|
NEWS
| October 31, 2003
Student Life
Coca-Cola gains exclusive rights on
campus
Officials say commissions for
the five-year period could be around $771,000.
By Rajal
Vashisht
The Shorthorn staff
Some thirsty, Pepsi-loving students will have to search a little
harder to find their favorite soft drinks on campus.
Administrators say the university completed contract negotiations
with soft drink provider Coca-Cola last month, giving the company
rights to supply the campus exclusively with Coca-Cola products
in exchange for a cash payment of $225,000.
The five-year contract also provides the university with a commission
on all vending machine drink sales, and $25,000 per year in sponsorships
and marketing promotions, said Dan Risik, Procurement Services assistant
controller.
Officials estimate vending commissions for the five-year period
to be around $771,000, he said.
Students with a preference for drinks such as Pepsi and Dr. Pepper
aren’t completely out of luck. Beverages from other companies
will be available in The Market in the University Center, said Wyl
Parker, Housing and University Center director.
“We did get a little bit of relief at The Market to supply
other things than Coke,” he said.
The shift to Coca-Cola products has begun across much of the campus
but because the company also produces other drinks such as Sprite,
Mr. Pibb and Fruitopia fruit juices, students may not even notice
the change, Risik said.
The university’s contract bids to Pepsi and Dr. Pepper did
not receive responses. The previous beverage vending contract was
also with Coca-Cola, but the new contract gives the company “exclusive
floor rights” to the campus, making other drinks no longer
available.
“There was no exclusive type of situation with the old contract
— just a commission,” Risik said.
Aaron Whitson, computer science and engineering junior, said narrowing
choices on campus won’t bother him.
“I suppose it’s not too big a deal really,” Whitson
said. “I usually just drink water or iced tea, anyway. I’m
not a big fan of caffeine.”
|
|
