COCA-COLA NORTH AMERICA and CARIBOU COFFEE launch new premium ready-to-drink iced cofee in U.S.

ATLANTA.- Coca-Cola North America (CCNA) and Caribou Coffee announced today a national launch of a new line of premium ready-to-drink iced coffees beginning this month in Midwest and Southeast cities.

Caribou Coffee is the second-largest specialty coffee company in the United States, with 480 coffeehouses, including 39 licensed locations. Caribou Coffee’s coffeehouses are located in 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in several venues outside the United States.

“The new beverage will expand the reach of the Caribou Coffee tradition and bring the simple, everyday values of the Caribou coffeehouse experience to a broader national audience,” said Michael Coles, Caribou Coffee Chairman and CEO. “Our partnership with Coca-Cola North America will extend our great premium coffee taste experience into the ready-to-drink category and allow us to take advantage of the world-class Coca-Cola distribution system.”

“While we plan to extend the Caribou Coffee brand, we are committed to maintaining the core brand idea which has made Caribou Coffee a hit with consumers -- great tasting coffee without pretension,” said Brian Kelley, CCNA President and General Manager, Still Beverages.

Caribou Iced Coffee will be available in three delicious flavors: Regular, Espresso, and Vanilla, and will be packaged in a unique 12 oz. reclosable Alumi-Tek™ aluminum bottle from Ball Corporation. The suggested retail price will be at parity with the category in leading convenience stores and other retail outlets initially in Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit and Kansas City, and will be available in Caribou Coffee retail outlets in coming months.

The Caribou Iced Coffee launch will be supported with sampling, in-store merchandising and print and radio marketing.