ATLANTA – The Coca-Cola Co. has increased testing its Arctic Coke machines to around 800 convenience stores across the United States, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The company has been piloting the coolers in 20 Indianapolis area convenience stores since June 2016, with the company indicating sales rose 15% to 20% at those locations.
The rectangular cooler chills 20-ounce bottles of Coke brands at 30 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10 to 15 degrees colder than a typical cooler. Placing a bottle on the platform transforms the liquid into slush within seconds.
It’s like having a Coke “in a cup with soft, crushed ice,” said Kim Drucker, director of platform innovation for Coca-Cola North America. “And the ice that forms is made of the liquid inside the bottle, so it doesn’t dilute the drink.”
The test includes Coke, Diet Coke, Powerade Mountain Blast and Sprite. Mello Yello, Cheery Coke and Fanta Orange will soon be added in select areas. The company showed off the Arctic Blast in November during its Atlanta investor day.
This is the latest innovation from Coke to stave off faltering sales of carbonated soft drinks. The company also recently debuted four new Diet Coke flavors: Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, Diet Coke Ginger Lime, Diet Coke Twisted Mango and Diet Coke Zesty Blood Orange.