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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

And for today's What the FUCK?! moment, a Coca Cola employee tries to sell their trade secrets.

Yes, like something out of the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", an administrative assistant for one of the executives in The Coca-Cola Company tried to sell trade secrets and insider information to PepsiCo Inc. The whole story is here, but here's the gist. Since I can't bother myself to look up the guy's name, I'll just call him FM, short for FUCKING MORON. Anyway, FM sends a letter in an official Coca-Cola Company envelope offering to sell trade secrets. PepsiCo did the responsible, ethical, and legal thing by contacting Coca-Cola Company, who then contacted the FBI who, in turn, set up a sting. PepsiCo then continued to do all they could to assist the investigation, and never actually saw the insider documents, which were authenticated by Coca-Cola Company. This all culimated in three arrests.

Aside from the obvious, my question is this: Why would Pepsi want Coke's formulas? The flavor of Pepsi products is far superior to that of Coke, and at least Pepsi's name isn't on the execrable Vault soda/energy drink. My only real complaint about Pepsi is their discontinuation Josta soda a few years back, though this is a very minor point and was probably a sound business decision at the time. I just miss it from time to time. Anyway, in the end, the criminals were caught, and everyone involved in resolving this issue did the right thing and caught the bastards, so it's all good. Still, it's pretty weird shit.

3 comments:

Snave said...

I am also a Pepsi products soda person. Some people say there is no difference between Coke and Pepsi, but I can sure taste a difference. If I want a cola, I will go for a Pepsi every time (usually diet) if there is a choice between Coke and Pepsi. I agree... why would Pepsi want Coke's secret formula when Pepsi is already so much better!!

Mandelbrot's Chaos said...

If you really want to taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke, the best example is probably the difference between Wild Cherry Pepsi and Cherry Coke. Anyone who's tried both and picks Cherry Coke... I worry for their sanity.

Snave said...

I know what you mean! The ones that are lime-flavored or lemon-flavored are that way for me. It's gotta be Pepsi all the way.