YumSugar

Costco No Longer Carrying Coca-Cola Products

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:25 -0800

If you weren't able to locate a case of Coke on your last trip to Costco, don't worry - you aren't going crazy. Yesterday, the wholesale club confirmed that it is no longer carrying Coca-Cola products in stores nationwide.

The Washington-based wholesaler is currently in the middle of a dispute with the Coca-Cola Co. Although neither would comment on the matter further, the world's largest soft drink maker said that it was involved in "ongoing negotiations" with the store.

Considering Costco is the fifth largest general retailer in the United States, I'm predicting a resolution soon. But in the meantime, customers will simply have to shop elsewhere to get their Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dasani, VitaminWater, Fresca, Minute Maid, and Odwalla fills (among others). Will you be forced to stock up on soft drinks elsewhere?

Make Your Own Barbecue Sauce

partysugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:30:44 -0700

I'm with the majority: I love barbecue sauce. Not just any barbecue sauce, but homemade finger-licking good barbecue sauce. Every Summer, I end up making some random recipe and become totally obsessed with it. Last year I was all about Barefoot Contessa's simple sauce and the Summer before I was crazy for Everyday Food's recipe. Currently, I can't get enough of Steven Raichlen's coca-cola barbecue sauce.It's easy to make and tastes divine. Although there is no vinegar in the ingredient list, the sauce has a delightful tanginess and rich thickness. Liquid smoke provides a depth of flavor. If you're a fan of this style of slightly sweet and piquant (it's not spicy) barbecue sauce I highly recommend you make it. Seriously it only takes 10 minutes. Learn how it's done now.

US Drops Proposed Tariffs on Roquefort Cheese

YumSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:00:56 -0700

If you've been preparing to mourn the loss of Roquefort cheese, we've got good news for you: Yesterday, the United States struck a deal with the European Union, agreeing to drop its proposed tariff on Roquefort cheese, and products like Spanish ham and Italian mineral water.

The stink over taxes first began 10 years ago with a European Union ban on hormone-treated American beef, yet over the last few months, the controversy has heated back up. Before leaving office, President Bush proposed a 300 percent tariff on the pungent blue cheese from France. But when the tax was postponed, it appeared that the two countries were trying to work out a compromise. Although insiders are calling this a "first step" toward resolution, it doesn't completely address the problem at hand, and there are still many other measures that need to be taken. The agreement has to be approved by a number of officials from European Union countries. While the USDA maintains that hormone-fed beef is safe to eat, the EU still believes hormones could create health risks such as cancer.

The beef issue will continue to be a contentious one, but it's great news for Roquefort fanatics like myself. I can't wait to celebrate with a hunk of the creamy, pungent blue cheese! Will you do the same? Where do you stand on the beef issue?

Source

Coca-Cola Brings Vault Drink Head to Head With Mtn Dew

YumSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:50:45 -0700

Beverage titan Coca-Cola, eager to improve flat sales of carbonated beverage Vault, is hoping to win over consumers with a campaign that employs a tried-and-true tactic: free drinks.

Although Pepsi-owned (and recently renamed) Mtn Dew carries as much as 80 percent of the market share for citrus soda, Coca-Cola's three-year-old citrus cooler Vault, with four percent of the market share, has fizzled with customers. Hoping to turn the tides for Vault, Coca-Cola will soon begin its "Don't Dew It" campaign.

In an attempt to convert Mtn Dew die-hards into Vault fanatics, the company will be giving away coupons for free 16-ounce, 20-ounce, or 24-ounce Vault drinks when customers purchase a 20-ounce Mtn Dew.

During the economic downturn, consumer coupon use has skyrocketed. Like other recent promotions, industry experts anticipate that the "Vault Taste Challenge," will see a huge participation rate from consumers. Of course, for Coca-Cola, it will come at a price - that of at least a couple million dollars.

Although I think this campaign will be successful, I'm skeptical of Coca-Cola snagging a significant portion of Mtn Dew's market share. I used to be a huge Mtn Dew fan, and Surge, Mellow Yellow, and the others just didn't do it for me. Do you think it will prove to be lucrative?

Source

Coca Cola to Remove the Word "Classic" From Title

partysugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Coca-Cola is perhaps the most classic of American drinks, however the company has announced their plan to remove the word "classic" from its name. "Classic" was added over twenty years ago, in 1985, to signify that the brand was making a return to using the original recipe. Now with a global approach to advertising, the word is no longer beneficial to the brand. In the current ad campaigns, "Coke side of life" and "open happiness," the word is not employed. According to a spokesman from Coca-Cola, the "classic" is totally unnecessary:

It felt like the right time. When people think Coca-Cola, they think classic. More than two decades after the introduction of that word, its reason for being a descriptor has disappeared.

The beverage company doesn't foresee any customer backlash and has already removed the "classic" from fountain drink cups. I'm not affected by the change; to me Coke is classic. How do you feel about it?

