The Coca-Cola Company

Move

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:48:18 GMT

Let's Get Physical Physical activity is vital for health and well-being. There is increasing concern about overweight and obesity worldwide, and while there are many factors involved, the fundamental cause in most cases is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Our goal is to help people around the globe understand the importance of a sensible, balanced diet and the health benefits from increasing their levels of physical activity. Helping People Worldwide As a Company, we have a long history of supporting active, healthy lifestyle programs for our associates and our communities. From sponsoring major sporting events, to encouraging community soccer and athletic programs, to workplace wellness programs, we continue to foster physical activity and active, healthy lifestyles worldwide. For instance, in the United States, we are a founding partner of “Exercise is Medicine,” a program designed to encourage the medical community to advise patients on the importance of physical activity. We are also a founding member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a national, multi-year initiative to help reduce obesity—especially childhood obesity—by promoting and providing tools to help people achieve a healthy weight through energy balance. Find out how physical activity can play an important role in your life.Support for Physical Activity ResearchIn order to provide greater understanding and insight into barriers to and motivation for engaging in physical activity, we also support physical activity research programs. This has included collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs’ “Triple Play” program. Ready to get moving? Learn to properly hydrate for your active lifestyle: Get workout hydration tips (PDF)

Taylor Swift and Rebecca Minkoff Partner with Diet Coke to Find the Next Great Fashion Designer

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:16:47 GMT

Second season of the Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge open to aspiring designers nationwideAtlanta, May 16, 2013 – Extraordinary style isn’t limited to high-fashion runways or design studios. Look around any office, college campus or city block and you’ll see people with a passion for fashion and an eye for design getting creative and having fun with their individual style.To celebrate the spirit of independent stylists and fashionistas everywhere, Diet Coke is launching the second season of its annual Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge – an opportunity of a lifetime for a style maven to become the next great fashion designer. Diet Coke is the number one calorie-free brand and number two beverage in the country behind Coca-Cola.The brand is inviting creative individuals to submit a Diet Coke-branded T-shirt design inspired by the extraordinary style of its new partner Taylor Swift for the chance to have their original creation featured in all U.S. Target stores this fall. Fans can submit their design through May 31 at DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge.While submissions were only accepted from students at select design schools last year, the fashionable twist in 2013 is that anyone in the U.S. with a creative and inspired idea can submit a Diet Coke T-shirt design.Adding to the excitement, acclaimed fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, along with the top creative minds at Diet Coke and Target, will select the winning Diet Coke T-shirt design. The judges will select the top design from a pool of 10 finalists, which will be determined from an online public vote in June.“The Diet Coke brand is the epitome of style, and I’m delighted to be involved in this unique design challenge as a judge,” said Minkoff. “As someone who took a chance and moved to New York to chase a dream, I can’t wait to join Diet Coke and Taylor Swift to support a young, talented individual in pursuing their own dreams.”In addition to having his or her design available in the soft drink aisle in all U.S. Target stores beginning September 1, the grand-prize winner also will receive a $10,000 cash prize to pursue creative endeavors, plus a fly-away trip to meet Swift at one of her final U.S. RED Tour stops in Nashville, Tenn., this September.“Season two of the Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge gives all of our fans the extraordinary opportunity to make their dreams of becoming the next big designer a reality,” said Erik Jenkins, Diet Coke Brand Manager. “We’re excited to see how fans infuse the aspirational and modern Diet Coke brand and Taylor’s chic style into their design submissions.”Fans interested in submitting a T-shirt design can visit DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge to view inspirational photos and contest rules, download hi-res assets and learn more about the Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge. Budding designers also will find creative inspiration from a video featuring Swift sharing her thoughts on personal style and how she approaches fashion. T-shirt designs must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, May 31.The top 20 designs will be posted online at DietCoke.com/DesignerChallenge beginning June 16. Through June 30, people who vote for their favorite Diet Coke T-shirt design will have the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Nashville, Tenn., this September to meet Swift and attend one of the final concerts on her U.S. RED Tour.The grand-prize winner of the contest will be announced later this summer. To encourage the talented finalists to continue pursuing their creative passions, two runners-up also selected by Minkoff and the judging panel each will receive $2,500. The remaining 17 finalists will receive $250 each. The winner of the 2012 Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge was Gustavo Alonso, an up-and-coming design student at Miami International University of Art and Design, who wowed the judging panel with his design featuring a mysterious woman in a chic, red trench coat.About The Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo. About Taylor SwiftLauded by The New York Times as "one of the most important pop artists of the last decade," and by Rolling Stone as "one of the few genuine rock stars we've got these days," 23 year-old Taylor Swift is a seven-time GRAMMY winner, and is the youngest winner in history of the music industry's highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. With the 2012 release of her album RED, she is the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album hit the 1 million first-week sales figure. She holds the record for the biggest digital sales week ever for a song by a woman, and for the second-largest song sales week overall, as well as the worldwide iTunes record for highest ever first-week album sales. With RED, Taylor became the first artist since the Beatles (and the only female artist in history) to log six or more weeks at #1 with three consecutive studio albums. Taylor has an album on Rolling Stone's prestigious The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time (by women) list, and Time magazine has named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She is Billboard's youngest-ever Woman of the Year, and her more than 100 industry award wins have included the American Music Awards' Artist of the Year, the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year and three European Music Awards. Taylor, who writes all of her own songs, has career record sales in excess of 26 million albums and 75 million song downloads worldwide, and her two most recent albums are two of only 18 albums in the entire history of music to sell more than 1 million copies in a single week. She has had singles top both the country and pop radio charts around the globe, and has thus far scored 13 #1 singles across multiple radio formats. She is one of the top 5-selling digital music artists worldwide, and is the top-selling digital artist in country music history. About Rebecca MinkoffWith a vision of building a lifestyle brand for the downtown romantic, San Diego-born designer Rebecca Minkoff founded her company in 2001 after she developed a small apparel line. She spent the next few years working on the small collection until 2005 when Rebecca developed the “Morning After Bag”. The bag became an overnight sensation and Rebecca began solely concentrating on developing additional styles to build out her romantically themed day-to-night handbag collection. After four years of consistent growth in accessories under her belt, Rebecca returned to her original love of apparel design and introduced a ready-to-wear collection in 2009. Rebecca Minkoff’s designs are a favorite for modern, trend-setting everyday women and celebrities alike. About TargetMinneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,832 stores – 1,784 in the United States and 48 in Canada – and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/corporateresponsibility. # # #

