Soft Drink Sweeps
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, has debuted three promotions for the holiday season. The “Unwrap the Experience” instant-win sweepstakes gives consumers the chance to win in-demand Sony  PlayStation products as well as Coca-Cola products. Additionally, the Sprite tree, a Christmas tree-shaped merchandising rack filled with 2-liter bottles, is available in certain markets, and the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan, a mobile entertainment unit with Santa Claus onboard, will visit retailers in numerous cities.
Low-carb recipes
Canandaigua Wine, Canandaigua, N.Y., has introduced Taylor Madeira recipes geared toward carb counters. Featuring a smooth, nutty, sherry-like character, Taylor Madeira offers recipes on its bottle neckers and its Web site. These include Beef Roast with Madeira Sauce, with two grams of carbohydrates per serving; and Beef Tenderloin and Asparagus with Madeira Sauce, with eight grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Coffee campaign
Eight O’Clock Coffee, Montvale, N.J., has announced it will launch a new television advertising campaign. Featuring two 30-second spots using the tagline “Wake Up. It’s Eight O’Clock,” the campaign includes one ad that showcases whistling champion Steve Herbst of New York, and the second spot features professional women’s basketball player and 2004 gold medalist Diana Taurasi.
Comfort party
Brown-Forman Corp.’s Southern Comfort, RollingStone.com and Stuff magazine recently hosted a Voodoo Kick-off with Comfort VIP private party at the House of Blues in New Orleans. The party, benefiting The Grammy Foundation, featured a performance by actress Juliette Lewis and her band, Juliette & The Licks. The custom-painted Southern Comfort 2004 Chopper created by Big Dog Motorcycles was also showcased.
Additionally, a silent auction was held to benefit The Grammy Foundation in which a Les Paul Guitar by SoBe energy drink, a Southern Comfort jacket and items from The Grammy Foundation’s “vaults” were offered.
Brewing variety
Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, Wis., has introduced a variety pack featuring two 12-ounce, longneck bottles of each of the Stevens Point Brewery’s beers: Point Special Lager, Point Classic Amber, Point Cascade Pale Ale, Point Honey Light, Point White Biere and Point Spring Bock. When seasonally brewed Point Spring Bock is not available, the variety 12-Pack will contain one extra bottle of Honey Light and one extra bottle of White Biere along with the other brands. The Stevens Point Brewery Variety Pack will be available year-round in Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Spirited giving
Allied Domecq Spirits North America, Westport, Conn., has announced off-premise holiday packaging is available for its Beefeater, Canadian Club, Carolans Irish Cream, Courvoisier VS, Kahlúa, Sauza, Stolichnaya and Wet by Beefeater brands. While Beefeater, Canadian Club, Carolans Irish Cream and Courvoisier VS will offer rocks glasses with each purchase of a 750-ml. bottle, Kahlúa is featuring its luminary tin with each bottle purchased. Sauza tequila is giving consumers two shot glasses as part of a 750-ml. bottle gift set, Stolichnaya is offering a reusable “Stoli Ice Shot Glass Maker,” and Wet is being packaged in a Beefeater-branded “Wet suit” travel bag.
Time for tea
Revolution Tea's T-Pot Revolution Tin is now available at all AJ's Fine Foods locations in Phoenix. Offering flavors such as Earl Grey Lavender, Tropical Green, White Tangerine, Dragon Eye Oolong, Revolution Organic Green and caffeine-free Citrus Spice Herbal, T-Pot Revolution Tins hold 15 teapot bags, which can brew a 23- to 26-ounce pot of tea. The resealable tins are designed for holiday gift giving.