H2NO - Coca-Cola's anti water campaign

[sexy-girl]

H2O just say NO

this was a letter that went out from coca cola too restaurants it was up on the official coca cola website but they pulled it within hours (realising how bad it sounds) unfortunately for them google had the letter cached this is funny/scary because its true

"Coca-Cola suggested a tap water reduction program named H2NO."

Water. It's necessary to sustain life, but to many Casual Dining restaurant chains it contributes to a dull dining experience for the customer. Many customers choose tap water not because they enjoy it, but because it is what they always have drunk in the past. In response, some restaurant chains are implementing programs to help train crews to sell alternative choices to tap water, like soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages, with the goal of increasing overall guest satisfaction. Because of its own successful campaign against water, The Olive Garden® has recently sent a powerful message to the entire restaurant industry - less water and more beverage choices mean happier customers


Olive Garden restaurants, like many other Casual Dining locations, were facing a high water incidence rate. They wanted their restaurant crews to emphasize the broad array of alternative beverage selections available, with the hope of reducing tap water incidence. Olive Garden's goal was to influence customers to abandon their default choice of tap water and experience other beverage choices to improve their dining experience.

The Olive Garden asked Coca-Cola USA-Fountain (CCUSA-Fountain) to help them create their beverage plan. CCUSA-Fountain stepped up to the plate and suggested a tap water reduction program named H2NO


Satisfying Your Customers with Beverage Choices (continued)


H2NO is a crew education kit containing information about beverage suggestive selling techniques (a technique used when a server suggests a profitable beverage in place of water to the customer during the ordering process). It matched perfectly with what Olive Garden had envisioned. Restaurant managers and servers use the kit to emphasize the wide range of beverage selections available, including soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages and alcohol. As a side effect, overall check averages should increase, and remember, increased check averages mean higher profits for the restaurant and more cash in servers' pockets


Olive Garden restaurants embraced the program and even took it to a higher level. H2NO was incorporated into the restaurant chain's schedule of monthly skill sessions where sales managers (store managers) led the crew through training exercises. In addition, The Olive Garden developed an employee incentive contest linked to H2NO with CCUSA-Fountain called "Just Say No to H2O.


Olive Garden sales managers set beverage sale store goals and server goals in connection with the contest. All restaurants that reached the combined goal had a chance to win an all-expense paid trip for servers and the management team to Atlanta, Georgia. Other prize packages containing Coca-Cola merchandise were awarded.


When the contest was completed, almost all participating restaurants realized significant increases in beverage sales and reduced levels of tap water incidence - a strong indication that Olive Garden restaurants succeeded in enhancing the customer's dining experience. And perhaps most importantly, Olive Garden expects to see this trend continue as the skills learned become part of the crew's everyday interaction with restaurant customers

 

[shadowsource]

Resistance!

Thanks a lot, sexy-g - Shun any establishment - restaurant or bar - that discourages you from drinking water. They obviously don't have your interests in mind or at heart. Never thought Coke did anyway....

 

[Always]

that has got to be the stupidest thing i've ever heard...

my friend greg always orders an ice water at denny's at midnight of saturday night after game. the tradition continues to all of the Sulkanar.

 

[sexy-girl]

hehe i think it was too long for most people to read sorry (i skip long cut and pasted things too) ... glad Shila and shadowsource liked it though

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Resistance!

Thanks a lot, sexy-g - Shun any establishment - restaurant or bar - that discourages you from drinking water. They obviously don't have your interests in mind or at heart. Never thought Coke did anyway....

In most restaurnats here in Las Vegas (and elsewhere in the desert southwest,) you have to ask for a glass of water -- They won't just automatically pour a glass of water for you when you sit down.

This is NOT an attempt to discourage you from drinking water! This is a water conservation measure. I don't recall the exact numbers, but something like 20% of customers drink the water that is poured automatically, while 90% will drink it if they ask for it. Pouring a glass of water for everyone wastes 80% of the drinking water poured, and that's a big concern in the desert where water is scarce.