Happiness You Can Hear: Coca-Cola Remixes Bottle Sounds

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:19:09 GMT

Coca-Cola is putting a fun, fresh twist on “Opening Happiness” through a social music project called the Coca-Cola Remix Bottle. Young Japanese DJ-inventor Jun Fujiwara Fujiwara embedded a sound-recording device inside a Coca-Cola bottle, hit the streets of Tokyo. The bottle captured everyday sounds when opened, which could be immediately played back by closing and reopening the bottle. The aural snippets were later overlaid with the familiar “psssttt” sound created by opening a Coke bottle and remixed into shareable music tracks. “There is no mistaking the sound you hear when you open a bottle of Coca-Cola,” said Leonardo O’Grady, ASEAN IMC director, Coca-Cola. “With the Coca-Cola Remix Bottle, we have given the classic opening ritual a new twist. By remixing everyday sounds, we have reinvented the sound of happiness whether it’s from a busy street, children playing or people involved in sport.” The remixes are available at www.cokeremixbottle.com as free downloadable ringtones and music videos.More Stories on InnovationBeyond Billboards: These Outdoor Ads Take Creativity to New HeightsPlay Fanta: Brand Unveils Multi-Screen Storytelling FranchiseAds Worth Spreading: Coke's 'Security Cameras' Makes TED's Coveted List

Coca-Cola Captures the Moment When Multi-Platinum, Grammy-Nominated Pop Sensation Carly Rae Jepsen Performs Her New Song, "Take a Picture," Tonight on the Season Finale of "American Idol"

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:07:59 GMT

Fans Come Together in Third Annual "Perfect Harmony" Program to Help Create New Song for Coca-Cola 20,000 Song Downloads Available to AMERICAN IDOL® Fans ATLANTA, May 15, 2013 – People across the country have spoken and tonight their picks will come to life in “Perfect Harmony” on the big stage. Weekly input from AMERICAN IDOL® fans helped complete chart-topping singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen’s new song, “Take A Picture,” through the Coca-Cola Perfect Harmony Program. During the season, fans helped create the song by selecting their favorite lyrics from a pool of options. People also were given the opportunity to weigh in on aspects like set design, backup dancers’ wardrobe and stage effects for Jepsen’s AMERICAN IDOL® Finale performance. The Perfect Harmony program will culminate tonight with Jepsen performing her new single on the first part of the two-night AMERICAN IDOL® Season 12 Finale (8-9 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. “Creating this song for the Coca-Cola Perfect Harmony program, in such a massive collaboration with fans, was a cool new experience for me,” said Jepsen. “The song is something everyone can relate to and the performance on American Idol® will show all the fun aspects that people chose. I can’t wait to see it all come together.” During the program, fans were invited to log on to www.americanidol.com/perfectharmony and provide input each week for Jepsen’s new song lyrics and her performance on tonight’s AMERICAN IDOL® Season 12 Finale. After eight phases – four focused on lyrics and four focused on performance elements – the final track and performance details Jepsen’s AMERICAN IDOL® performance are complete. The winning selections include: Week 1 – Flying kites with boy wonder/hold tight to me all summer (lyric)Week 2 – Photo shoot (performance theme)Week 3 – Reading my magazines/dancing in my blue jeans (lyric)Week 4 – Pyrotechnics (stage effects) Week 5 – Fireworks and night streamers/baby blue with day dreamers (lyric)Week 6 – Glam sparkle (background dancers’ costumes)Week 7 – Under water close to me/hold my breath in my blue jeans (lyric)Week 8 – Drummer (instrument spotlight) “Coca-Cola has long believed that music has the power to bring people together. The overwhelming response from fans participating in the Perfect Harmony program validates our continued support of music projects,” said Andy McMillin, VP, Coca-Cola Trademark. “With new elements, such as allowing people to help choose production details, the 2013 program brought the collaborative experience with fans to the next level. The Finale performance will showcase what a program like Perfect Harmony can create.” To celebrate the collaboration, Coca-Cola is giving away 20,000 downloads of the song following tonight’s episode of AMERICAN IDOL®. Downloading the song is easy. Fans simply log on to www.americanidol.com/perfectharmony and enter a unique code, which can be found under the cap or on the packaging of any Coca-Cola product. Details on the initiative, clips of the song, and complete terms and conditions also can be found on the site. Full lyrics for “Take a Picture” Flying kitesWith boy wonderHold tightTo me all summer ReadingMy magazinesDancing inMy blue jeans Pucker up in sunglassesMaking love to the flashesPosing the way that we do for everybody to seePolaroid through your lashesOnly thing that will last isI take a picture of you taking a picture of me I take a picture of you taking a picture of meI take a picture of you taking a picture of meTomorrow always happens too soonI wish I had an electric moonTo save the light FireworksAnd night streamersBaby blueWith the day dreamers Under waterClose to meHold my breathin my blue jeans Pucker up in sunglassesMaking love to the flashesPosing the way that we do for everybody to seePolaroid through your lashesOnly thing that will last isI take a picture of you taking a picture of meI take a picture of you taking a picture of me I take a picture of you taking a picture of meTomorrow always happens too soonI wish I had an electric moonTo save the light I wanna live tonight I wanna save the light And it goes on and on and onAnd we go on and on and onI wanna live We wanna liveThe life! (Tonight) About The Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com. About Carly Rae JepsenCanadian singer/songwriter and breakout pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen has taken America by storm after bursting onto the scene in the U.S. with her hit single, “Call Me Maybe.” Unforgettably catchy, the hit song, which she co-wrote, quickly rose to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it remained for nine consecutive weeks. Certified quintuple-platinum in Jepsen’s native Canada, the track is also an international sensation, climbing to No. 1 on the iTunes Singles charts in more than 47 countries, while the official video has more than 400 million YouTube views and the song has sold more than 10 million singles worldwide to date. Follow-up platinum single “Good Time,” a duet with Owl City, climbed to No. 3 on the pop chart, while the video has racked up more than 84 million YouTube views. Jepsen released her debut album, “Kiss,” on September 18 via 604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope Records. Jepsen won the 2012 American Music Award for Best New Artist and received two 2012 GRAMMY Award nominations for Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year. Jepsen has also been nominated for nine 2013 Billboard Music Awards and her new single, “Tonight I’m Getting Over You,” The Remix ft. Nicki Minaj is out now. About AMERICAN IDOL®AMERICAN IDOL® is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group, and FremantleMedia North America. The series is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, CEO, XIX Entertainment. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, FremantleMedia, Trish Kinane, FremantleMedia North America; Ken Warwick, FremantleMedia North America; and Nigel Lythgoe, CEO, Nigel Lythgoe Productions also serve as executive producers. # # #

EKOCYCLE™ Awards $200,000 Grants to Kick Start Multi-Family Household Recycling in the South Bronx

