Coca-Cola Life hits Australia, Suntory’s cool ice cubes, and more beverage bites

Molson Coors acquires Indian brewer​​

Beer brand Thunderbolt and the rest of Mount Shivalik Breweries’ portfolio is being taken over by Molson Coors, with the acquisition announced yesterday.

Molson Coors also gains control over the brewing operations in Haryana and Punjab (with a total capacity of 600K hectolitres), and distribution of Thunderbolt in Bihar.

A contract brewing and distribution partnership had already existed between the companies since 2013.

Molson Coors entered India in 2011, and its brands in the country already include Iceberg 9000, King Cobra and Royal Brew.

More Frestea from Coca-Cola Indonesia​​

Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia officially opened two new production lines​ at its Cikekodan Plant in Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday (March 31).

The original two lines at the plant opened in 2013. The two additional production lines – which are already up and running – will be used to produce Frestea, Minute Maid Pulpy Orange, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero.

The plant expansion is part of a $500m investment in Indonesia, which is aimed at driving growth in the next three to four years.  Coca-Cola has already invested $1.2bn in the country in the last 25 years.

Indonesia was a bright spot in Coca-Cola Amatil’s 2014 full year results, which showed 17% volume growth in the country.

Heineken reshuffle​​

On Tuesday Heineken announced changes to its operating model, stating a desire to focus on growth opportunities and make the company more cost effective. It also wants to be more agile at responding to consumer demand.

The business will be re-organised into four geographic regions. Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe will be merged into one Europe region (which will focus on EU markets). Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Belarus will form Africa Middle East and Eastern Europe.  The existing Americas region and Asia Pacific region will remain the same.

Stefan Orlowski will lead Europe; Roland Pirmez will head up Africa Middle East and Eastern Europe; Marc Busain becomes president of Americas; and Frans Eusman will lead Asia Pacific.

There has also been a reshuffle in head office positions.

Life down under​​

Coca-Cola Life has hit the shelves in Australia and New Zealand.

The drink is sweetened by a blend of sugar and stevia-leaf extract, containing 35% less sugar and kilojoules than the regular version.  

Australia and New Zealand’s Coca-Cola family is now made up of Coca-Cola (original), Coca-Cola Life, Coca-Cola Zero and Diet Coke.

Coca-Cola Life was initially introduced in Argentina and Chile in 2013, followed by Europe and the US last year.

And finally… are these the coolest ice-cubes ever? ​​

Suntory has been lauded for the ‘world’s first 3D-milled ice cubes,’ which were created with Tokyo advertising agency TBWA\Hakuhodo (see video below).

The ice cubes are carved into delicate designs - such as an astronaut, horse, and even the Statue of Liberty -  to let you ‘enjoy whisky in your desired shape.’

The ‘3D on the Rocks’ campaign uses a CNC router to create ‘one-of-a-kind’ ice creations.

The campaign has just won six awards at ADFEST (Asia Pacific Advertising Festival).