Mediaboss Marketing

Coca-Cola is launching a new brand purpose, Better when were open, in Europe that will form the basis of its marketing this year and next as it looks to show it is a brand with a point of view.

Coca-Cola is launching a brand platform and purpose across Europe as it looks become a brand that has a point of view and create more empathy among consumers.

The positioning, Better when were open, aims to act as a rallying call to unite the world that it believes is becoming increasingly divisive. That will be part of the brands marketing platform across Europe.

Speaking at an event today (13 February) Coca-Colas Western Europe marketing director Walter Susini said: There is a fundamental truth that no matter where you look today, in any country around the world, we are more divided than ever. Coca Cola is a brand that needs to embrace different angles and facets, and we need to talk about the problems that are relevant today. We will never shy away from social issues.

The new purpose is an evolution from Uplift and unite, which was launched last year, and will be communicated across various brand campaign throughout this year and into 2021. It builds on Coca-Colas Christmas ad, which drew parallels between Father Christmas and migrants.

The first is a TV campaign, created by Wieden+Kennedy London, that calls on consumers to listen more to different opinions and ask, Could I be wrong?.

The ad launches next week in the UK and shows a hectic US city environment aimed at reflecting the world we currently live in. It shows people shouting and screaming about who is right and who is wrong.

As the disagreements escalate, physical cracks appear in the architecture and the scene begins to crumble around the people, who are somehow oblivious to the destruction. Finally Orange is the New Black Star, Natasha Lyonne, appears and says: What if we all asked ourselves, Could I be the one whos wrong? Maybe things would change for the better.

The ad is just the beginning of how we going to deliver this empathy platform, according to Susini. It will appear across its activations at the Euro 2020 tournament this summer and as a core part of its strategy to create more links between Coca-Cola drinks and mealtimes as it tries to branch out into more occasions.

Susini admitted that marketing is facing a difficult moment as the market and consumer touchpoints become more complex. However, he believesCoca-Cola can stay relevant in three key ways: purpose, experience and talkability.

He explained: You need to talk about your purpose (besides making money for your shareholders) and you need to create an experience. And lastly you need to create talkability. If you dont care you dont share.

Susini concluded: The worst thing that can happen is indifference. We have been around for so long because we have never been indifferent and we will continue not to be.

More:
Coca-Cola introduces new brand platform as it vows to take a stand on social issues - Marketing Week