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:17:38 GMT

will.i.am and Coca-Cola partnership launches new pilot program with non-profit Sustainable South Bronx to help local residents recycle New York City, May 15, 2013 – EKOCYCLE, will.i.am and Coca-Cola have a message for South Bronx residents: Let’s recycle together! To help reach that goal, earlier today EKOCYCLE, represented by global music artist will.i.am and The Coca-Cola Company’s Chief Sustainability Officer Bea Perez, presented a $200,000 grant to Sustainable South Bronx. The funding will be used to set up a pilot program that will help local residents recycle their household waste. Within New York’s five boroughs, the South Bronx neighborhood has the lowest recycling rate in New York City. Through EKOCYCLE’s grant to Sustainable South Bronx the new pilot program, which launches May 20, aims to help reverse that trend. As recycling rates continue to climb nationwide, pockets of the country still face major challenges. Recycling levels in New York City are less than half the national average (15 percent vs. 34 percent). For many neighborhood residents, recycling is complicated by multi-family dwellings or apartment buildings that do not proactively promote the practice. “New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world, and can become an even better place to live by making it easier for residents to recycle,” said will.i.am. “By teaming up with Sustainable South Bronx and Highbridge area residents, EKOCYCLE’s mission is to help kick off this pilot recycling program and encourage residents do their part to contribute to a more sustainable city.” EKOCYCLE – a partnership between will.i.am and Coca-Cola -- envisions a world with zero-waste. To achieve this goal, EKOCYCLE believes in making an impact beyond the lifestyle products it creates from recycled materials. Partnering with organizations that share values around recycling and recycling education is an important step in reaching that broader objective. Sustainable South Bronx will use this funding to initiate a recycling pilot project. Through a combination of education, infrastructure and other activities, Sustainable South Bronx hopes to demonstrate how recycling can be dramatically increased in apartment buildings throughout the South Bronx. Sustainable South Bronx will work closely with the Highbridge Community Development Corporation, the non-profit organization located in the Highbridge section of the South Bronx, whose buildings will be the project’s focus. “Residents of the South Bronx who live in large apartment buildings face numerous obstacles that make it difficult to recycle on a regular basis,” said Michael Brotchner, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx. “This donation from EKOCYCLE to Sustainable South Bronx will help us kick-start recycling in a set of buildings that is representative of buildings throughout the community. We think that the residents of Highbridge will be very excited to participate in this pilot project, which aims to produce concrete findings on how recycling can best be promoted in the South Bronx.” About EKOCYCLEWith a shared interest in making a positive impact on our world, The Coca-Cola Company and will.i.am have come together to create EKOCYCLE. By educating people about the role of recycling in their lives, EKOCYCLE hopes to inspire a global social movement around recycling and making more sustainable purchasing choices. EKOCYCLE repurposes items such as plastic bottles for use as recycled content in fashion-forward lifestyle products through the help of today’s biggest trendsetters and brands. To further reinforce The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to promoting recycling, the Coke® brand name – spelled backwards, “EKOC” – is embedded into the EKOCYCLE moniker. “EKOCYCLE brings together strong brands and a cultural icon to engage people in an important sustainability initiative,” said Bea Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer, The Coca-Cola Company. “EKOCYCLE encourages recycling by innovatively transforming recycled materials into attractive products. It’s a journey that presents a win-win proposition.” EKOCYCLE offers a full line of apparel and lifestyle items promoting environmental responsibility. Among the products available are limited edition Levi’s 501® Waste

Cover Story: The Brand Comes First

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:08:00 GMT

On May 15th, 1950, the Time magazine cover featured the famous red disc of The Coca-Cola Company serving a globe of the world an ice cold Coca-Cola in our classic contour bottle. That date and the cover marked a milestone for Coca-Cola. A Global Brand The foundation of Coca-Cola as a global brand began when Robert W. Woodruff established the Coca-Cola Foreign Service Department in 1926. That expansion was hastened when Coca-Cola built 64 bottling plants around the world to fulfill Woodruff’s pledge that every soldier should be able to receive a Coke for a nickel regardless of what it cost the Company. By 1950, as the Time magazine article states, “The Sun Never Sets on Cacoola” and Coca-Cola was acknowledged as one of the first truly global brands. The five page story highlights the overseas operations and notes that the expansive growth was due in large part because the rigorous training of international associates and that the business was essentially a local operation in every country where Coca-Cola did business. “Coca-Cola … leaves the profit from these In all countries where it is bottled, Coca-Cola stimulates local industry; virtually all the cooler, bottles, cases, uniforms and advertising material used in foreign countries are made outside the US.” The cover illustration was created by Boris Artzybasheff, a noted illustrator who did more than 200 Time Magazine covers between 1941 and 1965. Within The Coca-Cola Company, the cover carries particular significance because, Robert Woodruff, our longtime leader, was asked to pose for the cover but declined noting that the brand was more important than any one man at the Company. His long term vision for The Coca-Cola Company at the conclusion of the Time feature still ring true today, “We’re not selling the world short; we’re playing the world long. We decided that we would live with the world and that the world would survive, that it must survive, as a decent place to live in.” More StoriesMinute Maid: The Day Coca-Cola Became the Company It Is Today'We Needed a Big Idea:' The Extraordinary Story of How Diet Coke Came to BeNew Coke and New Media: Reimagining the Infamous Product Launch in the Digital Era

Five Fun Ways to Keep Your Family Fit

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:45:52 GMT

Parenthood is a rewarding experience, but it takes a lot of work to raise a healthy, well-adjusted family. Advancements in technology help us keep up with a fast-paced environment, but like most things, they have their drawbacks too. Relying on technology gives us an excuse to not complete tasks hands-on and we often find ourselves letting our kids do the same. We could all use some encouragement to refocus on what’s important. Charlotte Parent and Nashville Parent began The Fit Family Challenge as a lifestyle program to encourage metro-area families in both cities to get moving and live healthier by tracking their physical activity minutes. Coca-Cola has partnered with the program to challenge consumers to track their lifestyle habits and raise awareness of the importance of physical activity. With Mayor Foxx and Mayor Dean each leading their citizens in this city-wide challenge, the mayors are able to emphasize the importance of a balanced lifestyle and encourage active, healthy habits throughout their cities. As families get out and play as a family, we are able to help make it everyone’s job to be healthier and lead a more balanced, active lifestyle. As we've watched the logged activities and habits come in throughout the program, we discovered some great ideas that many of us can incorporate into our lives. Below are five of our favorites: 1. Walk the Dog This simple activity not only helps get you outside and moving, but it's also a much needed activity for your pet. It's a great way to get the kids out for some quality family time too. Try talking about the school day while you do a lap around the neighborhood. If the kids aren't available, grab your spouse, and catch-up on some much needed alone time. Either way you're burning calories while completing a family chore. Who knows, it may even turn into a family game of fetch with your pup! 2. Laugh Out Loud Alright, this one seems a little too good to be true, but laughter does burn calories. It's also good for the soul and studies show it helps you live longer. Encouraging laughter around your dinner table, while tucking the kids in at night or during your carpool to soccer practice makes life more fun and keeps you focused on the positive in your life. 3. Opt for Active Video Games Most gaming systems now offer motion activated-activities. The games range from sports, to dance, to being the in-game action hero. It's a video game – which means your kids will probably think it's cool – plus it is getting them moving rather than just sitting in front of the screen. This is a great substitute for traditional family game night or a rainy day. And it might just spark some fun, family-friendly competition. 4. Plan Outside Time Kids tend to get outside and burn calories more than adults. You plan your life around making sure their needs are met. This often leaves you literally sitting in the driver's seat, waiting in the school pick-up line or outside of karate practice. So, make sure you plan time outside for yourself too. If you plan to get outdoors, you're more likely to do something that gets you moving. One of our favorites is family bike rides. Many areas offer beautiful bike paths or parks that give you a safe space to teach your kids how to ride and get you out pedaling as well. 5. Cook Together This activity is so simple, and helps to teach healthy habits at any age. When you cook, you're paying attention to what you're eating and you're putting in the time and energy to do it yourself. Kids will love this quality time to learn your secret recipes and understand what it takes to make a healthy meal. You never know, this might spark some time to practice your laughing out loud too. Also, cooking together is always a romantic date night idea with your spouse because it is an entire process. You work together, building those communication skills, and then reap the benefits in a delicious meal over good conversation. We hope these tips make a difference in your day-to-day activities. Just keep your eyes peeled for ways to get moving. After a day in front of the computer screen or standing in line at the grocery store, activity feels good. It makes you feel better, and your emphasis encourages your children to place importance on it as well. We'd love to hear about the fun ways you get active and create healthy habits! Please share them with us. If you live in the Charlotte or Nashville areas, we encourage you to join us by signing up at www.CharlotteParent.com or www.NashvilleParent.com. Throughout the Fit Family Challenge, Charlotte Parent and Nashville Parent Magazines have each chosen two spotlight families to share their journey. Each family will track their activity levels, goal setting and work with health and nutrition experts to meet their goals. In Charlotte, the Garfinkle family will challenge the Hill family. In Nashville, the Uphoff family will challenge the Saad family. You can follow the Charlotte and Nashville families through their blogs and interviews to pick up tips and learn from their experiences. Eve White, a wife and mother of a 13-year-old, has been the editor of award-winning Charlotte Parent magazine since 2006, serving modern parents in the community with expert advice and real-life solutions. For 20 years, Stewart Day has been publishing Nashville Parent Magazine to serve the needs of Middle Tennessee parents. He is the father of four children, an avid hockey fan and has recently begun his own personal fitness challenge to lose 50 pounds.

