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Coca-Cola Freestyle

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Coca-Cola Freestyle
TypeTouch screen soda fountain
InceptionJuly 2009; 15 years ago (2009-07)
ManufacturerCoca-Cola
AvailableYes
Websitehttp://www.coca-colafreestyle.com/ Edit this on Wikidata

Coca-Cola Freestyle is a touch screen soda fountain introduced by The Coca-Cola Company in 2009. The machine features 165[1][2][3] different Coca-Cola drink products,[4] as well as custom flavors.[5] The machine allows users to select from mixtures of flavors of Coca-Cola branded products which are then individually dispensed. The machines are currently located in major Coca-Cola partners and retail locations as a part of a gradual and ongoing deployment.

In 2014, Pepsi launched a competing, similar machine, the Pepsi Spire.

Design

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Coke Freestyle machines at the AMC Theatres in the Palisades Center mall, New York, USA
Panel of Freestyle cartridges in the machine

The cabinetry was designed by the Italian automotive design firm Pininfarina, via their Pininfarina Extra industrial and product design subsidiary.[6] The Freestyle's beverage dispensing technology was designed by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, in return for Coca-Cola distributing his Slingshot water purification system.[7]

The technologies involved include microdispensing technology and proprietary PurePour technology. Both technologies were originally developed to deliver precise doses of drugs.[1] One Freestyle unit with a similar footprint to a current vending machine can dispense 126 kinds of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Microdosing blends one or more concentrated ingredients stored in 46 US fl oz (1.36 L) packets with water and sweetener at the point where the beverage is dispensed,[4] thus avoiding the use of traditional 5 US gal (18.9 L) boxes of syrup (also known as a bag-in-a-box).[8] Cartridges store concentrated ingredients in the dispenser cabinet and are RFID enabled. The machine uses RFID chips to detect its supplies and to radio resupplying needs to other units.

History

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Testing began in Utah,[1] Southern California,[4][9] and Georgia in July 2009 with 60+ locations around America planned by the end of that summer.[10] Test locations around Coca-Cola's home city of Atlanta included the World of Coca-Cola, AMC Theatres Southlake Pavilion 24 and Parkway Point 15,[9][11] and area food chains, including Willy's Mexicana Grill.[12] Three machines are available in the Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure theme parks as well as the AMC movie theater at Disney Springs shopping complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and the World Waterpark in West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta and Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia.[citation needed]

Coca-Cola deployed the machines to 500 more locations in the United States in June 2010,[13] followed by deployment to some universities in the United States. Deployment has continued in select locations of restaurant chains such as Wingstop, Zaxby's, Wawa,[14] Taco Time Northwest,[15] Togo's, Roy Rogers,[16] Davanni's, PDQ[17] Dairy Queen,[18] Fuddruckers,[19] Five Guys,[20][21] Kelly's Roast Beef,[22]Firehouse Subs,[23], Wendy's, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr./Hardee's, Beef O'Brady's, Miami Grill, Hess Express, Subway, White Castle, Moe's Southwest Grill, and BurgerFi. Burger King announced in December 2011 that it plans to implement the Freestyle system in its 850 company-owned restaurants in the U.S. by early-to-mid 2012, and was encouraging its franchisees to follow suit.[24]

Coca-Cola has installed Freestyle machines in Toronto in select Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Hero Certified Burgers, and Nando's restaurants, as well as entertainment venues, such as Cineplex Entertainment cinemas and AMC Theatres.

In late June 2012, Coca-Cola started a limited trial in the UK (in association with Burger King UK), with the machine initially deployed in 16 locations around Greater London.[25] They are also now in Five Guys UK branches and various other locations such as cinemas Including AMC owned Odeon.[26] The selection of brands available from a UK Coke freestyle machine is different from the USA's. Schweppes Lemonade and still versions of Fanta are brands that are available. Coca-Cola's retail drinks in the UK would usually include real sugar, unlike their US versions which use HFCS. However, since the Freestyle machine was designed to use syrup based sweetener, the Freestyle version also uses fructose-glucose syrup (HFCS) in place of sugar in UK machines.[27]

In late February 2015, the company updated their system to divide drinks into four different categories, including a full selection, fruit-flavored mixes, caffeine-free drinks and those with low- or zero-calorie formulations.

In March 2015, Freestyle machines were installed at Thorpe Park, Surrey, the first theme park in Europe to use Freestyle machines.[citation needed] This was later rolled out to further UK Merlin Entertainments theme parks in March 2020, including Legoland parks.

In 2018, Coca-Cola unveiled a new iteration of Freestyle (9100) that would begin deployment in 2019, with a 24-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth support to connect with a new, accompanying mobile app for consumers, and new hardware features intended for future capabilities and beverage options.[28][29][30]

Products

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Customers choose a base product,[31] which they can supplement with additional flavoring. Diet and Zero products remain low or no calories even with flavorings added. The machines include flavors not previously available to the markets served by the machines, including Orange Coke, which was previously sold only in Russia and the Baltics (and briefly in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar).[32] Customers may also download an app and create their own custom mixes with up to three different base products and three different flavor shots, which the fountain pours by scanning a QR code.[33]

Flavors

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Base product Regular Cherry Cherry
Vanilla 		Lemon Lime Orange Vanilla Ginger
Lemon 		Ginger
Lime 		Grape Peach Strawberry Fruit
Punch 		Citrus Twist Strawberry
Orange 		Pink
Lemonade 		Orange
Vanilla 		Pineapple Blueberry Raspberry Tropical Punch
Coca-Cola[a] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No
Diet Coke Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No Yes No
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar[b] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No Yes No
Caffeine Free Diet Coca-Cola Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No Yes No
Sprite[c] Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes
Sprite Zero[d] Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes
Pibb Xtra Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No
Barq's Root Beer Yes No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Diet Barq's Root Beer Yes No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Fanta products — Yes Yes Yes
(intl. only) 		Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Fanta Zero products — Yes Yes Yes
(intl. only) 		Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Pibb Zero Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No
Dr Pepper Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No
Diet Dr Pepper Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No
Mello Yello Yes Yes No No Yes
(limeade) 		Yes No No No No No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No
Mello Yello Zero Yes Yes No No Yes
(limeade) 		Yes No No No No No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No
Vitaminwater[e] — No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No
Fuze tea products[f] — No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No No
Diet Fuze tea /
Fuze tea Zero products[g] 		— No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No No
Hi-C[h] — Yes No Yes Yes
(raspberry lime) 		Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Seagram's Ginger Ale Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Seagram's Diet Ginger Ale Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Barq's Cream Soda Yes No No No No Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
Diet Barq's Cream Soda Yes No No No No Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
Minute Maid Sparkling Drinks[i] No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No
Minute Maid Lemonade No Yes No Yes Yes
(lemon lime) 		Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No
Minute Maid Light Lemonade No Yes No Yes Yes
(lemon lime) 		Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No
Powerade Yes
(berry – intl. only) 		Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No No No
Powerade Zero Yes
(berry – intl. only) 		Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No No No
Minute Maid Drinks[j] No No No No Yes
(limeade) 		Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No No No
Minute Maid Light Drinks No No No No Yes
(limeade) 		Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No No No
Dasani (flavored water) No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
Dasani Sparkling Yes No No No Yes
(lemon lime) 		No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Surge Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No
Surge Zero Sugar Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No
  1. ^ Coca-Cola additional flavors also include tropical
  2. ^ Coca-Cola Zero Sugar additional flavors also include tropical
  3. ^ Sprite additional flavors also include Lymonade (lemonade), blueberry pomegranate, and ginger
  4. ^ Sprite Zero additional flavors also include Lymonade (lemonade)
  5. ^ Vitaminwater additional flavors also include strawberry citrus and tropical punch
  6. ^ Fuze additional flavors also include sweet and with lemonade
  7. ^ Diet Fuze / Fuze Zero additional flavors also include sweet, unsweetened and with lemonade
  8. ^ Hi-C additional flavors also include raspberry lime
  9. ^ Minute Maid additional flavors also include tropical citrus
  10. ^ Minute Maid additional flavors also include cherry limeade and mixed berry
Coca-Cola Freestyle stand at Cedar Point amusement park.

Freestyle fountains located in Firehouse Subs locations offer the chain's signature Cherry Lime-Aid.[34] Fountains at Sea World Orlando offer an exclusive vanilla-flavored freestyle flavor called "South Pole Chill",[35] and those located in Moe's Southwest Grill locations offer an exclusive vanilla/peach-flavored freestyle flavor called "Vanilla at Peachtree".[36] Moes introduced a new flavor called Moe-Rita in May 2017 which "combines limeade, lemonade, orange and original flavors for a refreshing margarita-inspired sip".[37] Machines in Wendy's restaurants have featured unique beverages such as a flavored cream soda named after founder Dave Thomas.[citation needed] In addition, the University of South Florida added a mix called “Rocky’s Refresher” to its on-campus freestyle locations in 2023.[38] Fountains at Universal Parks & Resorts offer several Secret Menu flavors. [39] On Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is an exclusive Sprite flavor called "Royal Berry Blast", which was added in 2019 in honor of the cruise line's 50th anniversary.[40]

After Vault was discontinued in 2011, it was replaced with Mello Yello.[citation needed]

Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper will be served instead of Pibb Xtra and Pibb Zero in areas where Dr Pepper is distributed by Coca-Cola bottlers, or at locations with separate fountain contracts to serve Dr Pepper.[citation needed]

Orange Vanilla Coke is a newer flavor that has been seen in new Freestyle machines. This flavor also exists in Coke Zero Sugar form.[citation needed]

Surge is available in Cherry, Vanilla, Grape, and Zero Sugar varieties in Freestyle machines at select Burger King restaurants.[41][42]

