This content was published: September 17, 2009. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC signs a deal with Coca Cola to sell products on campuses, centers
Photos and story by James Hill
Crews work to fill new Coca Cola vending machines before classes start Monday. (Photo by James Hill)
When the 2009-10 school year gets under way on Monday, returning students, staff and faculty may be surprised to find Coca Cola dispenser, and not Pepsi Cola, in the cafeterias.
A Portland Community College committee met this summer and proposed to the college Board of Directors to sign a 10-year deal with Coke. The committee estimated that the deal will net an additional $381,000 in revenue over the decade, plus $211,000 in savings on the price of Coke products sold at PCC.
The college had asked both soft drink companies for a fixed price over the 10-year life of the contract, according to Wing-Kit Chung, vice president for administrative services. Coca Cola agreed; Pepsi requested a 10-year contract but committed to only a two-year price freeze.
"In addition to cost, the equipment from Coca Cola is much more sustainable and customer friendly than Pepsi," Chung said. Coke equipment has a temperature sensor to allow their equipment to automatically turn on/off when it gets to a certain temperature to maintain food safety. Also, their vending machines have wireless debit/credit card terminals so that students can use their plastics. "Pepsi can provide neither of these good features," he added.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »