Sunday 10 November 2013

Regional cola brands in France: what is the recipe of their success?

The first and only regional cola drink I have ever tried is Breizh Cola, I had the opportunity to try it in Britannia few years ago. I have to confess that I don’t remember precisely if it tasted better or not than the Coca-Cola Classic I usually drink but one thing is for sure: I was pretty surprised to discover such product as a Regional cola drink.

               Source: www.breizhcola.fr

Breizh Cola is the first Regional cola brand that appeared on the French market, this product was launched in Britannia in 2002. Ten years after the launch we can talk of a real success: 15 millions of bottles were sold in France last year. Breizh Cola has open the door to many other regional cola drinks such as Corsica Cola, Fada Cola (created in Marseille), Paris Cola...in total there are around twenty different brands.

Different reasons can explain this fad for Regional cola brands. First of all, most of those cola drinks are sold at a lower price than Coca-Cola or Pepsi drinks. One liter of Regional cola drink costs between 0,75 cents and 1€ on average in supermarkets. Regional cola brands are using the strong identity of certain regions of France to create a unique brand image. They are an alternative to the two American soda leaders and French consumers that are attached to their regions have the possibility to buy local products.


                  Source: www.consoglobe.com/cola-les-alternatives-au-coca-cola-cg/8


Alternate cola brands are serious competitors and PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company have learnt that to their cost. Breizh Cola is ahead of PepsiCo with 10% of market shares in the West of France, the Brand is now available in Paris so let's see now how far this challenger will go.


                                                                                                             Agathe L.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breizh_Cola
http://www.rue89.com/2009/03/25/du-cola-breton-au-cola-corse-coup-de-com-ou-vrai-carton
http://www.lesechos.fr/01/08/2013/LesEchos/21491-095-ECH_du-breizh-cola-au-poitou-cola--les-sodas-deviennent-regionaux.htm

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