This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage .(December 2017) |
Type | Touch screen soda fountain |
---|---|
Inception | July 2009 |
Manufacturer | Coca-Cola |
Available | Yes |
Website | http://www.coca-colafreestyle.com/ |
Coca-Cola Freestyle is a touch screen soda fountain introduced by The Coca-Cola Company in 2009. The machine features 165 [1] [2] [3] different Coca-Cola drink products, [4] as well as custom flavors. [5] The machine allows users to select from mixtures of flavors of Coca-Cola branded products which are then individually dispensed. The machines are currently located in major Coca-Cola partners and retail locations as a part of a gradual and ongoing deployment.
In 2014, Pepsi launched a competing, similar machine, the Pepsi Spire.
The cabinetry was designed by the Italian automotive design firm Pininfarina, via their Pininfarina Extra industrial and product design subsidiary. [6] The Freestyle's beverage dispensing technology was designed by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, in return for Coca-Cola distributing his Slingshot water purification system. [7]
The technologies involved include microdispensing technology and proprietary PurePour technology. Both technologies were originally developed to deliver 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. Microdosing blends one or more concentrated ingredients stored in 46 US fl oz (1.36 L) packets with water and sweetener at the point where the beverage is dispensed, [4] thus avoiding the use of traditional 5 US gal (18.9 L) boxes of syrup (also known as a bag-in-a-box). [8] 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.
Testing began in Utah, [1] Southern California, [4] [9] and Georgia in July 2009 with 60+ locations around America planned by the end of that summer. [10] Test locations around Coca-Cola's home city of Atlanta included the World of Coca-Cola, AMC Theatres Southlake Pavilion 24 and Parkway Point 15, [9] [11] and area food chains, including Willy's Mexicana Grill. [12] Three machines are available in the Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure theme parks as well as the AMC movie theater at Disney Springs shopping complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and the World Waterpark in West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta and Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia.[ citation needed ]
Coca-Cola deployed the machines to 500 more locations in the United States in June 2010, [13] followed by deployment to some universities in the United States. Deployment has continued in select locations of restaurant chains such as Wing Stop, Wawa, Così, [14] Taco Time Northwest, [15] Togo's, Roy Rogers, [16] Davanni's, PDQ [17] Dairy Queen, [18] Fuddruckers, [19] Five Guys, [20] [21] Kelly's Roast Beef, [22] CG Burgers, [23] Firehouse Subs, [24] Pei Wei Asian Diner, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr./Hardee's, Beef O'Brady's, Miami Grill, Hess Express, Subway, White Castle, Boloco, [25] Salsarita's, McDonald's, Moe's Southwest Grill, BurgerFi, and Zaxby's. 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 U.S. by early-to-mid 2012, and was encouraging its franchisees to follow suit. [26]
Coca-Cola has installed Freestyle machines in Toronto in select Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Hero Certified Burgers, and Nando's restaurants, as well as entertainment venues, such as Cineplex Entertainment cinemas and AMC Theatres.
In late June 2012, Coca-Cola started a limited trial in the UK (in association with Burger King UK), with the machine initially deployed in 16 locations around Greater London. [27] They are also now in Five Guys UK branches and various other locations such as cinemas Including AMC owned Odeon. [28] The selection of brands available from a UK Coke freestyle machine is different from the USA's. Schweppes Lemonade and still versions of Fanta are brands that are available. Coca-Cola's retail drinks in the UK would usually include real sugar, unlike their US versions which use HFCS. However, since the Freestyle machine was designed to use syrup based sweetener, the Freestyle version also uses fructose-glucose syrup (HFCS) in place of sugar in UK machines. [29]
In late February 2015, the company updated their system to divide drinks into four different categories, including a full selection, fruit-flavored mixes, caffeine-free drinks and those with low- or zero-calorie formulations.
In March 2015, Freestyle machines were installed at Thorpe Park, Surrey, the first theme park in Europe to use Freestyle machines.[ citation needed ] This was later rolled out to further UK Merlin Entertainments theme parks in March 2020, including Legoland parks.
