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COCA-COLA will this summer be swapping outfits iconic logo on 330ml cans, 500ml and two-litre PET bottles for the 300 most popular first names among Zimbabwean teens and Millennials. “Share a Coke”, which was first launched in Australia in 2011 and has since rolled out in more than 50 countries, invites fans to find their names , special phrases and the names of family members, friends, co-workers and people they would like to know better on bottles and cans of Coca-Cola across Zimbabwe.
“We wanted to try and give as many people the opportunity to experience this unique campaign and remind people that Coca-Cola is all about sharing happiness. With this in mind, we have not only introduced popular names, we have also introduced family packs denoting sharing occasions with family, friends and loved ones,” said Coca-Cola Zimbabwe country manager, Ms Noma Halimana.
“The campaign puts a modern, youthful twist on the brand’s 128-year legacy of bringing people together and makes them feel special. For young people and the young at heart, personalisation is not a fad, it is a way of life,” added Mr Takunda Jinda, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe senior brand manager.
The 500ml PET bottle will sport group names like “Family” and “Friends”, and colloquial nicknames like “Ma1”. “Sando dzangu”, “Wangu”, “Biggaz”, “Muface”, “Dread” and “MaNinja” will appear on 330ml cans. “Summer is the perfect time to get together with others and share moments of happiness over an ice-cold Coke at barbecues, sporting events, family reunions, amusement park outings and other gatherings.
“Now, enjoying a Coke with your name on it and sharing the occasion with someone else makes these moments even more special,” said Mutare Bottling Company managing director, Mr. Allen Lang. “We will not only be talking about the names on bottles, but also putting a great deal of focus on celebrating real moments of sharing and the stories behind them. “We will highlight the best examples to encourage sharing among our fans and followers and inspire teens to recreate these sharing moments with their friends,” added Ms Halimana.
‘Share a Coke’ is designed to get people talking and sharing. When teens see that the iconic Coca-Cola logo has been replaced by their name or their friends’ names, they cannot help, but take a picture and post it online.” The campaign which will run on various media platforms will act as an invitation to ‘Share a Coke’ with someone you know, or want to know and gave people the tools to find and connect with the brand,” said Mr Jinda.
The ‘Share a Coke’ packaging rolled out nationwide in September and will remain on the shelves through February 2015. Momentum is expected to build as more personalised packs reach the market and a multifaceted advertising campaign kicked off on September 28. Experimental engagements in high-footfall venues will enable fans to customise a Coca-Cola mini can for themselves and a second can for someone special. The tour will satisfy fans who can’t find their names on store shelves.
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