Locations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Wilson, Zachary (May 10, 2010). "Coca-Cola's 100-Flavor Interactive Freestyle Soda Fountain in Action". Fast Company. Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  2. ^ Eaton, Kit (May 10, 2010). "Coke's Freestyle Machines Ready to Rock Tongues With 104 Flavors". Fast Company. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  3. ^ Bell, Josh (March 17, 2010). "ShoWest's Coolest Offerings". Las Vegas Weekly. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Luna, Nancy (July 21, 2009). "Video: Coca-Cola Freestyle Demo & How It Works". Orange County Register. Santa Ana, CA. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  5. ^ "Coca-Cola Freestyle Touch Screens". The Coca-Cola Company. September 21, 2009. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2009 – via Facebook.
  6. ^ Ozler, Levent (September 11, 2009). "Pininfarina Partners with the Coca-Cola Company on Coca-Cola Freestyle". Dexigner. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  7. ^ Cooper, Larry (September 30, 2009). "Bargaining for Clean Water: Why Dean Kamen Invented the Coca-Cola Freestyle". Probiotic Solutions. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  8. ^ Bigg, Matthew (September 30, 2009). "Coca-Cola to Expand Testing of New Drink Fountain". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Collier, Joe Guy (September 29, 2009). "Coke Targets Freestyle Expansion for 2010". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  10. ^ "New Soda Machines Customizes Flavors". San Francisco: KGO-TV. July 22, 2009. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  11. ^ "Event @ AMC". The Coca-Cola Company. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2009 – via Facebook.
  12. ^ Sweigart, Christ (October 2, 2009). "More Flavors of Coke Coming to a Restaurant Near You". Atlanta: WXIA-TV. Archived from the original (Video) on December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  13. ^ "Coke's Freestyle Machines Ready to Rock Tongues With 104 Flavors". Fast Company. May 10, 2010. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  14. ^ "Cosi: Coke Machines Have 106 Warieties". iStockAnalyst. United Press International. November 12, 2010. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  15. ^ Johnson, Christie. "'Coca Cola Freestyle' Machines Debut at Taco Time Restaurants". KING 5 News. Seattle: KING-TV. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  16. ^ "What to Drink? Now You Have More than 100 Choices at Roy Rogers". Frederick News-Post. May 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  17. ^ "Davannis Pizza & Hot Hoagies - Past News Details". Archived from the original on August 28, 2011.
  18. ^ "One Giant Leap for Soda Fountains". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  19. ^ "Wall Photos By Fuddruckers · 50 of 50". Fuddruckers. June 24, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011 – via Facebook.
  20. ^ "Our Parkville, MD location just got Coca-Cola Freestyle installed!". Five Guys. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2012 – via Facebook.
  21. ^ Sams, Douglas (June 21, 2011). "Coke Expanding Plant to Make Freestyle Dispenser". Atlanta Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  22. ^ "One Giant Leap for Soda Fountains". Boston Globe. June 15, 2011. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  23. ^ "Firehouse Subs, Buffalo Wild Wings and Coca-Cola Freestyle". Firehouse Subs. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
  24. ^ "Burger King to use Coke Freestyle Machines". Marketwatch.com. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  25. ^ "Coca-Cola to Go Self-Serve with BK". Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  26. ^ "Our Menu". Five Guys UK. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  27. ^ "Coca Cola Drinks Fountain Nutritional Information: Ingredients". Coca-Cola GB. Archived from the original on 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  28. ^ Gallucci, Nicole (19 May 2018). "Coca-Cola's new soda machine lets you mix your own flavors via Bluetooth". Mashable. Archived from the original on 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  29. ^ "Coca-Cola Launching Bluetooth Vending Machine Of The Future". Mediapost.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  30. ^ "Coca-Cola and AWS Reimaging the Future of Contactless Experiences". AboutAmazon.com. 27 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  31. ^ "Coca-Cola Freestyle Jet Machine". CNBC. November 9, 2009. Archived from the original (Video) on August 15, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  32. ^ Goodwin, Jenifer (July 22, 2009). "Futuristic, 100-Flavor Coke Dispenser Tested". Union-Tribune. San Diego. Retrieved August 25, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^ "Coca-Cola Freestyle App: Your Custom Mix On Demand". Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company. May 19, 2014. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  34. ^ "Our Menu". Firehouse Subs. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  35. ^ Brigante, Ricky (May 23, 2013). "Inside Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin as SeaWorld Orlando Unveils Icy New Realm with 'Cool' New Attractions – Literally". Inside the Magic. Distant Creations Group. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  36. ^ Meier, Eric (May 14, 2014). "Sampling Vanilla at Peachtree Soda at Moe's Southwest Grill". Marcy, NY: WLZW. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  37. ^ Grill, Moe's Southwest. "Moe's Southwest Grill® Celebrates Cinco de Moe's™ with Launch of Moe-Rita™". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  38. ^ "New This Year".
  39. ^ https://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/coca-cola-and-universal-create-secret-menu [bare URL]
  40. ^ "Spotted: Royal Caribbean 50th Anniversary soda flavor | Royal Caribbean Blog". www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  41. ^ @BurgerKing (13 Aug 2018). "we interrupt your regularly scheduled Chicken Fries to tell you that SUUUUUUUUURGE is back! exclusively at BK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  42. ^ @ccfreestyle (10 Apr 2019). "Now that there are four kinds of @SURGE available at @BurgerKing, we were wondering what Coca-Cola Freestyle would've looked like in the 90s" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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