In 2018, Coca-Cola unveiled a new iteration of Freestyle (9100) that would begin deployment in 2019, with a 24-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth support to connect with a new, accompanying mobile app for consumers, and new hardware features intended for future capabilities and beverage options. [30] [31] [32]
Customers choose a base product, [33] which they can supplement with additional flavoring. Diet and Zero products remain low or no calories even with flavorings added. The machines include flavors not previously available to the markets served by the machines, including Orange Coke, which was previously sold only in Russia and the Baltics (and briefly in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar). [34] Customers may also download an app and create their own custom mixes with up to three different base products and three different flavor shots, which the fountain pours by scanning a QR code. [35]
Base product | Regular | Cherry | Cherry Vanilla | Lemon | Lime | Orange | Raspberry | Vanilla | Ginger Lemon | Ginger Lime | Grape | Peach | Strawberry | Fruit Punch | Raspberry Vanilla | Citrus Twist | Raspberry Peach | Strawberry Orange | Pink Lemonade | Orange Vanilla | Pineapple |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coca-Cola [a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Diet Coke | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar [b] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Caffeine Free Diet Coca-Cola | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Sprite [c] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Sprite Zero [d] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Pibb Xtra | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Barq's Root Beer | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Diet Barq's Root Beer | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Fanta products | — | Yes | Yes | Yes (intl. only) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Fanta Zero products | — | Yes | Yes | Yes (intl. only) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Pibb Zero | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Dr Pepper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Diet Dr Pepper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Mello Yello | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes (limeade) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Mello Yello Zero | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes (limeade) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Vitaminwater [e] | — | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Fuze tea products [f] | — | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Diet Fuze tea / Fuze tea Zero products [g] | — | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Hi-C [h] | — | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (raspberry lime) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Seagram's Ginger Ale | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Seagram's Diet Ginger Ale | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Barq's Cream Soda | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Diet Barq's Cream Soda | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Minute Maid Sparkling Drinks [i] | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Minute Maid Lemonade | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (lemon lime) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Minute Maid Light Lemonade | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (lemon lime) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Powerade | Yes (berry – intl. only) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Powerade Zero | Yes (berry – intl. only) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Minute Maid Drinks [j] | No | No | No | No | Yes (limeade) | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Minute Maid Light Drinks | No | No | No | No | Yes (limeade) | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Dasani (flavored water) | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Dasani Sparkling | Yes | No | No | No | Yes (lemon lime) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Surge | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Surge Zero Sugar | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Freestyle fountains located in Firehouse Subs locations offer the chain's signature Cherry Lime-Aid. [36] Fountains at Sea World Orlando offer an exclusive vanilla-flavored freestyle flavor called "South Pole Chill", [37] and those located in Moe's Southwest Grill locations offer an exclusive vanilla/peach-flavored freestyle flavor called "Vanilla at Peachtree". [38] Moes introduced a new flavor called Moe-Rita in May 2017 which "combines limeade, lemonade, orange and original flavors for a refreshing margarita-inspired sip". [39] Machines in Wendy's restaurants have featured unique beverages such as a flavored cream soda named after founder Dave Thomas.[ citation needed ] In addition, the University of South Florida added a mix called “Rocky’s Refresher” to its on-campus freestyle locations in 2023. [40] Fountains at Universal Parks & Resorts offer several Secret Menu flavors. [41] On Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is an exclusive Sprite flavor called "Royal Berry Blast", which was added in 2019 in honor of the cruise line's 50th anniversary. [42]
After Vault was discontinued in 2011, it was replaced with Mello Yello.[ citation needed ]
Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper will be served instead of Pibb Xtra and Pibb Zero in areas where Dr Pepper is distributed by Coca-Cola bottlers, or at locations with separate fountain contracts to serve Dr Pepper.[ citation needed ]
Orange Vanilla Coke is a newer flavor that has been seen in new Freestyle machines. This flavor also exists in Coke Zero Sugar form.[ citation needed ]
Surge is available in Cherry, Vanilla, Grape, and Zero Sugar varieties in Freestyle machines at select Burger King restaurants. [43] [44]
Diet Coke is a sugar-free and low-calorie soft drink produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company. It contains artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Unveiled on July 8, 1982, and introduced in the United States one month later, it was the first new brand since Coca-Cola's creation in 1886 to use the Coca-Cola trademark. The product quickly overtook the company's existing diet cola, Tab, in sales.
Coca-Cola Vanilla is a vanilla-flavored version of Coca-Cola, introduced in 2002 but subsequently discontinued in North America and the United Kingdom in 2005, though it remained available at certain fountain outlets. It was relaunched in the US in 2007, in Denmark in 2012, the UK in 2013 and Canada in 2016. Vanilla Coke has been available in Australia since its initial introduction in 2002, being produced by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Originally announced as a limited edition in the UK, it became permanent for several years; however, Vanilla Coke was again discontinued in the UK in Summer 2018, though Diet Vanilla Coke and Coke Vanilla Zero remain available.
