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Coca-Cola to tweak Freestyle soda fountain after beta testing
October 18th, 2009, 12:17 pm · 27 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
11/11/09 update: McDonald’s announces plan to test Freestyle
It’s been nearly three months since Coca-Cola began rolling out in Southern California the “beta” version of its sleek new 100-flavor drink fountain.
Customers can mix countless Coca-Cola branded flavors.
And, so far, fast-food chains testing 65 of the futuristic soda machines, especially those in Orange County, appear to love it.
Most chains are reporting an uptick in beverage sales tied to consumer interest in the soda fountain, which allows customers to mix countless beverage flavors in one cup.
“So far, the test has met and exceeded our expectations,” said Gene Farrell, senior vice president of special projects for Coca-Cola.
I first met Farrell in late July when Coca-Cola debuted the first Freestyle machine at a Jack in the Box in Vista, Calif. (View my Freestyle video demo) On Friday, we met again at a El Pollo Loco in Santa Ana, one of 12 Orange County locations testing Freestyle.
Farrell and El Pollo Loco officials gave me an update on Freestyle. Farrell addressed broader questions about the beta test, while El Pollo Loco explained how customers view the machine.
Here are the highlights:
-While he did not reveal specific numbers, Farrell said that chains testing Freestyle have reported “low to mid-double digit increases in beverage sales.” Overall sales in some restaurants are also up, he added. “Results are very good so far,” added Ben Purcell, a Southern California Subway representative, who I interviewed separately.
El Pollo Loco shift leader Angelica Rivero helps customers who have Freestyle questions.
- Officials at El Pollo Loco, which has machines in two stores, said customers really like Freestyle. “The kids really get it right away,” said shift leader Angelica Rivero. She said customers tend to get more refills so they can mix different flavors. So far, Fanta Peach is a surprise hit flavor, she said.
What about wait times? Farrell said long wait times have not been an issue for Freestyle, which has only one dispenser. Rivero agreed, saying even customers waiting for a turn are entertained by “watching” others make custom drinks.
- Customer Richard Clark, who was visiting the El Pollo Loco in Orange, said he had to wait about 10 minutes while workers changed out Freestyle cartridges for drinks that were labeled “sold out.” “Seems pretty simple to operate once the bugs are worked out,” he said.
- As expected, the beta testing in 65 locations has prompted Coca-Cola to make some tweaks so it easier to operate. Farrell outlined some of the changes:
- Ice is clogging up the bottom shelf of the dispenser due to higher-than expected refill trips by customers who like trying out different flavors, said Farrell. As a result, newer models will be manufactured with a wider opening to allow ice to flow easier down the drain chute.
- The “Pour” button will be changed to “Push” to better help users.
- The horseshoe-shaped ice lever will be redesigned to a straight handle, as the slope design causes ice to “shoot out” onto the floor if it misses the cup.
The top "ribbon" of the shelf will be removed to create a wider opening for ice to fall through; the ice lever will be redesigned too.
- The changes will be made by the end of the year, Farrell said. While there’s pent-up demand by other chains to add Freestyle to their restaurants, Farrell said Coca-Cola has no plans to expand the beta test because they don’t have enough machines.
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does this rag EVER deal with actual news? Oh right, I forgot…. when it does, it deals with it inaccurately, insensitively and snidely. You’re right… better stick to total fluff.
Mary, Here is a great recipe for Cherry Fluff……..I have recipes for other flavors………if you don’t like Cherry………..let me know, I’ll post another recipe……..
CHERRY FLUFF
INGREDIENTS
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix the cherry pie filling, sweetened condensed milk, crushed pineapple and whipped topping. Chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.
Come on, Mary! This is a FAST FOOD BLOG! What is Nancy supposed to discuss in this space? I just clicked on the “All OCRegister.com Blogs” button to the right and counted 46 blogs on a variety of subjects. Have a look. Maybe you’ll find one more to your liking.
right. a fast food blog. Perhaps Ms. Nancy would like to read some real newspapers about the ongoing obesity problem… and then start a blog that actually has some merit in a real society.
Oh right.. Orange County… who needs real?
Mary,
Boy you guys at Pepsi sure get around to write negative things that is coke. If you want real news, go out and buy a real news paper and leave the free stuff for us who like odd ball stuff.
Oops I forgot “STOP PICKING ON NANCY!’
BBB –That’s OK. She can pick on me. It’s not as if I’m not used to it, but I appreciate your chivalry..I don’t get the fluff thing. Also, why is she calling an online pub a “rag”….??
How about E-Rag…
Now, that’s better..Thanks Kevin!
More HFCS swill?
No thanks.
Luckily the local Costco sells the Mexican Coca-Cola that’s made with cane sugar.
———–
from the article:
What about wait times? Farrell said long wait times have not been an issue for Freestyle, which has only one dispenser. Rivero agreed, saying even customers waiting for a turn are entertained by “watching” others make custom drinks.
————-
Yah, right. Just like people are entertained by “watching” the blue hairs trying to figure out an ATM or a self -checkout machine. Nobody is entertained. Nobody.
Thanks for the update, Nancy! I was wondering just the other day whatever happened with the Freestyle testing.