The Next Greatest Generation: Tom Brokaw Urges Coca-Cola Scholars to Give Back

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:19:00 GMT

Award-winning journalist Tom Brokaw addressed the 25th class of Coca-Cola Scholars – 252 high school seniors who share a commitment to leadership through service – with a call to action to start college not just as freshmen, but as full-fledged citizens. “You can help change the course of our country… by making an early commitment, beginning tonight, that an unalloyed and continuing part of your life will be public service,” Brokaw said during keynote remarks at the annual Coca-Cola Scholars banquet in Atlanta on April 18. One of the foremost observers and chroniclers of the modern era, Brokaw’s storied career with NBC included stints as White House correspondent, host of both The Today Show and Meet the Press, and 20 years as managing editor and anchor of NBC Nightly News. The author of The Greatest Generation and The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation About America said he has never seen the nation’s political landscape more fractured in his nearly 50 years in journalism. “We need your help, beginning now,” he told the scholars, who represent 244 high schools in 46 U.S. states and a U.S. Department of Defense school in Germany. “We not only need to find common ground; the challenge of the 21st century is to find higher ground in America. And one way you can do so is to leave here with a personal commitment that for the rest of your life, in one form or another, you’ll find a way to give back to your country.” Founded in 1986 to mark the centennial anniversary of Coca-Cola, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has since awarded more than 5,250 scholarships valued at more than $51 million. A total of 50 national scholars each receive a $20,000 scholarship each year, and 200 regional scholars receive a $10,000 scholarship. Two additional $20,000 scholarships are awarded by the foundation. “The choice that Coca-Cola made in giving you this scholarship was not just about academics alone; it was about your central character,” Brokaw said. “And it is that essential character that we’re all counting on to help us make America preeminent again – not just in the world, but here at home.” Brokaw, a passionate advocate for helping military veterans find jobs and re-integrate into civilian life upon returning home, reminded the budding leaders that as they leave for college, other young men and women their age are fighting the two longest wars in U.S. history. He urged them to find a way to help these unsung heroes realize the American dream. “And that American dream, in your hands, can become not just about having more cars, larger houses and fancier vacations,” he said. “It can be about improving the quality of life for all future generations and making us a more just and tolerant society… and using the extraordinary skills you have to advance not just your personal interests, but the interests of your community, state and nation.” The Century of Women Watching the diverse group of students walk across the stage stood in stark contrast to Brokaw’s days growing up in Yankton, South Dakota. Back then, the young men would have outnumbered the young women by a ratio of five to one, he said. The strides women have made over the last 25 to 30 years are remarkable, Brokaw added, noting that leaders such as Xerox’s Ursula Burns and Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg are among the most powerful executives in business, and that more than half of the country’s medical school and law school students are female. “This is going to be the century of women taking their place beside men in every aspect of society,” he said. “And thank God for that, because we need everyone in the arena making a contribution to who we want to become. And what we want to become is an increasingly tolerant society; one that is able to work together to find common cause.” ‘Use the Pause Button’ Brokaw, 73, also tackled technology during his remarks, cautioning the students to “be prepared to use the pause button” and to not let social media replace personal relationships. He challenged the tech-savvy group to use the latest, greatest tools to tackle the world’s pressing challenges. “It will do us little good to tweet, text, e-mail or wire the world if we short-circuit our souls,” he said. “We must use technology wisely to advance the common good, as well.” Watch Brokaw’s full remarks and his conversation with three Coca-Cola Scholar alumni about education, global development and the global advancement of women. Read inspiring stories about Coca-Cola Scholar alumni and their journeys.More Stories Scholar's Hunger to Help the EnvironmentCoke Scholars Alum and Coke Employee Says Welcome to the FamilyJason Pate: From Coca-Cola Scholar to Indian Restaurant Entrepreneur

Open For Summer: New Coca-Cola Initiative Welcomes America’s Favorite Season With A Splash

