Earlier this week someone told me that the biggest issue Coca Cola are dealing with in the UK is parallel/unofficial imports of their products. These apparently are undercutting there own trade prices.
I would beg to differ. I think their biggest issue is an appalling lack of product quality, consistency and delivery. My experiences this week:
1) Sofitel, St James, London. The best glass of Coke I’ve enjoyed for a long time. It may have been £5.06 but it was from a bottle, on lots of ice, with a slice of lemon and served in a perfect glass.
2) Oxford/Welcome Break Services. Luke warm plastic bottles at £1.40. Revolting.
3) The Glebe Hotel, Barford, Warwick. Syrupy, flat post mix. The second glass was better, but I’ve never been a big fan of post mix Coke. Price unknown.
I’m a UK-based B2B marketing consultant, specialising in strategic advice for SME business owners. I bring extensive hands-on expertise to every client engagement. Senior leadership roles across technology, media, payments, and publishing have shaped my practical approach. Highlights include serving as Chief Marketing Officer at The Panoply plc (now TPXimpact), Chief Commercial Officer at Tungsten Network, and Global Marketing Director at BBC Worldwide. Over the years, I’ve guided numerous SMEs through transformation and value creation. Helping businesses evolve and thrive is a genuine passion. Practical marketing insights and succession planning strategies are at the heart of what I do, as I believe growing a business’s asset value should be a rewarding and positive journey for every entrepreneur.
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