Mexican Coke: better, or just more expensive?
“Fanatics of mexicoke” as the article mentions, were outraged when the Mexican bottler decided it was going to switch over to corn-syrup as a means of cutting costs. This public reaction suggests that there is indeed a widespread consensus between the two products (Mexican and American Coke). Reading this story made me think of the various implications it held for the Marketers of Coke.
If you have been living in North America, and haven’t noticed the hype over “Mexican Coke” it is quite possible that you are being somewhat inattentive. Mexican Coke, has become a trendy drink, on offer at high-end cafés and bistros, and sells for much more than your average Coke. The reason this is, is apparently attributed to the fact that regular coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, and this is in fact sweetened with the healthier alternative of sugar cane. Fanatics claim there is a perceivable difference in taste, while Coca Cola reps deny this differentiation.
This has implications for large corporations such as Coca-Cola, suggesting that outsourcing production may in fact lead to problems such as non-homogenous products. While this has been favourable for “Mexican Coke”, it may not be favourable to less trendy variations of coke. However, from a marketing standpoint, it offers a clear point of difference which can be communicated to consumers beyond Mexico.
