Marketing Gimmicks

Can Coca-Cola Repair Indian-Pakistani Relations?

Of course not, but that hasn’t stopped the soda company from making a promotional video that touts Coca-Cola’s desire “to break down barriers and create a simple moment of connection between two nations.” And how did they do that? With vending machines in each country that show live video feeds from the vending machines in the other country. (Think Apple’s Facetime, but with the intention to both resolve the Kashmir dispute and sell soda.) As Ad Age tells it, “The idea was to let citizens of both countries — long embroiled in a bitter political and religious battle — see and interact with each other, even complete shared tasks. Once those tasks were accomplished, the machines dispensed a Coke.” Simple! Problem solved! You’re welcome, world. Why haven’t Israel and Palestine thought of this yet?

Can Coca-Cola Repair Indian-Pakistani Relations?