 

[sexy-girl]

yeah but how would you feel if you asked for water and the person suggested you had a soft drink instead

 

[Always]

point...

 

[shadowsource]

Conservation is good -

Pouring a glass of water for everyone wastes 80% of the drinking water poured, and that's a big concern in the desert where water is scarce.

Yes, Weird h, we have that periodically in NY, too. I'm very content to have to ask for it. But I don't like being discouraged. A lot of bars have taken to refusing glasses of water (with my purchase of drinks) and selling bottled water instead. I try to drink elsewhere. I absolutely will not drink much unless I can have water, too. I hate drunkenness and hangovers.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Forget Disney...the new Evil Empire is Mickey D's.

The bastards at the Golden Arches not only sell bottled water for a dollar, but if you ask for a 'courtesy cup' (I swear) they now charge you a quarter! It used to be free.

I suppose next we'll be paying extra for salt, napkins and straws!

 

[Siren]

Any way to squeeze more money out of you

 

[pabloback]

i stopped drinking water when i found out what fish do in it
yeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuchhh

 

[Doulton]

Mickey D's is the new Evil Empire? What's this "new" drivel? McD's has always been evil. Doesn't take anything away from Disney though. Disney is one of the worst proponets of illegal child labour in third world country export processing zones like in Haiti. But McD's are still pretty bad There is only one unionised McD's in the US, whenever unions have tried to form they have threatended to shut down the outlet and/or fired the leaders of the movement. And of course there are the numerous law suits against those damn Scottish people who have that pesky habit of having names that start with Mc There's even a man called McDonald who opened up a restaurant in the 60's I think it was. You'll never guess what his first name was. It's starts with R.

Sorry, got a bit off track. Just been reading a book on this stuff and I'm bursting to impart my wisdom on the evils of capitalism and big corporations Coke? OK, coke does (or did, I don't know if they still do) dealings with the illegal militant dictatorship in Nigeria. Good a reason as any to boycott them. There, not it's more relevant to the topic

Last point; I thought tap water was undrinkable in most cities in the US? Guess that's just exagerated stories I've heard from tourists

 

[Angel]

Forget Disney...the new Evil Empire is Mickey D's.

The bastards at the Golden Arches not only sell bottled water for a dollar, but if you ask for a 'courtesy cup' (I swear) they now charge you a quarter! It used to be free.

I suppose next we'll be paying extra for salt, napkins and straws!

There is a reason for that in the McDonald's stores with self serve fountains.
Charging a quarter for the cup discourages people from stealing the soda.
It may just seem like a small thing to you, but it was my job to count this stuff every week. Believe me, the unaccounted for soda adds up.

 

[Problem Child]

Doulton

If you used more smilies I think it would really liven up your posts.

 

[Silverlily]

Nonsense like this is EXACTLY why I drink Pepsi! I mean, the nerve of those Coke people!


Where I live any server giving you a glass of water is trying to kill you. I would be grateful for an alternative. If it didn't come out of the Pur filter at my house, I am NOT drinking it.

 

[Aussie Worm]

There is worse than being forced to have Coke, thats being forced to drink Pepsi, that crap is the most vile drinkable liquid on earth besides Dr Pepper.

 

[Doulton]

Personally I don't really care which I drink out of Pepsi or Coke for the taste. But as far as political grounds go, I'm afraid Pepsi is no better. While Coke was supporting the illegal regime in Nigeria, pepsi was doing exactly the same thing in Burma. I can't remember exactly how it goes, but pepsi are no angels. You'd be hard pressed to find any multi-national company that didn't engage in unethical practices. The only safe option is to boycott any large soft drink companies. Or only buy from those little kiddies down the road with their lemonade stand. It'll be healthier too

And as for that person who hassled my smilies, I'll think of some snide and witty comment for you later