The public school system in Volusia County Florida has inked a deal with Coca-Cola to provide healthier soda offerings. Soda vending machines at the school will
provide water, juice, sport drinks, and diet sodas; instead of full-sugar offerings.
This deal is a remarkable turnaround for the soda industry. Overall, there was much worry about how school vending machine contracts and income could
be affected by the recently enacted nutritional labeling
legislation. However, this deal by Coca-Cola has stymied the tide of worry over the subject.
In March of this year, the debate over childhood obesity on the national scale, focused on removing sugary soda
offerings at schools. In the earlier article, the Ohio Soft Drink Association reported a 95% reduction of full-calorie soda and beverages in shipments
to schools. With the recent deal by Coca-Cola, the issue of the availability of sugary sodas at schools has been addressed; the soda industry has
responded to this consensus by offering healthier beverage offerings.
With the deal by Coca-Cola, both soda industry giants have now invested in offering healthier beverage offerings at schools. Recently, PepsiCo had pledged to reduce the amount of
sugary sodas in schools by 2012.
In the new five-year deal, Coca-Cola will pay the Volusia public school district 35% of the revenue from on-campus sales, plus a fee of $10,000 a year.
Free soda and beverages will also be distributed, with up to 2,800 cases being delivered to schools for extracurricular events.
Soda sales at the Volusia school districts will be varied, depending on the school grade level. High school students can purchase water, juice, sports
drinks, diet sodas and vitamin water. While the beverage sales at middle schools will be limited to just water and juice; elementary schools will only
have vending machines located in the teacher's lounge.
With the target of reducing childhood obesity firmly in scope of the nation, the soda industry has responded with promising beverage contracts that
show support for this national problem. With further advocacy by the federal government, First Lady Michelle Obama, and former President Bill Clinton,
the aim of reducing sugary
sodas in schools seems to have come to fruition.
Now, the focus of a soda tax to increase state tax revenue and potentially lower obesity rates is looming over the soda industry. However, the soda tax
that would impose a price hike on sugary soda seems to be of negligible affect to soda sales; it is
doubtful that a soda tax will take over
on a national scale.
Offering up healthier soda and beverages that are focused on reduced amounts of sugar and calories, is a remarkable way to formulate a sales strategy
with a vending machine business. And with your own vending machine business, you have the ability to earn extra income, have a flexible work schedule and
a low startup cost.
Contact United Marketing, or call 1-800-877-1335 if you are interested in starting a vending machine business. We have vending experts ready to answer your questions.
For additional information on the contract between the Volusia School system in Florida and Coca-Cola, please visit news-journalonline.com, "Volusia schools OK Coca-Cola contract"