If the silence from the official sponsor of the Sochi Olympic Games concerning the Russian anti-gay law has some up-in-arms, its latest sales initative is unlikely to improve the situation. The "Share a Coke" marketing campaign organised in different countries has taken a new turn in South Africa. In addition to the list of more than 400 first names that can replace the brand's logo on the can, the South African version of the dedicated "Share a Coke" website allowed a virtual bottle to be customised with the inscription of your choice. However, some words such as "gay", "lesbian" or "homo" are refused by the platform and produce a strange error message. "Oops, let's pretend you didn't just type that. Please try another name".
This could lead you to think that only proper nouns or ones with no sexual connotation can be validated. However, the word "straight" ("heterosexual") comes up with no problem at all on the red and white label of the drink. Whilst the brand has since closed its virtual customisation service, it has still not explained these discriminatory restrictions. For their part, homosexual rights defence associations are calling for a boycott of the brand.
*Illustration from the Coca-Cola Facebook page : https://shareacoke.co.za
News in the same category
To find its customers where they least expect it, the American cosmetic brand, Benefit, is installing vending machines developed by ZoomSystems. In the shape of pink buses, they contain the brand's best sellers.
Several consumer associations met to launch an awareness campaign about the origin of meat in transformed products, with the hope of changing European legislation.
For any Irish person living in London and missing their favourite foods, the Irish Centre recently opened it new Irish Shop 'An Siopa' - which means that you don't have to wait until your next trip to the Emerald Isle to get specific brands that you love.
The aim of the SILO locavore restaurant: take food back to the pre-industrial era. Between making ingredients (flour, cream, bread...), bills by mail and removing intermediaries, the chef, Douglas McMaster wants to reduce his waste to zero.
