- Mecca-Cola
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Mecca-Cola 
Type Cola Manufacturer Mecca Cola World Company Country of origin France Introduced November 2002 Related products Coca-Cola, Zam Zam Cola, Qibla Cola Mecca-Cola is a cola-flavoured carbonated beverage. The flagship product of the Mecca Cola World Company, it is marketed as an alternative to U.S. brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola to "pro-Muslim" consumers. The product's name contains the traditional Latin-alphabet transliteration of مكة "Mecca", the holiest city of Islam located in Saudi Arabia.
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Details
Beverage cans of Mecca-Cola in a supermarket.
Mecca-Cola was launched in France, in November 2002, by Tawfik Mathlouthi, as a means of aiding Palestinians by tapping into demand for alternative products in European countries. He had been inspired by a popular Iranian soft drink, Zam Zam Cola and only decided to launch his own brand when he was unable to agree on terms for a distribution contract with Zam Zam. [1]
Mecca-Cola is now sold in some parts of the Arab World as well as in certain regions of Europe. It has also been bought and consumed in certain parts of the United States, Britain, India and Canada. Although the product was created in France, the company is currently based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Part of its corporate philosophy is, according to the Muslim charity precept, to support charities, and in particular to help the Palestinian people. [2] It pledges to donate 10% of its profits to fund strictly humanitarian projects (such as schools) in the Palestinian territories, and another 10% to charities in the countries in which the drink is sold.[3] This activist stance is reflected in the company slogan, which appears on all its products: "Shake your Conscience." The company also suggests that people avoid mixing the drink with alcohol.
In addition to several different presentations of its cola, the company also sells a range of fruit-flavoured soft drinks under the Mecca-Cola name. The company was the sponsor of — and Mecca-Cola the official drink of — the October 2003 Summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), held in Malaysia.
In a BBC documentary produced in 2003, Qibla Cola's Zafer Iqbal and Mecca Cola's Mathlouthi are shown promoting their "Message in a Bottle".
International distribution
Mecca Cola is now distributed in 64 countries across the world.[4] Distribution in each country started on a unique date. A partial list of countries where it is distributed is as follows:
Country Date launched Notes France [5] November 2002 The company originally started in France before moving to Dubai. It is also the company's top market. However, it only holds 1.7% of the market share.[4] India[6] March 2004 Launched first in Indian-Administered Kashmir, then Gujarat, and now can be started in many different parts of the country. Pakistan[7] November 2003 In the company's top 5 markets Malaysia[8] October 2003 In the company's top 5 markets Yemen[9] June 2003 In the company's top 5 markets, holding 22% of market shares Algeria[10] August 2003 In the company's top 5 markets, holding 19% of market shares Saudi Arabia[11] February 2003 All products are distributed through an $80 million plant set up here UAE[12] April 2003 The company is currently headquartered here. Bangladesh[13] May 2005 Oman[14] 2003 Qatar[14] 2003 Kuwait[14] 2003 Iraq[15] April 2003 Lebanon[16] February 2003 Jordan[14] 2003 Syria[14] 2003 Notes
- ^ [1] BBC News
- ^ [2] Mecca-Cola corporate website as of 2007/06/20
- ^ [3] Mecca-Cola website as of 2007/06/20
- ^ a b Bangkok's Independent Newspaper
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2000574.stm 'Islamic' cola benefits from boycott
- ^ Mecca Cola launched; Gujarat may be hub
- ^ pakistani perspective: Mecca Cola launched in Pakistan - PakTribune
- ^ MECCA COLA FOUNDER TO LAUNCH "MECCA BURGER", "HFC". | Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (October, 2003)
- ^ Mecca Cola introduced to the Yemeni market - Yemen Times
- ^ ‘Chorba For All’
- ^ FRANCE: Mecca Cola to launch in Middle East: Beverage News & Comment
- ^ Road to Mecca
- ^ Mecca Today
- ^ a b c d e Mecca-Cola - BetterCuisine
- ^ BW Online | April 17, 2003 | After Iraq, Cola Wars Heat Up
- ^ THE-EDGE: News
External links
Categories:- Cola
- Companies of France
- Boycotts of organizations
- 2002 introductions
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