Coca-Cola announces special edition ‘Share a Coke with the Firies’ cans alongside a range of initiatives
Coca-Cola is launching a limited-edition version of its ‘Share a Coke with’ cans, celebrating the Australian firefighters who have been working tirelessly throughout the bushfire crisis.
The ‘Share a Coke with the Firies’ cans were announced today alongside a range of donations to be made by The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Australia and Coca-Cola Amatil. The cans will not be available for sale, but donated straight to firefighters, volunteer fire organisations and fire-affected communities.
The special edition cans will be donated directly to fire fighters and fire-affected communities
Coca-Cola’s donations began at the beginning of the bushfire crisis, with water and Powerade immediately being distributed to fire fighters and fire-affected communities via Foodbank Australia and the Australian Defence Force.
Today’s announcement saw the addition of sizeable donations from across the company. The Coca-Cola Foundation has pledged $1m to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts. $250,000 has been donated to the the NSW Rural Fire Service, the Country Fire Authority Victoria, and the South Australian Country Fire Service Foundation by Coca-Cola Australia. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Amatil is matching up to $375,000 of employee donations in the form of funds to registered charities, donated beverages and financial support for small business customers in bushfire-affected areas.
Coca-Cola Amatil will also be establishing a financial support package for its 2,118 small business customers that have been impacted by the fires. This could include direct financial support, extended credit terms or additional products.
Managing director of Coca-Cola Amatil Australia, Peter West, said: “Many of our small business customers are at the heart of devastated regional communities and some have lost everything.
“Others are without power and have lost both local and tourism income. This includes stores like the Mallacoota Bakery in East Gippsland, which is thankfully still standing but has no power and limited road access. It also includes Fuel East Lynne near Ulladulla, which was first surrounded by fire in early December and is still suffering from reduced customer trade.
“As a business, our customers are part of our family and we’re keen to help them out as the recovery effort continues. That’s why this package of business support is important alongside the assistance we’re providing to communities and first responders.
“We will also continue to donate bottled water and other beverages to where it is most needed,” West said.
Coca-Cola Australia President, Vamsi Mohan Thati, said the company remains committed to supporting bushfire-affected communities.
“We wanted to express our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all the firies and volunteers on the frontlines of this national crisis. We are humbled by their courage and resilience as the bushfire tragedy continues to unfold here in Australia,” Thati said.
“We know it is far from over and we remain committed to doing our part for as long as it takes for local communities and our customers to make a full recovery.
“We are proud that The Coca-Cola Foundation has donated $1 million to The Salvation Army in Australia to provide immediate emergency assistance including meals, water and medical supplies to those who need it most.”
The ‘Share a Coke’ campaign first appeared in 2011. The campaign’s annual return to Australian shelves has seen it grow, going beyond the names to nicknames such as ‘Bogan’ and ‘Babe’.
The 2019 return of ‘Share a Coke’ saw the brand take an even more inclusive stance, including hundreds of first names and over 1,000 surnames from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
If you’d like to assist with bushfire recovery, relief and rescue efforts, please explore the options below:
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service
- Victorian Country Fire Authority
- Salvation Army Disaster Appeal
- St Vincent de Paul Society Bushfire Appeal
- Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery and Relief
- WIRES (Wildlife Rescue) Emergency Fund
- Koalas in Care
topics
Coca Cola
Coca-cola Amatil
Coca-Cola Australia
Peter West
Share a COke
The Coca-Cola Foundation
Vamsi Mohan Thati
What about the CFS in SA, they have received far less than the CFA and RFS.
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I’m still dirty about them contributing to the depleting water supply from Tamborine Mountain.
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This is saying they are donating Coca Cola cans to firefighters and community affected to help relief the lost from the fires? I feel like there’s a much better way to help affected communities than cans of coke?
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The Red Cross has been a major part of the Disaster teams. I am surprised they were not recognized in this generous effort.
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Why are nt they made available to the general public?……Poor effort by a corporation that shut down it’s SA operations…..putting hundreds out of work.
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I think it would be better to release the cans to the public and use the extra money for the relief fund
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Would be nice to see the same response for the farmers as well or has everyone forgot that we are.still in a drought
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Capertee NSW RFS Would love these cans
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Where can I buy the cans from with firers on it from please
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Hi am a Volunteer firefighter from Queensland and at this moment as I type this I am deployment along with a coach load of other volunteers going to Edan to relieve other firefighters.
I would love to get some of these collective cans as I have been a firefighter since 1969.
Regards Trevor Caunt
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Hi am a Volunteer firefighter from Queensland and at this moment as I type this I am deployment along with a coach load of other volunteers going to Edan to relieve other firefighters.
I would love to get some of these collective cans as I have been a firefighter since 1969.
Regards Trevor Caunt
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How do fireys get them ?
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Hi i was just wondering why we are not aloud to buy the Firies Coca Cola Cans I was looking forward into buying these.
Cheers Janny
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Dears get a grip
Any help and any donation would be gratefully received.
It sounds like you are saying Coke shouldn’t donate these products.
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As a volunteer for TFS ( Tasmania Fire Service) having been deployed to NSW I was wondering as to how I can purchase some cans to go in my fire collection?
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Red Cross is donating themselves TEN MILLION dollars from donated money. And will start distributing the money over 3 years
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I agree with you Robert
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Have you even read the article in full you peanut they are providing far more than just coke and what they are providing will be more beneficial than the 30% of $90m red cross will pass on
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Have you even read the article in full you peanut they are providing far more than just coke and what they are providing will be more beneficial than the 30% of $90m red cross will pass on
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As a member of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, I am personally still in awe and humbled by to out pouring of generosity Thankyou! May I please ask Coca Cola to think of Zero Sugar options aswell for the more health conscious those of us that are diabetic, should I have the opportunity to come across these cans!
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