Using Coca Cola's Distribution Muscle

Photo credits: Right: Nick Gripton Left: Marie-II

Today, via a tweet, I was invited by Number 10 to join a live blog of the Business Call To Action event. As the commentary scrolled by, Coca Cola made a statement and it reminded me of an idea that first came to me some 20 years ago, as I drove through the bush in NE Zambia in an area where one in five children die before the age five, usually from dehydration. This was in the days before blogs when it was difficult to know where to park such random thoughts.

This is what I typed in to today's live blog:

[Comment From Simon Berry]
What about Coca Cola using their distribution channels (which are amazing in developing countries) to distribute rehydration salts? Maybe by dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as 'the life saving' compartment?

I still think it's a good idea. Coca Cola, are you listening?

Further information

All of the Coca Cola Campaign posts

I'm thankful to the photographers who have allowed me (through personal contact or Creative Commons Licensing) to use their photos.

Comments

[alex]

Simon

With ref. to your new job, you should see this post by Stephen Bubb, CE of acevo

http://bloggerbubb.blogspot.com/2008/05/geraniums-itv-and-ceo-job.html

He mentions your new department

[Simon]

Cheers Alex. This is really useful. I've added a comment on Stephen's blog.
See: http://tinyurl.com/3p9pvb
Regards
Simon

[Alison Lowndes]

Brilliant idea, how can I help (in Kenya at least)?

[susan perl]

Is there an online petition available?

[Simon]

==

Hi Susan

Thanks for your comment. There isn't an online petition. The best way people can support the campaign is by joining the Facebook Group or one of the other groups:
http://www.colalife.org/get-involved/

With best wishes

Simon
4/8/08

[Bill]

Most excellent idea. Take it up the chain. You know Buffett owns a ton of Coke, and he's best friends with Gates...put the two together and you've got something better than Batman and Robin if they decided to really get together and collaborate on something like this!

[Lainerys Limonta]

Hello my names is Lainerys, I am Master Company Comunication student and I have a possibility to speak whit a Coca Cola's manager for this situation, because we are working for them in a sostenability proget.
I need early yuor answer to improve my idea,
Thank....
Lainerys

[Simon]

Hello Lainerys. Thanks for your comment.
You can get an auto-translation of the ColaLife website and blog by using Google Translate.
This is the site in Spanish:
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcolalife.org&sl=auto&tl=es&history_state0=
This is site in Italian:
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcolalife.org&sl=auto&tl=it&history_state0=

[common Japanese words]

Great idea. Though most large companies will only do such things if they see the benefit out weighing the costs

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Yes coca cola must be cheap and is cheap in developing nations and perhaps i wish as per its slogan "Drink Coke" , if it propagates through all these developing rural areas, people will have fun while being hydrated!

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