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:47:59 GMT

Collectible cans, fresh advertising and dozens of high-profile partners highlight largest ever Coca-Cola summer program Company sets goal to get 3 million people active this summerPrizes every hour, exclusive deals and a host of special events and experiences will help millions enjoy the best of summerEnter to Win VIP trips to the “iHeartRadio Coca-Cola Open For Summer Kick Off Concert” with Trace Adkins and the “iHeartRadio Live Coca-Cola Summer Concert Series” featuring artists including Of Monsters and Men and Jason DeRulo Atlanta – May 14, 2013 -This summer, when you open a Coke, you’ll open all the goodness the season has to offer. From beaches, barbeques and concerts to ballparks, theme parks and national parks, Coca-Cola will open opportunities for fun and celebration all season long.Dozens of high-profile partners will offer hot prizes, cool experiences and special deals as part of Coca-Cola’s Open For Summer campaign. The Company’s largest summer initiative to date will help families get out and get active, with a focus on the season’s most beloved pastimes. “There’s nothing quite like an ice-cold Coke on a hot day, and we’ll be there every step of the way as people enjoy the very best of summer,” said Stuart Kronauge, General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola North America Group. “We’ve assembled an unprecedented list of partners to help families make the most of the season.” MyCokeRewards.com/summer will be the hub for summertime fun, with giveaways every hour, every day through Labor Day -- and prizes being awarded range from tickets, gift cards and premium items to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Among the exciting options up for grabs are: Trips for four (including airfare, hotel transportation and spending money) to some of America’s favorite theme parks VIP golf trips for two to Pinehurst and Pebble BeachWeekend fishing trip for two with a professional angler Trip to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a 160 MPH ride-along in a real stock carVIP concert getawaysMovie tickets for a year Prize giveaways are offered through exclusive Coca-Cola Open For Summer partnerships with a variety of iconic brands. They include AMC Theatres, Bass Pro Shops, Busch Gardens, Carmike Cinemas and Cedar Fair Amusement Parks -- including Cedar Point, Knott's Berry Farm and Knott's Soak City. Also participating are Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Coppertone, Delta Airlines, Hilton HHonorsTM, Holiday Inn® Resort, SeaWorld, McDonald’s, NASCAR, the PGA of America, Sheraton® Hotels and Resorts, Six Flags, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Universal Orlando® Resort, Universal Studios HollywoodSM and more. Online at CokeSummer.com, visitors can view an interactive film that features iconic summer moments. They can also open video that reveal related content and offers. The experience inspires fans to capture their #BestSummerMoment and share photos of those moments via social media. Coca-Cola will be celebrating these fan-shared moments in a unique way throughout the summer, both on the CokeSummer.com site and on its own social channels. Get the Ball Rolling Complementing “Coca-Cola Open For Summer,” the Company has set a goal to inspire 3 million people to get active this season. The initiative, “Get the Ball Rolling,” encourages millions across America to rediscover the joy of being active through a variety of Coca-Cola sponsored activities and events. Every summer weekend – starting June 21, the first day of summer, to Labor Day, September 2 – Coca-Cola will award one Shine™ activity tracker by Misfit every hour from sunrise to sunset Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to a lucky individual through MyCokeRewards.com. This elegant device allows users to track activities, such as swimming and biking, while syncing with their smartphones. Special Packaging Limited-edition Coca-Cola packaging will appear on store shelves in May, just in time for the start of summer. Six different designs depicting iconic images of summer’s most celebrated pastimes – including food, wave, sports, travel, entertainment and outdoors – will be featured. Cans, outer packaging and specially marked 12-pack and 20- and 24-can packs will feature unique codes that unlock rewards at www.mcr.com/summer.Advertising Open For Summer advertising, including television, digital, out-of-home and mobile, will showcase the joy and celebration of everyone’s favorite season. A new TV spot showcasing a montage of moments synonymous with summertime, will debut during the finale of “American Idol” (May 15-16 on FOX). Open For Summer ads also will appear across social and digital platforms such as AOL and Facebook. Coca-Cola worked with Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Ore., to develop the creative, which is part of the brand’s Open Happiness global marketing campaign. Open For Summer Kickoff Concert Coca-Cola will drop the green flag on summer this Memorial Day weekend with a special event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, home of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. The iHeartRadio Coca-Cola Open For Summer Kickoff Concert, a free event for all Coca-Cola 600 ticketholders, will be headlined by country music star Trace Adkins. Josh Thompson will open the show, which will include appearances by Coca-Cola Racing Family members. The iHeartRadio Coca-Cola Open For Summer Concert featuring Trace Adkins will stream across more than 100 Clear Channel Mainstream Country stations nationwide. The 60-minute Memorial Day special broadcast event on Monday, May 27, also will air on iHeartRadio's Country Road Radio at 12 p.m. EST. The long-term partnership with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment also will include the iHeartRadio Live Coca-Cola Summer Concert Series. The series will feature intimate performances with artists such as Of Monsters and Men and Jason Derulo at the iHeartRadio Theater in New York City. Open For Summer content will be showcased across Clear Channel’s radio stations and websites nationwide. Local DJs will amplify the campaign and give listeners a chance to win a VIP experience at one of the iHeartRadio Live Coca-Cola Summer Concerts. Coca-Cola and iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's industry-leading digital music platform, will begin a co-branded integrated national cinema advertising campaign across AMC, Regal, Carmike, Cinemark and independent theatres. The co-branded spots will celebrate the partnership, encourage downloads of iHeartRadio and amplify the “Open For Summer” campaign. Additionally, a Coke branded digital-only custom station will launch this summer on iHeartRadio. It is available across all major platforms including web, mobile, tablets, automotive, television and gaming devices. Experiential The Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper is an award-winning mobile marketing unit that will cool things down at more than 100 events throughout the summer. Expected to host approximately 500,000 people, it features an ice bar with a "perfect serve" Coca-Cola sampling experience. Blasts of frosty air will provide refreshing relief from the summertime heat and a DJ will crank up the volume. Visitors can also enjoy interactive gaming, a video studio and photo station. To encourage people to get outside and enjoy active fun, Coca-Cola is giving away 100,000 soccer balls and fitness activity trackers at Swelter Stopper locations and other events and celebrations all summer. Coca-Cola Happiness Trucks will also be rolling into town at a series of dancing and activity events across the country. The interactive vehicles will inspire people to get on their feet and move to the beat of some of the hottest music. People will also have the opportunity to sample mini-cans of Coca-Cola. America is Your Park Coca-Cola is also encouraging families to be active this summer on behalf of their favorite national, state and local parks. Through the America Is Your Park campaign, kicking off this June, people can turn fitness activities into votes for parks to win recreation grants. For 127 years Coca-Cola has brought people and communities together. Today, that tradition continues through the Company’s support of programs to promote energy balance and encourage active, healthy living. Through collaborative partnerships and programs, Coca-Cola is delivering more beverage choices, calorie information and physical activity opportunities than ever before. To learn more visit www.coke.com/comingtogether. About The Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com. About Misfit WearablesMisfit invents and manufactures wearable sensing devices that inspire people be more active and develop healthy habits. Misfit’s first product, the Shine, is an elegant wireless personal activity tracker that you can wear anywhere on your body, using different accessories, and because of its sleek all-metal construction, can be worn to any occasion: a black tie event, the office, or a friend's birthday party. Simply tap Shine and a halo of lights appear to tell you how close you are to completing your personal daily activity goal. Carved out of a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum, it was built to last a lifetime and is water-resistant for swimming. www.misfitwearables.com/shine

