopping complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. One of the largest movie theater chains in the USA, Carmike Cinemas, has begun to install these machines in several markets including the Beverly 18 in Champaign, IL and the Crossroads 16 in Conyers, GA. These machines include flavors not previously available to the American market including Orange Coke which was previously sold only in Russia and the Baltics,[14] and flavored Dasani waters.[4] The machines transmit supply and demand data to both Coca-Cola and the owner including brands sold, times of the day of sales, troubleshooting information, and service data.[15]

Contractors

Contractors for its development include:

Products

Customers choose a base product, which they can supplement with additional flavoring. Diet and Zero products remain low or no calorie even with flavorings added. Coca-Cola, Diet Coca-Cola and Caffeine Free Diet Coca-Cola are all available with vanilla, lime, raspberry, cherry or orange flavoring. Coca-Cola Zero is available with cherry or vanilla flavoring. Sprite and Sprite Zero are available with cherry, vanilla, strawberry, grape, peach and raspberry flavorings. Powerade ION4 and Powerade Zero sports drinks, Fanta and Fanta Zero, which already has an orange flavor, as well as Hi-C are available with fruit punch, lime, grape, strawberry, peach, raspberry, or cherry flavoring. Minute Maid Lemonade and Minute Maid Light Lemonade are available with cherry, orange, raspberry, or strawberry flavoring. Dasani still water and Dasani Sensations carbonated water is available with lime, peach, orange, grape, strawberry, raspberry, or cherry flavoring. Vault Red Blitz energy drink is available with orange, grape and peach flavoring. Additionally, Pibb Xtra, Pibb Zero are available. Barq's and Diet Barq's root beer are available from the machines with vanilla flavoring. Also Dr. Pepper replaces the Pibb Xtra in the restaurant YourPie. [22]

