Launching Kodiak Cola, Multi-Flow Industries CEO Mark Stephens said: “We’re incredibly proud to introduce our new premium cola that beats both national brands in blind taste tests, delivers an impactful brand message, and best of all, offers a true value to foodservice operators as a lower-priced alternative to both Coke and Pepsi.”
The journey for new “Kodiak Cola,” according to Stephens, was based upon employee input, customer feedback, and several branding contests that “all led us to one conclusion: Kodiak Cola is poised to be a national player in the cola wars.”
The first challenge, according to product development director Owen Rothstein, was to create a cola that would stand up to the national brands in blind taste tests. “We tested hundreds of recipes using various mixtures of cola flavouring, vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus. Then we pounded away at different blends of sweeteners to ensure we outscored the national brands in sensory attribute tests.”
The results, according to Rothstein, prove that the new cola outscores the national brands by as much as a 2-to-1 ratio. And best of all, he claims, operators can save up to $30 per bag-in-box by converting from Coke/Pepsi to Kodiak Cola. “That could equate to thousands of dollars a year,” Rothstein said.
The next challenge was to create a brand that delivered a premium message. “We held several internal contests with our employees to develop and then choose a brand image that represented the three attributes we wanted to deliver: Big, Bold, and Pure,” Stephens said.
Kodiak will be branded under the “Micro-Brewed by Multi-Flow” logo, and is available in Regular Cola as well as Diet Cola variants. Rothstein said: “Diet Kodiak Cola was put through the same scrutiny as the Regular version. And we’re proud to announce that Diet Kodiak Cola demands the same attention as the regular recipe: Big, Bold, and Pure.” Kodiak Cola and Diet Kodiak Cola join the rest of the “Micro-Brewed by Multi-Flow” lineup as premium fountain soft drinks offered at a value price versus national brands. All are available for immediate national distribution to restaurants, foodservice, and all other locations that serve fountain-dispensed soft drinks.
Source: Multi-Flow Industries
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