Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children

This assignment examines the controversial topic of marketing unhealthy foods to children. It delves into the strategies employed by companies, including digital marketing and in-store promotions, to target young consumers. The analysis considers the ethical implications of these practices and their potential impact on children's health. References provided cover various aspects of marketing ethics, consumer behavior, and public health concerns related to unhealthy food consumption.

Running head: INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF DIET COKE
Integrated Marketing Mix of Coca Cola: Diet Coke
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
A successful marketing of a new product requires a targeted market strategy where the
main goal will be to build a strong customer base and to generate revenue. It is important to
identify the targeted market and analyzing the customer base who will purchase the products. By
identifying the target market, it becomes easier to highlight the features and benefits of the
product. The companies use different value proposition statement which will benefit and increase
the sales of the company as well as maintain an economic moat. The company promises the
customers through this value proposition statement (Tedlow 2014). Marketing mix strategies are
used by the company for the promotion of brand or product in the market. This will highlight the
marketing mix strategies of diet coke. Diet Coke is a sugar free drink which was introduced by
Coca Cola. Diet Coke do not use the modified formula of Coca Cola but entirely a different
receipe. Diet coke is sweetened by aspartame,a n artificial sweetener and thus sweetener is
available in United States to save money. It will make an in-depth analysis of the 4Ps of
marketing mix. Further, value proposition and the targeted market of Coca Coal’s Diet Coke will
be discussed in details in this paper (Aaron and Siegel 2017).
Market Segmentation refers to the process of dividing the market of potential customers
into different segments or group depending on different characteristics. The vital and the most
important element of market segmentation theory is that the company will spend money on that
customer group who are willing to buy the product. This segmentation may be positive or
negative. Coca Cola in its first stage will establish the market and identify the targeted
customers. This can be done through market surveys. Certain economic and demographic factors
must also be taken into consideration for conducting market surveys. Coca Cola must also map
the entire market. Retail, wholesale and logistic costs are the most important parameters which
must be taken into consideration in this aspect (Ferrell and Hartline 2014).
Variable Marked Breakdowns
1. Geographical
Region Queensland (Far North & South), New South Whales (north
coast & western), Lakes District- Victoria
City Size 5000 to 2,000,000 over
Density Sub-urban, Urban, Rural

2INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
Climate Western, eastern sea board, northern & southern(sales increase in
Summer)
Variable Marked Breakdowns
2. Demographic
Age Ranging from 15 to 25 till age of 40 or more
Sex It is an unisex product
Size of the family 5 and more
Lifecycle All generations
Income Variant targeted income levels
Occupation All possible professionals of the society
Education Colleges and Schools
Religion Available for all
Nationality Australian, Japanese, New Zealand, British and more
Variable Marked Breakdowns
3. Psychographic
Socioeconomic Various social classes
Status Integration of valuables like education
Attitudes, values and lifestyle
groups
Social awareness and achievements in society
Personality Any pleasant and authoritarian in the society
Variable Marked Breakdowns
4. Behavioral
Purchase occasion Famous for both regular and customized occasions
Sought for Benefits Standardized service and revenue gain
Status for Users Any existing and potential users
Rates of Users Regular or heavy users
Readiness level Anyone interested to purchase
Reaction to the Product Enthusiastic and supportive customers

3INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
A well defined and proper target market is the first and the vital element of marketing
strategy. In target marketing, the business decides to direct its marketing effort within a
particular serviceable area to a particular group of customers (Reed 2014). Similarly, Coca Cola
has also targeted a particular segment of customers for diet coke. Women of young and middle
age who are trying to lose their weight are the main target segments of these product. Moreover,
the company has also targeted the working people as its advertisement emphasizes on “taking a
break” from the working days and also helps people to cope up with the hectic lifestyle. Thus, it
can be said that Coca Cola’s Diet Coke targets the health conscious people who are sociable,
lively, and independent and fun loving (Hutt and Speh 2013).
Positioning is a vital area for each business organization as transparent and advantageous
position in the consumers mind will lead the business towards success. As mentioned by
Blankson and Dai (2017), target market analysis is an effective tool for the business industries to
understand their current market position. Coca Cola’s Diet Coke will expand in different
countries and the women are the main targeted group. Advertisement of Diet Coke is an useful
aspect to make a good position in the customer’s mind as ways of product advertising attract the
consumers towards the product (Li and Lopez 2015). According to Kanwal, Samalia and Singh
(2017), selection of right distribution channel is another crucial aspect through which an
organization gets valuable position in the competitive market. On the other hand, positioning can
be gained through the pricing strategy. On the other hand, positioning can also be gained through
the pricing strategy. Coca Cola is offering Diet Coke at an affordable price. The business
strategy of Coca Cola will help to achieve a good position in the market (Armstrong et al. 2015).

4INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
Strong Caffeine
No Caffeine
No Sugar High
Sugar
Diet Coke
Fig- Perpetual Positioning map of diet coke
Source-Author’s Creation
Value proposition allows the company to convince the customers for a particular product or
service. It is a promise of the value that is to be delivered by the company for business
expansion. Coca Cola needs to attract the customers by introducing its new sugar free product
which will be widely preferred by the health conscious customers. It will also help the customers
in reducing their problem because there are no such products of other companies which is sugar
free. Value proposition canvas model focuses on the benefits, features and experiences of the
product. Thus, by following this, Coca Cola will be able to design their new product i.e. Diet
Coke based on the needs of the customers. In order to create an effective value proposition, it is
necessary to understand what value proposition is (Foster et al.2014). Moreover, a strong and
effective value proposition model is also important for online marketing strategy because this
strategy is important for increasing the customer base of the company. The important value
proposition that Coca Cola is delivering its customers is very specific. A successful value
proposition has three important characteristics and it clearly outlines the benefits consumers will
get after purchasing the product, a clear statement which will differentiate the product from its

5INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
rival or competitive product and customer’s conviction that the product will solve their problem
(McDarby et al. 2016). Coca Cola is such a brand which clearly states its values such as
integrity, leadership, diversity, passion, collaboration and quality. The diet coke which was
introduced by Coca Cola targets the health conscious women customers who expect better and
healthy life. Coca Coal’s internal competitor, Coke Zero is creating competition with Diet Coke.
There is a similarity between the two brands because they have appealed to the customers with
changing lifestyle. They have also focused on the natural ingredient and have helped the health
conscious customers (Davis et al. 2016).
With the introduction of Diet Coke, Coca Cola has increased its sales volume and it has
also helped in improving the brand value of the company. The product is sweetened by artificial
sweetener aspartame and it had a different and unique formula for manufacturing. The recipe
which the company used for Diet Coke was different from other Coca Cola brand. The calorie
content of Diet Coke in a can of 330 ml was only 1.3 kilocalories. Diet Coke which contained no
caffeine was launched by the company in 1983 and it contained no caffeine or sugar content. The
company has launched Diet Coke with Splenda in 2005 which had 2.83 mg of caffeine content. It
also contained Splenda Sweetner (Grewal et al. 2015). Another product i.e. Diet Coke with
Citrus Zest was launched in 2007 and it is available in Bosnia and United Kingdom. Diet Coke
Lime was released by the company in 2004 and it is available in Ireland, United States, Canada
and United Kingdom. Another product i.e. Diet Coke Cherry was launched in 1986 and it is
widely available in United States and United Kingdom in different tastes and flavors of cherries
(Pride et al. 2015). In 2011. Diet Coke has surpassed Pepsi in its sales for the first time and thus
it has become the second most preferred soda Coca cola. Finally, Coca Cola has introduced Diet
Coke and it is a sparkling beverage which is available in a great flavor without any calorie or
sugar content. In 2013, Coca cola has swapped its logo in United Kingdom with Coke Zero and
Diet Coke cans and thus organized a summer long “Share a coke” campaign. Diet Coke is an
energetic drink with good taste. It is available in different sizes and is widely demanders by the
customers. Diet Coke is available in two variants, one with vitamin B3, B12 and vitamin C. The
other variants contain antioxidants with Vitamin C and green tea. The 350 ml bottle of Coca
Cola will contain 52.5% of the daily recommended allowance of the vitamins and thus it will
help to maintain a healthy immune system. Moreover, Diet Coke also offers consumers to enjoy
their favourite Diet Coke while doing their regular work (De Mooij 2013).

6INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
Place plays an important role in the success and failure of a particular business. Diet
Coke has created a niche market of its own. The product was first launched in United States in
six markets. Diet Coke is one of the most successful brand of its parent company and its products
are available in India, United States, new Zealand, Bosnia, Isreal, Austria and in many other
countries. It has a proper distribution network that helps to market its product competently and
easily. Coca Cola uses intensive distribution policy such that its products are easily available in
different grocery stores, departmental stores and supermarkets. Moreover, it is also important
that the company to make sure that its products is within the reach of every customer. Diet Coke
also has a strong distribution channel. This product of Coca Cola is within the reach of the
customers and it can be purchased easily from any stores (Bejou 2014).
A perfect pricing policy is necessary and important for the success of any brand. It is also
important for generation of revenue and profitability of the company. Diet Coke has used
different pricing strategies for its brand. The price skimming policy of diet coke was used in
beginning when the product was introduced. Later on Diet Coke has switched to competitive
pricing strategy because there were many similar products which were launched by its rival
company. Coca Cola also uses discount pricing strategy to increase the sales volume. This has
helped the company in maintaining its customer base and also increasing the profitability of the
company. The price of Diet Coke is similar and suitable compared to the products of its
competitors (Boelsen-Robinson et al. 2015)
Diet Coke requires good promotional activities to be preferred by the customers. Coca
Cola’s Diet Coke has targeted the health conscious customers. Moreover, it has also targeted the
diabetic customers. The women of young and middle age are the main target groups of the
company. The no sugar content of Diet Coke is a boon and thus it has helped the company to
attain success and improve its profitability (Keegan and Green 2015). Coca Cola has also
followed aggressive promotional policy that has helped in expanding the market and thus
increasing awareness and viability among the customers. Diet coke also invited different
customers to “Get a taste” of the good life. Campaign. This television commercial took place in
UK. Diet Coke has tried to project its product as a healthy choice to its customers.
Advertisements were given on radio, magazine and television, newspaper and billboards to cover
the maximum areas. As part of the promotional activities different concert and movie tickets

7INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
were also provided. The customers were also provided with attractive discounts (Davis et al.
2016).
Thus, it can be said that Diet Coke has considered the demand of the customers and it is
widely accepted by them. Coca Cola as focused on the strength as well as it has tried to eliminate
the weakness of the other products to fulfill the demands of the customers. The targeted
customers of Diet Coke are the individuals with high income. Moreover, Coca cola has focused
on place because this marketing channel will help in improving the distribution channel. This in
turn will also improve the profitability of the company. The company has created such a product
so that it can benefit the health conscious customers. It is important for Coca Cola to implement
the marketing concepts successfully so that they can fulfill the needs and wants of the customers.
The company has used different promotional strategies to attract the customers

8INTEGRATED MARKETING MIX OF COCA COLA
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