Source

US and France at War Over Food Tariffs

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:00:04 -0800

France and the United States are engaged in another food war, and this time it's not over fries. The French government was infuriated by the legacy that President George W. Bush implemented right before leaving office: enacting a colossal tax on France's prized Roquefort cheese. While he imposed a 100 percent import duty on many products from the European Union, the former US President singled out the pungent blue cheese for a 300 percent tariff. As a result, Americans will soon be unable to buy Roquefort. In a letter to newly inaugurated President Barack Obama, French parliament member Philippe Folliot called for the removal of the steep duty. If the high tariff doesn't change, he said, there may be unfortunate consequences. "Symbol versus symbol," he said. "Since the United States has decided to surtax one of the most ancient (cheese) appellations, I think that the French government, with the European Union, must think about a heavy specific tax on imports of Coca-Cola concentrates produced in the US."

I hope Obama reconsiders the tax on Roquefort, so the US and France can return to more diplomatic times. Americans can still enjoy their Roquefort and the French can drink all the Coke they want.

What do you think - does it seem fair for France to tax the US in retaliation for a large tariff on Roquefort?

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Sunday BBQ: Grilled Rib-Eye Steaks with Cola Steak Sauce

YumSugar — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0700

I'm always trying to find creative new uses for foods, so I knew I had to try this recipe! It calls for cola, which adds a caramelized sweetness to the steak sauce.

Although the steak is garnished with thick-cut red onions, when I make it, I plan on throwing in sliced mushrooms for good measure. Who doesn't like mushrooms sautéed with steak?

To fire up the grill with this steak, read more.

Grilled Rib-Eye Steaks with Cola Steak Sauce
From Every Day With Rachael Ray magazine

Ingredients

1 cup cola
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup steak sauce, such as A.1.
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 garlic cloves, smashed and finely chopped
1 loaf Italian bread, cut at an angle into 1-inch-thick slices
2 large red onions, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Three 14-ounce bone-in rib-eye steaks
Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cola, ketchup, steak sauce, lemon juice and zest, and ginger to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, combine the butter and garlic. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium heat. Spread the bread slices on both sides with the garlic butter and grill, turning once, until golden, about 5 minutes.
Brush the onion slices and steaks with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high.
Grill the steak and onions until the steak is cooked to the desired doneness (about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare) and the onions are softened.
Slice the steak into thin strips. Top each toast with steak, onions and cola sauce.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Which of These Special-Edition Flavors Are Real?

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:01:11 -0700

On April 23, 1985, the folks at Coca-Cola announced that they were switching their original recipe to a new and improved recipe. The resulting "New Coke" was a total flop, and production on Classic Coke began again after less than three months.

To celebrate the hello - not to mention quick goodbye - of New Coke, I thought I'd whip up a little quiz about limited-edition flavors of your fave convenience store products. I'll list the product and you tell me if it existed or not. Also, be warned, some of these might not have been available in your neck of the woods, but were available somewhere in the world, while others I completely made up. Ready to give it a try?

Source

Take the quiz

Tired of Room Temperature Drinks?

YumSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:03:31 -0700

Have you ever had a craving for a nice cold beverage, only to realize that the only option is room temperature and there's no more ice? If you answered yes, then you'll be interested to hear about a rumored technological advancement in the beverage world.

According to insiders, a new technology will do away with the need for ice, as once opened, the bottles will be chilled from the inside out. A new drink called Sprite Super Chilled could reach the United Kingdom by next year. They will only be available via special vending machines that regulate the temperature. If successful they could reach our shores in the near future.

I don't know about you guys, but I think this sounds a little bit sketchy, and yet totally fantastic at the same time.

Source: Mirror via Spluch
Image Source

Even Better Than The "Real Thing"

YumSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:13:13 -0700

Holy Cannoli Batman! Get us to Costco stat!

Just in time for Cinco De Mayo, cases of authentic Mexican Coca Cola have been spotted at Costco. They're able to sell it since they've conformed to the US and California's regulations, such as labeling the CRV (the recycling deposit) and nutrition facts.

So why is this news? Well it tastes different, it's made from sugar instead of corn syrup, and people even say that the fizz lasts longer due to the glass bottle. The Atlanta based Coca-Cola Co. considers Mexican Coke in America to be a form of "bootlegging."

"We believe that the appeal of Mexican Coke is as much about nostalgia as it is about anything," says Martin. "It's like getting a piece of home in a bottle. You can't deny the fact that it's in a tall glass bottle, something you just can't find in most parts of the United States."

But it's the "same exact product," and Mexican bottlers are buying the ingredients straight from the company, says Martin.

If it's the same product, then tell me why they sell a kosher Coke during Passover that uses sugar, and tastes more like Mexican Coke?

Also, I wonder where the folks at Costco are getting their Mexican Coke from.

"[The non-Coca-Cola distributors are] trespassing on the territory rights of many U.S. bottlers," said Coke spokesman Martin. "Bringing it into the country is not illegal. But what it does do from the Coca-Cola standpoint is it violates contractual rights that we have with our bottlers. And it has potential trademark right infringements as well."

Hrmm... I better get myself to Costco while it's still available!

Source: SFist and Santa Cruz Sentinel
Image Source: slworking2 on Flickr - Thanks for documenting this for us!