Barq's is an American brand of root beer created by Edward Barq and bottled since the beginning of the 20th century. It is owned by the Coca-Cola Company. It was known as "Barq's Famous Olde Tyme Root Beer" until 2012. Some of its formulations contain caffeine.
Pibb Xtra, formerly called Mr. Pibb, is a soft drink created and marketed by The Coca-Cola Company. It is a kind of pepper soda with several variants.
Surge is a citrus-flavored soft drink first produced in the 1990s by the Coca-Cola Company to compete with Pepsi's Mountain Dew. Surge was advertised as having a more "hardcore" edge, much like Mountain Dew's advertising at the time, in an attempt to lure customers away from Pepsi. It was originally launched in Norway as Urge in 1996, and was so popular that it was released in the United States as Surge in 1997. Lagging sales caused production to be ended in 2003 for most markets.
Jones Soda Co. is a beverage company based in Seattle, Washington, United States. It bottles and distributes soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and candy.
An ice cream float or ice cream soda, also known as an ice cream spider in Australia and New Zealand, is a chilled beverage that consists of ice cream in either a soft drink or a mixture of flavored syrup and carbonated water.
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is a diet cola produced by the Coca-Cola Company.
Coca-Cola Cherry is a cherry-flavored version of Coca-Cola. It is produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers in the United States and some international markets.
Fruitopia is a fruit-flavored drink introduced by the Coca-Cola Company's successful Minute Maid brand in 1994 and targeted at teens and young adults. According to New York Times business reports, it was invented as part of a push by Minute Maid to capitalize on the success of Snapple and other flavored tea drinks. The brand gained substantial hype in the mid-1990s before enduring lagging sales by the decade's end. While still available in Canada and Australia as a juice brand, in 2003, Fruitopia was phased out in most of the United States where it had struggled for several years. However, select flavors have since been revamped under Minute Maid. Use of the Fruitopia brand name continues through various beverages in numerous countries, including some McDonald's restaurant locations in the United States, which carry the drink to this day.
Coca-Cola Raspberry, Diet Coke Raspberry and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Raspberry were variantations of Coca-Cola drink with a raspberry flavor. The drink was originally produced exclusively for New Zealand, and was later expanded.
Big Red is a soft drink. It was created in 1937 by Grover C Thomsen and R.H. Roark in Waco, Texas and originally known as Sun Tang Red Cream Soda. It is an American variety of cream soda and a special off-brand "blue cream soda". Gary Smith was the chief executive officer of Big Red Group (“BRG”) directly responsible for all functional areas. He successfully acquired and integrated numerous businesses to build BRG into a national company, eventually selling the entire business to Keurig Dr Pepper.
Polar Beverages is a soft drink company based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a manufacturer and distributor of sparkling fruit beverages, seltzer, ginger ale, drink mixers, and spring water to customers in the United States. It is the largest independent soft-drink bottler in the United States.
Blue Sky Beverage Company was a beverage company that produced soft drinks and energy drinks. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Monster Beverage Corporation. The company was established in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1980, where it remained until it was purchased by Monster in 2000. Coca-Cola North America took ownership of Blue Sky Sodas, Hansen’s Juice Products, Hansen’s Natural Sodas, Hubert’s Lemonade, Peace Tea and other non-energy drink brands as part of Coke’s partnership with Monster Beverage Corp on Jun 12, 2015. Blue Sky Beverage Company now operates out of Corona, California. The southwestern look and feel of the artwork on the soda cans is reminiscent of the company's roots in New Mexico.
Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla, formerly Coca-Cola Orange and in some markets Coca-Cola with Orange, is a variation of Coca-Cola originally available for a limited time. It was introduced in June 2007, in only Gibraltar, following the success of the previous year's Coca-Cola Lime, for which 40% of the launch sales represented new customers and increased purchasing.
Pepsi Spire is a touch screen soda fountain introduced by PepsiCo in 2014. The Spire's main competitor is the Coca-Cola Freestyle. Currently, Spire is available to retailers in two models, 2.0 and 5.0. It was designed by the Japanese machinery company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla is a variation of Coca-Cola produced by The Coca-Cola Company, a combination of Coca-Cola Cherry and Coca-Cola Vanilla.