Deployment

Coca-Cola deployed the machines to 500 more locations in the United States in June 2010,[23] followed by deployment to some universities in the United States. Deployment has continued in select locations of restaurant chains such as Wing Stop, Così,[24] Taco Time Northwest,[25] Roy Rogers,[26] Davanni's and Dairy Queen,[27] Fuddruckers,[28] Five Guys,[29] Kelly's Roast Beef,[30] CG Burgers,[31] Firehouse Subs,[32] and Boloco.[33]. Select Wegmans locations also have Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. Burger King announced in December 2011 that it plans to implement the Freestyle system in its 850 company-owned restaurants in the USA by the spring of 2012, and is encouraging its franchisees to follow suit. [34]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wilson, Zachary (2010-05-10). "Coca-Cola's 100-Flavor Interactive Freestyle Soda Fountain in Action" (Web). Fast Company. http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/zachary-wilson/and-how/coca-cola-gives-ten-times-choices-freestyle. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  2. ^ Eaton, Kit (2010-05-10). "Coke's Freestyle Machines Ready to Rock Tongues With 104 Flavors" (Web). Fast Company. http://www.fastcompany.com/1642790/coke-freestyle-choice-drinks-beverages-inkjet-restaurants-touchscreen-redesign. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  3. ^ Bell, Josh (2010-03-17). "ShoWest’s coolest offerings" (Web). Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Weekly. http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/mar/17/showests-coolest-offerings/. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Luna, Nancy (2009-07-21). "Video: Coca-Cola Freestyle demo & how it works". Orange County Register. http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/21/video-coca-cola-freestyle-demo-how-it-works/29053/. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  5. ^ "Coca-Cola Freestyle Touch Screens" (photo). The Coca-Cola Company. 2009-09-21. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=124211&id=106593592062&ref=mf. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  6. ^ Ozler, Levent (2009-09-11). "Pininfarina Partners With The Coca-Cola Company on Coca-Cola Freestyle". Dexigner. http://www.dexigner.com/news/18642. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  7. ^ Bigg, Matthew (2009-09-30). "Coca-Cola to expand testing of new drink fountain". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN2915883820090929. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  8. ^ a b c d e f Collier, Joe Guy (2009-09-29). "Coke targets Freestyle expansion for 2010". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/business/coke-targets-freestyle-expansion-149759.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  9. ^ "New soda machines customizes flavors". KGO-TV. 2009-07-22. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/bizarre&id=6927931. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  10. ^ "Event @ AMC" (photo). The Coca-Cola Company. 2009-10-02. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126176&id=106593592062&ref=mf. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  11. ^ "Firehouse Subs (Album 2/2)". The Coca-Cola Company. 2009-09-16. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=122585&id=106593592062&ref=mf. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  12. ^ "'Coca Cola Freestyle' machines debut at Taco Time restaurants." King5 News. 2011-03-09. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  13. ^ Sweigart, Christ (2009-10-02). "More Flavors of Coke Coming to a Restaurant Near You" (video). Atlanta, Georgia: WXIA-TV. http://www.11alive.com/rss/rss_story.aspx?storyid=135920. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
  14. ^ a b Goodwin, Jenifer (2009-07-22). "Futuristic, 100-flavor Coke dispenser tested". San Diego, CA: Union-Tribune. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/22/futuristic-100-flavor-coke-dispenser-tested/?northcounty&zIndex=136100. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 
  15. ^ a b "Bsquare-Coca-Cola team up on high-tech soda machine". Seattle, Washington: Puget Sound Business Journal. 2009-07-20. http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/othercities/seattle/stories/2009/07/20/daily8.html?s=industry. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 
  16. ^ "Coca-Cola's Freestyle, Dean Kamen, and More". Atlanta, Georgia: Businessweek. 2009-09. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/next/archives/2009/09/coca-colas_free.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  17. ^ Cook, John (2009-08-17). "Coke's 'coolest soda machine ever' utilizes Impinj's RFID chips". Tech Flash - Seattle's Technology News Source. http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/08/Impinj_provides_RFID_for_Cokes_coolest_soda_machine_ever_53549327.html. Retrieved 2010-07-02. 
  18. ^ Sullivan, Laurie (2009-08-17). "Coca-Cola 'Freestyles' a Smarter Soda Machine". Media Post Publications. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=111788. Retrieved 2010-07-02. 
  19. ^ Collier, Joe Guy (2009-09-16). "Coke tests new dispenser in Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/business/coke-tests-new-dispenser-139555.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18. 
  20. ^ Odyssey Software Enables New Coca-Cola Freestyle Fountains to Phone Home - WEST HENRIETTA, N.Y., Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/
  21. ^ "Plexus wins Coca-Cola work for new drink machine". 2009-06-10. http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/08/daily51.html. 
  22. ^ "106 Choices". Coca Cola Company. http://www.coca-colafreestyle.com/106-choices.jsp. 
  23. ^ "Coke's Freestyle Machines Ready to Rock Tongues With 104 Flavors". 2010-05-10. http://www.fastcompany.com/1642790/coke-freestyle-choice-drinks-beverages-inkjet-restaurants-touchscreen-redesign. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
  24. ^ "Cosi - Coke machines have 106 varieties". 2010-11-12. http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4664787. Retrieved 2010-11-14. 
  25. ^ JOHNSON, CHRISTIE. "'Coca Cola Freestyle' machines debut at Taco Time restaurants". KING 5 News. KING 5 Television. http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Coca-Cola-Freestyle-machines-debut-at-Taco-Time-restaurants-117676273.html. Retrieved 2011-03-18. 
  26. ^ "What to drink? Now you have more than 100 choices at Roy Rogers". Frederick News-Post. 2011-05-12. http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyid=121056. Retrieved 2010-06-09. 
  27. ^ "One Giant Leap for Soda Fountains". 2011-06-02. http://www.startribune.com/business/123069083.html. Retrieved 2011-06-05. 
  28. ^ "Wall Photos By Fuddruckers · 50 of 50". 2011-06-24. https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?fbid=10150216429369563&set=a.56099424562.67358.56090499562&type=1&theater. Retrieved 2011-06-24. 
  29. ^ Sams, Douglas (2011-06-21). "Coke expanding plant to make Freestyle dispenser". http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/06/21/story4.html?b=1277092800^3522671. Retrieved 2011-07-21. 
  30. ^ "One Giant Leap for Soda Fountains". The Boston Globe. 2011-06-15. http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-15/business/29661686_1_coca-cola-freestyle-freestyle-machine-vending-machine. Retrieved 2011-06-27. 
  31. ^ "Coca-Cola Freestyle at CG Burgers". http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/11/2310034/new-soda-machine-a-refreshing.html. Retrieved 2011-10-18. 
  32. ^ "Firehouse Subs and Coca-Cola Freestyle". http://www.firehousesubs.com/Freestyle.aspx. 
  33. ^ "Coca-Cola Freestyle at Boloco Natick". http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150334798372387&set=a.73689277386.110131.60693217386. 
  34. ^ "Burger King to use Coke Freestyle machines". Marketwatch.com. 2011-12-06. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/burger-king-to-use-coke-freestyle-machines-2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 

External links