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Coca-Cola unveils ad campaign with 13 restaurant chains to boost drink sales as diner traffic falls
Coca-Cola on Thursday unveiled a new marketing campaign to boost sales of its soda at restaurants as declining traffic and sluggish sales growth challenge both the industry and its top beverage supplier.
The campaign marks the first time Coke has released ads featuring multiple restaurant partners. The commercials flash across different consumers ordering their meals at a medley of chains, all ending their orders with the same phrase, “And a Coke.”
Across the three spots released Thursday, 13 different chains share the spotlight: Arby’s, Culver’s, Domino’s Pizza, Five Guys, Jack in the Box, Jimmy John’s, Panda Express, Popeyes, Sonic, Wendy’s, Whataburger, White Castle and Wingstop.
For restaurants, drinks — even a simple Coke — are high-margin menu items, helping lift profits in an industry known for its razor-thin margins. That sale becomes even more important as consumers cut back on restaurant visits and spend less when they do dine out.
In February, traffic to U.S. restaurants fell 2%, according to data from Black Box Intelligence. And 38% of consumers said they were spending less at restaurants during the first quarter of 2026, based on a survey conducted by Revenue Management Solutions.
Behind the scenes, Coke has also been trying to help boost restaurant sales amid the spending slowdown. As the so-called value wars kicked off among fast-food chains in 2024, Coke executives said that the company had teamed up with restaurant partners to market combo meals with drinks to drive traffic and beverage sales; CNBC previously reported that Coke threw in marketing funds to make a $5 value meal more attractive to McDonald’s U.S. franchisees.
Coke chose the chains in its new campaign based on the different cuisines and the occasions they represent, like late-night pickup or drive-thru, according to Dagmar Boggs, Coke’s North American president of foodservice and on-premise.
The commercials will air in movie theaters starting Friday. By mid April, the campaign will spread to linear TV, digital channels and third-party delivery providers like UberEats and DoorDash.
The chains did not pay Coke to participate in the advertisements. Boggs called it “the perk of being a partner with Coca-Cola.”
Boggs describes Coke as a “business partner” rather than a “beverage supplier” for restaurants, giving insight and marketing suggestions to chains like Burger King or Wendy’s.
Of course, higher Coke sales at restaurants will also benefit the beverage giant. Coke does not publicly disclose how much of its sales come from restaurants. However, executives have previously said that about half of its overall sales come from away-from-home channels, which also include movie theaters, airplanes and amusement parks.
Coke’s food service business also serves a bellwether for consumer sentiment.
“If food service catches a cold in the North America operating unit, North America will catch a cold,” Boggs said. “That’s why we are always looking to grow our partners’ business, because when they grow, we grow.”
In 2025, Coke’s North American organic sales rose 4%, but its domestic unit case volume fell 1%, a signal of weaker demand for its drinks. The company is projecting modest sales growth in 2026, according to the outlook it released in early February.
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Stock markets outlook: Dalal Street braces for swings as RBI MPC decision, war risks weigh on sentiment–Check key triggers – The Times of India
Domestic equities are expected to remain volatile this week as investors track the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy decision, global macroeconomic cues and evolving developments in the West Asia conflict, analysts said, according to PTI.Market participants will also keep a close watch on crude oil price movements and foreign fund flows, which continue to influence sentiment.Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments Ltd, said the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting will be the key domestic trigger, with investors focusing on the central bank’s stance on inflation and growth.“A rate pause is near-certain consensus, the central bank walks a tightrope between crude-driven inflation risks and a four-year low Manufacturing PMI signalling a softening growth impulse. The governor’s commentary on the rate cycle trajectory and FY27 projections will be closely monitored.“Globally, the US March CPI reading will carry significant importance, as it buries residual Fed rate-cut hopes, strengthens the dollar and tightens financial conditions for emerging markets, including India,” Nair said.He added that geopolitical developments in West Asia will remain the dominant factor shaping market direction.“Indian markets return after a three-day gap and remain acutely vulnerable to weekend war developments, with crude trajectory and any credible ceasefire signal being the decisive variable that could either trigger a sharp relief rally or extend the current sell-on-rise mode,” he said.In the previous holiday-shortened week, the BSE Sensex declined 263.67 points, or 0.35%, while the NSE Nifty fell 106.5 points, or 0.46%.Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research (Wealth Management) at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said investor sentiment will remain closely linked to developments in the West Asia conflict.Brent crude prices have stayed elevated near $107 per barrel, fuelling concerns around imported inflation. Currency pressures have also intensified, with the rupee weakening sharply before recovering towards Rs 93 against the US dollar following RBI intervention, he noted.Foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows remain a key overhang, with March witnessing heavy selling of Rs 1.2 lakh crore, among the highest monthly outflows in recent years.“Investors will monitor the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes, GDP data, and initial jobless claims for further cues on growth and the policy trajectory.“Overall, markets are expected to remain volatile as geopolitical developments, crude price movements, FII flows and global macro data continue to drive sentiment,” Khemka said.Analysts said any signs of de-escalation in the West Asia conflict could ease crude prices and stabilise the currency, offering relief to markets, while further escalation may prolong risk aversion and keep pressure on foreign flows.
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Home heating oil costs in rural Lancashire doubles – councillors
One elderly couple had to find £1,000 for an oil delivery and suppliers are not giving quotes, a councillor says.
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