Hydration Guidelines

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:52:52 GMT

Highlights from the IOM/NAS Report on Hydration The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences conducted an extensive analysis on the research concerning hydration and released fluid intake recommendations in their 2004 report. Highlights from the IOM report: About 80 percent of people’s total water comes from drinking water and beverages — including caffeinated beverages – and the other 20 percent is derived from food.The scientific panel did not offer any rule of thumb based on how much plain water people should drink each day because hydration needs can be met through a variety of sources in addition to drinking water. Keep in mind though that the report refers to total fluid, which includes the water contained in beverages and the moisture in foods, to avoid confusion with drinking water only.Most people can meet their daily hydration needs with their normal drinking behavior. While drinking water is a frequent choice for hydration, people also get water from juice, milk, coffee, tea, soft drinks, fruits, vegetables, and other foods and beverages as well. On a daily basis, most people get adequate amounts of water from normal drinking behavior — consumption of beverages at meals, snacks and in other social situations — and by letting their thirst guide them.When it comes to meeting daily water and hydration needs, not only non-caffeinated beverages, but also caffeinated beverages can contribute. Thus, all beverages, including caffeinated beverages, are hydrating – juice, soft drinks, tea, milk, water and coffee. While concerns have been raised that caffeine has a diuretic effect, available evidence indicates that this effect is transient, and there is no convincing evidence that caffeine leads to dehydration. Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences Hydration Guidelines Age Range Daily Water Adequate Intake Infants 0-6 months 3 cups* (0.7 L), assumed to be from human milk. 7-12 months 3.5 cups (0.8 L), assumed to be from human milk and complementary foods and beverages. This includes ~3 cups (0.6 L) as total fluid, including formula, juices and drinking water. Children 1-3 years 5.5 cups (1.3 L) total water,** including ~4 cups (0.9 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. 4-8 years 7.5 cups (1.7 L) total water, including ~5 cups (1.2 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. Adolescents Males Females 9-13 years 10.5 cups (2.4 L) total water, including ~8 cups (1.8 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. 10 cups (2.3 L) total water, including ~8 cups (1.8 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. 14-18 years 14 cups (3.3 L) total water, including ~11 cups (2.6 L ) as total beverages, including drinking water. 9 cups (2.1L) total water, including ~7 cups (1.6 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. Adults Males Females 19-70+ years 16 cups (3.7 L) total water, including ~13 cups (3 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. 11.5 cups (2.7 L) total water, including ~9 cups (2.2 L) as total beverages, including drinking water. * 1 cup equals 8 fluid ounces (~240 ml). Figures rounded up to the nearest 10 ml. ** “Total water ” includes fluids from all foods and beverages consumed.

Monitoring Hydration Status and Recognizing Dehydration

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:47:35 GMT

On a daily basis, most people get enough fluid through normal drinking behavior, such as drinking with meals and snacks. However, thirst isn’t always a reliable gauge of hydration status, especially in children and older adults. A better barometer is the color of the urine. For most healthy individuals, clear or light-colored urine suggests adequate hydration, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration, although certain medicines and vitamins may cause the color of the urine to change, making this test unreliable. Infrequent urination and low urine volume can also suggest inadequate hydration. Mild dehydration can affect physical and mental performance and contribute to unpleasant physical symptoms like headaches and muscle cramps. The early signs of dehydration can be non-specific, usually involving fatigue, headache and confusion. Oral rehydration is usually all that is required. But because severe dehydration can be life-threatening, medical help should be sought quickly if there is any concern about someone needing more aggressive fluid supplementation. However, severe dehydration can be life-threatening. Because dehydration can develop quickly under some conditions, it’s important to recognize the following signs of dehydration in others and act quickly to help them cool down and rehydrate. Signs of Dehydration Increased thirstDry or sticky mouthLight-headedness or headacheFatigueImpaired mental focusLow urine outputInability to produce tearsDry skin References: Urinary indices of hydration status. Armstrong, L.E., Maresh, C.M., Castellani, J.W., Bereron, M.F., Kenefick, R.W., LaGassee, K.E., and Riebe D. Int J Sport Nutr. 1994 Sep;4(3):265-79.

Climate & Altitude Changes

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:43:25 GMT

Paying attention to hydration while exercising in cold climates is just as important as in hot climates. We all know that the hotter it is, the more you perspire and the more you need to drink. High rates of energy expenditure in winter activities such as snowboarding, ice skating, and skiing and the use of heavy clothing can likewise cause significant fluid loss through sweat. So remember to consume fluids before, during and after these activities. Being high above sea level can affect hydration. Have you ever noticed how hard and frequently you breathe when you are in higher elevation? With every breath you exhale, you are losing fluid. High altitudes also tend to have low humidity, which increases losses through the skin. And research suggests that people tend to drink less at high altitudes, probably due to a decreased sensation of thirst. So the next time you are staying at a higher elevation, remember to drink plenty of fluids. Don’t forget air travel. The air inside airplanes during flight tends to have very low humidity –only about 15%. Low humidity increases dehydrating water losses through the skin, which in turn drives up your need to drink. So the next time you are on a long flight, remember to drink plenty of fluids. For tips on staying hydrated, see our Hydration Checklist.

Coca-Cola's Wendy Clark: So Happy Together

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:24:34 GMT

Last month, my colleagues at Twitter asked if I would write a guest blog post for their thought leader series. The exchange went something like this: Robin@Twitter: Hey Wendy, would you be open to writing a blog post for our site with Coke’s social media advice/tips? Wendy@Coke: Sure, but you know we don’t profess social as the ‘be all, end all.’ Are you brave enough to let me say Twitter’s great, but not by itself? And their answer is clear as my blog post sits here as evidence of Twitter’s bravery and, in fact, complete alignment with our thinking at Coca-Cola. Don’t get me wrong, we think Twitter is great, and important, and useful and, indeed, shaping the face of real-time dialog in a marketplace that has completely embraced acquiring wisdom in 140-characters or less and entertainment in six seconds or less. Twitter is the zeitgeist of our core target – teens and young adults. But, so too is social gaming, and mobile apps, and YouTube’s content, and broadcast live sports, and Snapchat, and FIFA cross-platform content and live-streamed concerts, and Spotify playlists, and live experiences, and brand co-creation opportunities, and... You see, their zeitgeist is plural, not singular. In the same way, they have room for Coca-Cola and many other favorite beverages, teens and young adults also have an endless thirst for content, technology, platforms, communications, apps and more. So today’s successful brands have to be adept at integrating their media efforts. At Coca-Cola, we have a principle of ‘no dead ends’ in our connections planning. Meaning, if we’re going to keep the attention and engagement of teens and young adults we must link together our connections points. At every juncture, we want a teen to be able to go deeper into our content, engage further into our brand stories, easily share and connect our content to others. Within our connections approach, Twitter is our Elmers. It’s the glue, a spoke, connective tissue – whatever metaphor you want to use to mean something that can connect potentially disparate things together and make them better – that’s Twitter. Study after study evidences social media’s role within an integrated media plan. TV + Social = better than TV alone. It’s logical. Teens and young adults are multiscreen content consumers. The TV’s on, the Tablet’s on, the Mobile Phone’s always on. As brands we have to tell one, share-worthy story that’s connected across screens, experiences and conversations. What she sees on TV tells the same story as what she sees online and what she experiences at a live event and so on. The consistent thread between all these connections points – TV, online, experiential, in-store, OOH, theater, gaming, magazine, radio, etc.? Social. If brands tell useful, interesting, important, share-worthy stories across their media connections then social becomes the vehicle, the platform, that enables that sharing and connectivity. Social = no dead ends. And why do we value sharing so much? Reach. As brands, the very core benefit of social occurs when we publish interesting, useful, important, share-worthy content to our embedded communities of followers and fans (our initial audience) and, if we do our jobs well on the compelling nature of that content, our followers and fans act as our salesforce and spread that content to an ultimate audience far greater than we could reach alone. And this leads back to my initial point on social not being an effective standalone tool. When we’ve over-rotated on standalone social in the past our programs have failed to effectively meet our goals. Teens and young adults are fickle and their attention is, at best, fragmented. No one medium can effectively engage this audience and create the impact and results brands seek. Social platforms, like Twitter, help connect and amplify our brand messages within this highly fragmented, always-on reality. Said in 140 characters or less, Twitter isn’t a silver bullet but it makes everything else we do better. And for Coca-Cola, where we can reach up to 15k Tweets per day, that means more reach, more engagement, more effectiveness, more impact, more Happiness, all created by integrating our media connections together. Posted by Wendy Clark (@wnd) SVP Global Sparkling Brand Center The Coca-Cola Company (@CocaCola)

