Coca-Cola Launches New Patriotic Cans For Memorial Day Weekend

(RTTNews) - Beverages giant Coca-Cola Co. (KO) said it is launching special, limited edition patriotic red, white and blue cans over the Memorial Day weekend to honor and celebrate the nation's service men and women as well as to commemorate its 75-year partnership with the United Service Organizations or USO.

The limited-edition "Share a Coke and a Song" packaging will feature the classic patriotic song lyric, "I'm Proud To Be An American." The custom-designed red, white and blue 16-ounce Coca-Cola cans will be available in select convenience and grocery stores nationwide now through July 4, until supplies last.

Coca-Cola said that the patriotic design will also feature on 20, 24 and 35 family packages of 12-ounce Coca-Cola cans.

Erika von Heiland Strader, Director of Community Marketing, Coca-Cola North America said, "Our partnership with the USO dates back to 1941 and we have worked together for 75 years to help keep service members refreshed all over the world. The custom patriotic packaging is Coca-Cola's special way of commemorating and thanking the USO for its many years of impactful work to help keep the nation's military men and women connected to family, home and country throughout their time of service".

Coca-Cola is the latest company to adopt patriotic packaging. Belgian brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (BUD, AHBIF.PK), the maker of Budweiser, recently said it is replacing the Budweiser logo with "America" on its 12-ounce cans and bottles this summer. The new packaged beer cans will be on shelves nationwide from May 23 through the election in November.

According to Coca-Cola, the "Share a Coke and a Song" fan activation at NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 race during the Memorial Day weekend will feature kiosks where race fans can read about Coca-Cola's 75-year partnership with the USO and join the "Campaign to Connect", which encourages them to help the USO send one million thank you messages to service members globally.

The patriotic celebration will continue through the July 4 weekend as part of the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway.