Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jun 27, 2020
The hits and misses of 2020’s summer sodas
by Patrick St. Michel
Every summer, drink companies release unique, limited-edition beverages. The 2020 editions have just arrived, and initial reviews are mixed.
Business / Corporate Jun 11, 2020
Coca-Cola Japan to add virus-resistant coating to 30,000 vending machines
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. said Thursday that it will make some 30,000 of its about 700,000 vending machines resistant to virus and bacteria in response to growing hygiene awareness among the public amid the new coronavirus crisis. Beginning this week, product selection buttons and dispensing ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jan 25, 2020
Coca-Cola Strawberry versus Asahi's Lemola: Which does fruit better?
by Patrick St. Michel
Two prominent Japanese beverage companies are offering consumers a choice: something entirely new, or a revived Showa Era flavor.
Business / Corporate Jul 12, 2019
Coca-Cola Japan to shoot for 90% recycled-content ratio in PET bottles
Coca-Cola (Japan) Co. said Friday it aims to raise the ratio of recycled material in the plastic bottles it uses to 90 percent by 2030, far above the global target set by its U.S. parent. The initiative, which compares with parent Coca-Cola Co.'s 2030 target ...
Olympics Jun 10, 2019
Coca-Cola (Japan) Co. said Monday it is looking for a group of up to 10 people to participate together in the torch relay of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when it opens its application process next week. According to Coca-Cola, members of the group will each ...
Business / Corporate Jun 6, 2019
Coca-Cola to start using 100% recycled plastic bottles in Japan
Coca-Cola (Japan) Co. has said it will start selling a beverage product next week packaged in bottles made entirely from recycled plastics. The move comes as beverage companies around the world are increasingly moving toward more sustainable packaging in a bid to protect the environment ...
Business Mar 8, 2019
As global concern over plastic pollution rises, corporate giants such as Coca-Cola and Unilever are pumping cash into a recycling initiative in Kenya they hope will provide a model for other developing countries. However, the voluntary scheme lacks legal backing, leaving a few companies to ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jun 9, 2018
Lemondo: Coca-Cola's first foray into the world of alcopops
by Patrick St. Michel
Is it worth shipping Coca-Cola's new alcoholic drink 1,000 kilometers from Kyushu? Undoubtedly yes.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH May 5, 2018
Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon: What's Coke without the fizz?
by Patrick St. Michel
It's hot out. Accordingly, everyone is seeking out cooler treats to get them through a summer that hasn't even fully settled in yet. Coca-Cola Japan is betting that people need a fix of cool in 2018, and have introduced a new product that takes ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Feb 10, 2018
Coca-Cola Peach: A saccharine adventure that isn't as bad as it sounds
by Patrick St. Michel
For a long time, Pepsi has owned the flavored cola market in Japan. It did so with left-of-center flavors that often tasted bad but, by rolling out curiosities such as cake-flavored soda, got attention, which is sometimes all that's needed. Now, Coca-Cola wants in ...
Business / Economy | YEN FOR LIVING Jun 13, 2015
Suntory gains ground in battle of the machines
by Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku
Suntory Beverage is buying a bigger piece of a shrinking but lucrative pie with its purchase of the Japan Tobacco's vending machine subsidiary.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Mar 24, 2015
Coca-Cola adds life to latest release
by Patrick St. Michel
Coca-Cola Co's latest carbonated creation, Coca-Cola Life, launched in Japan earlier this month with the promise of fewer calories and less sugar via the use of stevia leaf extract, a sweetener that's apparently better for the body. All of this is just slick branding, though, ...