Jones Soda Sacks Coke

Jones Soda Co. has some big news today out of Seattle. According to SPORTSbyBROOKS, the company best known for selling seasonal sodas (like the 2006 Holiday Pack which featured 5 unique soda flavors including Pea, Turkey & Gravy, Dinner Roll, Sweet Potatoes and Antacid) has beat out Coca-Cola to be the official soda company at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks.

I can’t think of any big-time sports venue that offers product from such a small company over the big guys, but this makes a lot of sense since Jones is a Seattle-based company.

And according to seattlepi.com…

Jones Soda Co., a small, scrappy Seattle-based firm, has sacked beverage titan Coca-Cola to acquire the soft-drink rights at Qwest Field and its Event Center for the next five years, according to a securities filing.

Peter van Stolk, Jones Soda’s chief executive, told the Seattle P-I on Wednesday that his company will sell fountain drinks and sodas in plastic bottles throughout Qwest Field, and canned soft drinks in suites. The bottles will feature pictures of Seahawks players.

It is the first time a small private label has knocked off a large soft-drink company to win a major pouring contract, according to one beverage analyst. Jones Soda also becomes the only label outside of cola giants Coke and Pepsi to have an exclusive deal with an NFL team.

Jones Soda, which currently has 21 flavors, will sell at least six flavors at Qwest Field, including a new cola, diet cola and lemon-lime drink at Seahawks games, van Stolk said.

The company also produces a water beverage, a ready-to-drink organic tea, non-carbonated juice and tea, and an energy drink called WhoopAss. Jones Soda has the right to sell “other non-alcoholic beverages” at the stadium, but it hasn’t decided which products it will sell.

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