Coca-Cola Gets the Ball Rolling for a Fun Active Summer

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:05:00 GMT

The Company sets goal to inspire 3 million people to get their “Fun” on this summer by making activities and sports gear available all summer long Atlanta, May 13, 2013 – Following The Coca-Cola Company’s announcement of its global wellbeing commitments last week, Coca-Cola USA gears up for a summer of activity and fun with its “Get The Ball Rolling” initiative. “Summer is a great time of year for people to come together to enjoy activities and sports that make them happy,” said Stuart Kronauge, General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola USA. “We’re taking programs and events to which we have access and making sure that people who participate in them rediscover the joy and fun of being active.” Coca-Cola USA will “Get the Ball Rolling” this summer with events available to millions across America. Here are a few fun ways people can refresh their summer with activity: Thousands of Coca-Cola soccer balls will be given out at major events – like the Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper – and through MyCokeRewards.com, the Company’s online affinity program. Every summer weekend – starting June 21, the first day of summer, to Labor Day, September 2 – one Shine™ activity tracker by Misfit will be distributed every hour from sunrise to sunset Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to a lucky individual through MyCokeRewards.com. This elegant device allows users to track activities, such as swimming and biking, while syncing with their smartphones. Coca-Cola USA is encouraging families to be active this summer on behalf of their favorite national, state and local parks. Through the America Is Your Park campaign, kicking off this June, people can turn fitness activities into votes for parks to win recreation grants.Coca-Cola Happiness Trucks will be rolling into town and inspiring people to get on their feet and move to the beat of some of the hottest music during a series of dancing and activity events across the country. Coca-Cola USA’s “Get The Ball Rolling” effort contributes to the Company’s global commitments to help fight obesity and be part of the solution, announced last week by Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. These commitments include: Offer low- or no-calorie beverage options in every market.Provide transparent nutrition information, featuring calories on the front of all of our packages.Help get people moving by supporting physical activity programs in every country where we do business.Market responsibly, including no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world.The Coca-Cola Company continues to make the health of communities around the country a priority. We are working together with willing organizations, individuals and government to be part of the solution to obesity. Through collaborative partnerships and programs, the Company is delivering more beverage choices, calorie information and physical activity opportunities than ever before. To learn more, visit www.coke.com/comingtogether. About The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com. About Misfit WearablesMisfit invents and manufactures wearable sensing devices that inspire people be more active and develop healthy habits. Misfit’s first product, the Shine, is an elegant wireless personal activity tracker that you can wear anywhere on your body, using different accessories, and because of its sleek all-metal construction, can be worn to any occasion: a black tie event, the office, or a friend's birthday party. Simply tap Shine and a halo of lights appear to tell you how close you are to completing your personal daily activity goal. Carved out of a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum, it was built to last a lifetime and is water-resistant for swimming. www.misfitwearables.com/shine###

Tim Niemier: Profile of an Inventor

Sun, 12 May 2013 18:21:00 GMT

Should you ever have the opportunity to chat with Tim Niemier, one of the most innovative minds in water sports, you may be in for a surprise. Rather than throwing out buzzwords and motivational rah-rah jargon like many captains of industry are known to do, Niemier's humbleness and Zen-like nature gently roll over you. Perhaps it's all that time he’s spent bobbing up and down in the ocean. “When I grew up, I was a little afraid of the water. Any sane person is,” Niemier, now 62, admits. It isn’t exactly the thing one would expect to hear when talking to the man who invented the modern-day sit-on-top kayak — and who has made it his life's mission to get people into said water. “One day I took a kayak out into the ocean and looked around and it was just an awesome kind of perspective. It changed my life because I got that view of being out there. I tried to overcome my fear by just doing it more and it became kind of a love affair.” Merging Passion and Art Into a Business That love affair sparked a desire to optimize kayaks to better experience the choppy surf of Malibu, California. From the very beginning, Niemier’s work was inspired by surfboards and how effectively they work on the water. In 1965, at the ripe age of 14, he designed his first kayak. A few years later Niemier took the next step and “got a large surfboard from a pawn shop and carved a place for my butt and heels with a fairly watertight hatch.” That was the beginning of his sport-altering work. “Originally I did art and sculpture, so this was basically a kinetic sculpture that I could do a larger version of. I think the rigors of making something go through the water — if it works it's usually beautiful because it has to do certain things well and be very minimalist. It's like functional art," explains Niemier. During the early 1970s, after designing kayaks for his own use, the locals on “Dog Beach” in Malibu began noticing. One curious beachgoer asked Niemier how much he'd be willing to sell his custom kayak for, so naturally, he bumped up the price to $150—three times his cost. Fairly quickly, word spread along that one-mile stretch of beach about a new fiberglass kayak that maneuvered through the waves better than traditional ones — and Niemier and his pal/partner Dan DeVault sold 25 kayaks. That's when the light bulb went off that they were on to something and the company Ocean Kayak was born. With a brilliant product and some grassroots marketing, the company took off. Niemier later switched from fiberglass to polyethylene, enabling him to crank out a much higher volume of product, and then in 1997 — 20 years and thousands of kayaks later — Johnson Worldwide Associates bought Ocean Kayak for an undisclosed sum. Nowadays, Niemier is still working on boat design, but his ambitions are much grander. Keeping Trash Plastic Out of the Ocean Niemier is currently focused on turning dirty plastic — which can be made up of various types of plastic and fillers that are not easily recycled — into inexpensive yet strong products that are cheap to build. In order to make the recycling of these objects more practical for large-scale use — and keep the plastics out from junking up the earth, Niemier and his company have reinvented the existing process (called thermokinetic compounding). He calls his business Upcycled Plastics. “We want to bring it to the world. Our goal is to keep a billion tons of material out of the landfill in 10 years." He thinks this is a perfect time to make Upcycled Plastics work. As Niemier explains, until recently it cost more to recycle and reuse plastic than it did to create virgin plastic. But now, “we can manufacture a part for less money using recycled plastic. It can be very profitable. We have to seize that opportunity." He believes the cost effectiveness of reusing these plastics can create opportunities for quality-of-life improvements such as creating low-cost toilets for people in need of basic sanitation. Setting the Bar High Talk to Niemier long enough, and you'll hear some very lofty goals and huge numbers being thrown around. "Putting a billion butts in boats" was one of his main ambitions by designing better and more accessible watercraft. While someone else might start out hoping to recycle a few thousand pounds of plastic, Niemier aims for a billion tons, or 2,000,000,000,000 pounds. These big numbers offer insight into his view on achieving goals. "I once read that, with goals, when you say them, they automatically become 30 percent more possible to achieve. When you write it down once, it becomes 60 percent more possible and when you say it and try every day, it becomes 60 to 100 percent," explains Niemier. Embracing Change Throughout our conversation, one thing became clear about Niemier: He understands the benefits of evolving, both personally and professionally — and this may be the reason he’s an innovator and will continue to come up with new, big ideas. "Right now I don't want to run a large corporation, I just want to start a movement. I like to start new trends. I'm focusing on water sports and how people interact with the water — and the recycled plastics." Which sounds like a great plan for a man who has been innovating for almost 50 years.