And to the naysayers among us I’m wondering right now whatever happened to “if you have nothing good to say, say nothing”?
I remember reading about it a few months ago, but have yet to see one in person. I would love to try it.
My kids loved the Freestyle. We rarely let them have soda, so this was a huge treat. They even got different flavored refills. There was almost no wait time at Pei Wei during a very busy lunch time was almost none.
I watched my husband use this at Subway today and it was pretty funny. He got ice all over the floor bc he kept pushing the wrong button. And then when he finally filled his cup, his diet coke didn’t taste like diet coke! I think the machine looks cool and I guess kids will love it — but it doesn’t seem practical. (I bought my diet coke in the old plastic bottle!) I’ll have to test it out tho bc I do like to mix my soda pop flavors! Thanks for the update. (Love your blog!)
Thanks newsgirl. Tell your husband, to watch the video demo before he goes back! That may help prevent a few spills. I personally love mixing coke zero with zero cherry!
Live dangerously…Coke Zero and Zero Cherry??? Zero + Zero = ?????
This too will pass…
I love the Freestyle machines! I can make Grape Lemonade with the Hi-C Grape and Minute Maid Lemonade, and yesterday we tried the Peach Fanta, which my husband just loved!
I realize people are resistant to change and to new-fangled contraptions, but this machine gives so much more variety to people, especially those who want to avoid caffeine at the soda machine. My husband is one of those people, and as we were discussing it yesterday, he realized that even avoiding the diet or zero calorie drinks and those that contain caffeine, he still probably had more than 20 choices of flavors from the machine.
I’m sure someone will come along and say “but there’s still trace caffiene from other things running through the machine,” and that’s probably true, but even decaf coffee isn’t free of caffiene, and my husband will drink that, so it’s not an issue for him.
If not for FFM’s blog, I probably still wouldn’t have heard of the Freestyle machines yet, so I am happy to see posts about it, and updates of the new locations. The Sam’s Club on Von Karman is the closest one to me yet, and we went yesterday to check it out.
I don’t consider myself to be old fashioned, but these machines seem a bit much to me. They seem more suited to a novelty type thing at a county fair or at an amusement park, yet Coke seems to be trying to make these the norm. I suspect it has much more to do with leasing the expensive machines than it has to do with selling the actual liquid product.
Honestly, and here’s where I’ll sound old fashioned I realize, but who needs that many choices? Does the term over-stimulation mean anything these days?
hmmmm, if they could invent one of these for cocktails & mixed drinks.
I see cross-contamination problems for this machine: Better idea would be a 4-5 spout Credit Card Accepting Kegger in bars so we don’t have to wait for the bartenders or waiters for a fresh one.
ok I don’t understand. How is this better then the dispensers they have now where you can just take a little from diferent flavors to make your drink? My wife always mixes cherry coke with diet coke or lemonade with diet coke. I guess more flavors, but can’t they just add more flavors to the dispensor now?
1 person above said her husbands diet coke didnt taste like diet coke, probably becasue somebody made a different drink but it all comes out the same tube so you probably will get residue from previous drinks.
I guess when they get one closer I will try it, but not worth driving just to try. Also wonder how much gets wasted because people mixes flavors that dont taste too good, also the wait time while they teach someone new how to use it will take awhile too. I guess its a new gimick, but imo not worth the money/resources coke spent on it.
ps. Nancy it is a good article despite what Mary says, it is very informative about the subject and it is in the food blog so it does make sense to be here.
I 2nd the comment on the “flying ice” situation. I think the “chute” should be long enough to come down and meet the top of the cup. Otherwise you end up with enough ice on the floor to start an ice rink.
Nice to have an EPL close to home so I can run out and try all those flavors.
It’s nice to see this article get BACK ON TRACK. Long live Coke products!
Thanks for the informative article Nancy.
PS
what’s REALLY funny is the comments merely proving my original point… there’s more comments in response to MY comment than there is on the actual “blog” itself. Talk about USELESS!!! LOL have a great, superficial, hand to mouth, bloated life all… I won’t bother you anymore. Just read it for amusement and now back to reality for me. ["Informative?" Just what planet do you live on that this stuff is useful? oh right.. behind the orange curtain, the costa mesa cool crowd]. Be well all… but if you really want to be well.. try eating real food… and teaching your kids to do the same.
: )
Why, Mary, are you so contrary?
I wonder how much time you spend leaving mean snarky comments on blogs vs. actually teaching your kids to be nice human beings. Let’s hope they don’t learn by your petty example.
Do you all that are concerned about cross contamination not realize that the majority of mcdonalds and a few other fast food chains drive threws have a fountain machine called and “ABC” or soemthing like that autmated beverage center i think. Anyways when the drive threw person puts in your order a machine makes your drink and it all comes out of one nozzle. So you might complain about it but you have been getting a fountain drink from a 1 nozzle machine all along
This is a great combination of a fun and engaging user experience that reinforces Coca-Cola’s brand(s) and a customer touchpoint that delivers valuable data on customers’ flavour preferences to Coca-Cola that will help them decide on new products to sell at retail.
http://myimajinashin.com/2009/12/03/new-coke-fountains-make-the-world-its-test-lab/