Coca-Cola’s five-year exclusive contract to place beverage vending machines in Chicago Public Schools is about to expire and the school has decided to join other districts in banning the sale of soda in its 540 schools.
Coca-Cola is selling its products in about 1,400 vending machines across the school system, said CPS spokesperson Mike Vaughn.
Of the variety of beverage choices, Coca-Cola offers the students, more than 50% include Dasani water, Minute Maid juices and Powerade sports drinks and non-sugared soft drinks, Coca-Cola spokesperson Kevin Morris said yesterday.
The deal brings in about $4 million a year in commissions for the school or a total of about $20 million over the five-year period of the agreement, Vaughn said.
The school system began soliciting bids last week for a new contract to sell beverages—fruit juices, water and non-carbonated sports drinks—in its schools. It made the decision to eliminate the sale of soda in an effort to provide healthier choices to students, Vaughn said.
Morris said Coca-Cola’s contract with the schools ends this fall and that the company is currently reviewing the request for proposal from the Chicago Public Schools.
“We certainly hope to continue our partnership with the Chicago Public Schools,” he said.
The school system also planned to take up the issue of banning junk food, including candy, chewing gum and fatty junk foods at its May board meeting.
Similar soda-banning programs have been underway in Los Angeles and New York. New York City signed a $40 million deal last year with Snapple to provide water and fruit juices to its students.
Network