5by20 Articles

Fri, 10 May 2013 19:17:33 GMT

Clear on Calories™

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:28:31 GMT

A smart choice is an informed choice. And when it's easy to make informed choices-and balance those choices with an active lifestyle, you're on your way to a healthier life. In September 2009, we were the first beverage company to commit to front-of-pack energy labeling globally on nearly all our packaging by the end of 2011, and we have met this target. The Clear on Calories program builds on our commitment by partnering with the American Beverage Association to create a unified look for the new labels, and by expanding the initiative to include company-controlled vending machines and fountain equipment. This way, you'll know exactly how many calories are in a beverage before making a purchase- whether at a store, or using one of our vending machines or fountain machines-making it easier for you to make informed choices that complement your active, healthy lifestyle.Calories Count™ Vending Program In support of initiatives to promote active, healthy lifestyles and combat obesity, we have developed a vending machine program that provides clear calorie information, encourages lower-calorie beverage choices, and reminds consumers that "calories count" in all the choices they make. The Calories Count vending program is part of the beverage industry's commitment to providing more low-/no-calorie product choices and clearer calorie information, making it easier for consumers to choose beverages that are right for them and their families. Program Background In February 2010, the beverage industry announced the Clear on Calories program in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign. The first step was placing a calorie label on the front of our cans, bottles, and packages, which we completed in 2011. The Calories Count vending program, described below, expands on our efforts by providing calorie information on beverage vending machines, encouraging lower-calorie beverage choices, and raising awareness of the importance of calorie balance and being active. Under the Calories Count vending program, we will work with government leaders, food service operators, vending companies, and other customers to: Increase availability of lower-calorie beverages in vending machinesAdd calorie labels to selection buttons on beverage vending machines to show calorie counts per beverage container

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Fri, 10 May 2013 16:14:41 GMT

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Fri, 10 May 2013 16:03:59 GMT

Healthy Weight Commitment

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:19:43 GMT

Physical activity is vital for health and well-being, regardless of age, gender, or weight. And with increasing concern about overweight and obesity worldwide—a concern we share—it is important to view this complex issue holistically. While there are many factors involved, the fundamental cause of weight gain is an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Our goal is to help people around the globe understand the importance of a sensible, balanced diet and the health benefits of increasing their physical activity. Helping People Worldwide As a Company, we have a long history of supporting active, healthy lifestyle programs for our associates and our communities. For example, our alliance with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation shows our dedication to helping people live healthy, active lives and making informed choices about what they eat and drink. From sponsoring major sporting events, to encouraging community soccer and athletic programs, to workplace wellness programs, we continue to foster physical activity and active, healthy lifestyles worldwide. For instance, we are a founding partner of "Exercise Is Medicine," a program designed to encourage the medical community to advise patients on the importance of physical activity. We are also a founding member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a national, multi-year initiative to help reduce obesity—especially childhood obesity—by promoting and providing tools to help people achieve a healthy weight through energy balance. To find out how physical activity can play an important role in your life, visit the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation website. Support for Physical Activity Education Since 1946, we've partnered with the The Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help provide a haven where kids can learn and grow in a safe environment. This long-standing partnership has produced programs such as Triple Play, which has helped more than 1 million kids learn the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition since 2005. Visit The Boys & Girls Club of America's Triple Play Program! website. Get the Facts About Hydration Hydration is key to feeling good and staying healthy when you exercise, whether it's 30° or 95° outside. Learn how to hydrate right and experience exercise in a whole new way. Water: the forgotten nutrient. Every cell, tissue, organ and life sustaining process in the body requires water. Water serves as a nutrient by regulating different processes in the body, carrying nutrients and other chemicals to the body's cells, and carrying waste products away. Remember, think outside your water bottle, all fluids count when it comes to hydration.1Don't rely on general hydration recommendations during exercise. Know your specific hydration needs. Research has shown physical and cognitive performance can be affected when as little as 2% of the body's weight is lost through dehydration so drink up! But remember, it's important to stay hydrated while staying within your daily calorie needs.Hydration is vital for every aspect of life. It is critical in helping to maintain normal body temperature and for every physiological function.Don't rely on thirst as a signal to drink - dehydration can occur before the need to drink is evident. Remember fluids come from beverages and foods such as soups, fruits & vegetables.Most people get about 80 percent of total fluids each day from drinking water and other beverages, with the other 20 percent coming from food.The quantity of fluid required will vary from person to person. The (U.S.) Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (IOM/NAS) recommends a total water intake of 2.7 Liters (approximately 11.5 cups) for women and 3.7 L (approximately 16 cups) per day for men. Children should have a total water intake of 1.3 L (approximately 5.5 cups) to 3.3 L (approximately 14 cups), depending on their age. Think that sounds like a lot to drink? Think beyond beverages. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and soups also provide hydration benefits.All beverages hydrate and can help quench your thirst and provide your body with its daily fluid intake for proper hydration. In Fact, research shows that flavor increases the quantity of fluids consumed Plan for fluids when on the move: take 'em with you, know where to find 'em, have money to buy 'em.When should you hydrate? According to recommendations set by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), we should drink before, during and after exercise. Pre hydrate- the ACSM recommends drinking 400-600 ml of fluid about 2 hours before beginning to exercise to ensure your body will be adequately hydrated when it's time to exercise. Prehydrating ensures adequate amounts of fluid will be available for your body's cells when you exercise. When dehydrated, your heart works increasingly harder. As a result, your body's core temperature is increased. This also limits the body's ability to produce the sweat required to cool your body. As a result, physical performance may be impacted2.During a workout- the ACSM recommends hydrating regularly to replace fluids lost through sweat. However the ACSM recommendation cautions not to over hydrate2.Post workout- rehydrating post work out ensures your body will be ready for its next workout. It's important to not only replace the fluids lost, but the electrolytes as well2. Get smart about hydration by downloading our Hydration Tips Packet.