Price Acceptance - What We Can Learn From Coca Cola's Pricing Strategy (2024)

Coca-Cola is not only a brand that’s overcome longevity, it’s also managed to become one of the most iconic and ubiquitous names in the world. This is due to their unique pricing and ability to navigate price acceptance. We previously covered the interesting history of co*ke and price increase policy – and found that although they are one of the most powerful brands – they actually grew by keeping reasonably flat pricing for many years. Today, we’ll be discussing Coca-Cola’s tactics for pricing acceptance. We’ll also be going over their pricing strategies and promotional methods that make them so iconic and well recognized all over the world.

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How Coca-Cola Shrinking Their Cans Affects Price Acceptance

According to the NZ Herald newspaper:

“Coca-Cola has confirmed plans to shrink the size of its cans – but says the price will also be coming down accordingly.”

“The can size has been reduced by 7 per cent, from 355ml to 330ml.”

“Coca-Cola Oceania spokesman Keith Mason said the move was made following research showing people preferred a smaller size.”

“Research and consumption trends showed that 330ml was a more convenient and enjoyable amount for individual consumption while at home, Mason said.”

Why price acceptance is vital for consumer brands

This article highlights a number of themes that those working on their pricing career will immediately understand. By reducing the size of the can, co*ke is basically expecting to sell more.

This tactic could also be expected to appeal to a more health-conscious demographic which has been avoiding soft drinks. It could be seen as making the product more prestigious since smaller serving could be perceived as more socially acceptable. Social acceptance and signalling is vital in today’s marketplace.

The other (more important) aspect is ensuring price acceptance from loyal consumers and ensuring that people do not feel the goalposts are being moved – i.e. paying the same for a smaller or inferior product.

In reality – the cost of production for a can of co*ke will change very little. We can assume a few cents difference at most. However, the retail price will likely have to decrease noticeably to ensure it does not look like a cheap cash grab.

In this case – as in many areas, perception is the most important thing. Particularly, when you have a multi-billion dollar brand to protect. This example shows how important it is to be customer-centric.

Coca-Cola’s Pricing Strategy For Price Acceptance

Coca-cola has been using a meet-the-competition pricing strategy for as long as they have been around – and it works. This means that prices are set at the same level as competitor soda companies.

They do this because they understand that consumers need their product to be affordable, even though they are a powerful brand. This displays their understanding of consumers price acceptance. What makes them successful is that they work to meet and expand these standards.

Their lower price points allow them to penetrate new and sensitive markets. But at the same time, they have powerful promotional strategies that drive their message that they are a premium product. What you get is an affordable premium item that makes its brand stand out from the rest.

co*ke uses three main pricing strategies depending on what they see fit to a particular situation:

Price Skimming

Price skimming is when a company enters a market with higher than usual prices to maximise profits and strong desires of customers to purchase the product – basically to capitalise on the hype. Afterwards, they gradually lower prices to market standards.


Market Price

Setting products at market prices means prices are on par with the going rate of competitors. This happens in high competition markets to prevent price wars. There’s usually little room to increase margins, however, Coca-cola has been successfully using this strategy throughout its long history.

Market Penetration

Market penetration involves setting low prices when entering a new market to attract the highest possible number of sales and new customers. This is more common for areas with high competition or little awareness of the product to begin with.

Price Acceptance - What We Can Learn From Coca Cola's Pricing Strategy (1)

Innovative Promotional Strategies To Promote Price Acceptance

Coca-Cola boats a portfolio of award-winning industry campaigns. They are strong at maximising promos to enhance their image and market shares. Proper utilisation of promotional material can even help brands boost their value and margins of what customers are willing to pay.

Beyond The Product

The company has incredible control over their image due to its creative and innovative marketing schemes. Beyond their well-produced and positioned advertisem*nts, they also sponsor major sporting events like the Olympics and National Football League. They also bring in more people by giving away other desirable things like free or discounted hotel vouchers or peel and win stickers.

Product Distribution

Besides Coca-Cola’s incredible pricing and promotional strategies, they have incredible reach. According to co*ke’s website, if you stacked all 2.8 million of their vending machines you would hit the height of four empire state buildings stacked on top of each other.

They also have more than 250 bottling partners all over the world. This makes it much easier for them to get their products places without having to compromise on quality. Bottling partners also have the ability to work closely with local distributors such as restaurants, supermarkets, theatres, etcetera. This gives them unique insight and the ability to create localized promotions and strategies.

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Bottom line

In conclusion, Coca-Cola isn’t a powerhouse brand for no reason. They combine innovative pricing strategies to maximise price acceptance and drive their messaging and positioning by creating promotional materials.

They have also managed to maximise their reach but setting up hundreds of bottling partners. This enables localised distribution and promotional campaigns that are tailor-fit to a certain area or demographic. They even go so far as to change their can sizes based on their audience’s preferences, which shows their consumer-centric values.

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Price Acceptance - What We Can Learn From Coca Cola's Pricing Strategy (2)

Price Acceptance - What We Can Learn From Coca Cola's Pricing Strategy (2024)

FAQs

What kind of pricing strategy does Coca-Cola use? ›

Setting products at market prices means prices are on par with the going rate of competitors. This happens in high competition markets to prevent price wars. There's usually little room to increase margins, however, Coca-cola has been successfully using this strategy throughout its long history.

What pricing strategies will be used for the target customers? ›

Pricing strategies to attract customers to your business
  • Price skimming. ...
  • Market penetration pricing. ...
  • Premium pricing. ...
  • Economy pricing. ...
  • Bundle pricing. ...
  • Value-based pricing. ...
  • Dynamic pricing.
Nov 17, 2021

What pricing strategy is the most effectively explain your answer? ›

Value pricing is perhaps the most important pricing strategy of all. This takes into account how beneficial, high-quality, and important your customers believe your products or services to be.

How does Coca-Cola use price discrimination? ›

Coca-Cola was one of the firms which had effectively used the price discrimination strategy in the market. Coca-Cola mainly used three kinds of pricing strategies name price skimming, market price, and market penetration.

What are the 3 key strategies of Coca-Cola? ›

Strategic goals of the Coca-Cola Company
  • Gain more consumers.
  • Gain market share, especially in hot drinks.
  • Strengthen stakeholder impact.
  • Equip the organisation to win.

Does Coca-Cola have pricing power? ›

Analysts said Coca-Cola's brand strength gives it the power to set prices in its category at levels above competitors. "(Coca-Cola) would certainly be a price leader in carbonated soft drinks. They have the capacity to take pricing," Wedbush Securities analyst Gerald Pascarelli said.

What are the benefits of pricing strategy? ›

Benefits of a good pricing strategy

Symbolises value: Consumers tend to associate less expensive products with cheap, sometimes shoddy, production values. Products of a higher price tend to be associated with higher value. Attract buyers: If a price is too high, the customer may not be able to afford it.

What is the importance of pricing strategy? ›

Why is pricing important? In markets with increasing volume and price pressure, the right pricing approach is essential to remain competitive. It brings you the value you deserve for your products and services offered and secures the profits you need to invest in change and growth.

What is an example of a company that successfully used pricing strategies to its advantage? ›

Amazon does this with a clever strategy that makes it seem like it undercuts its competitors more often than it does. It offers its biggest discounts on its most popular products, while making profits on less popular ones, according to an analysis by Boomerang Commerce, a dynamic pricing company.

How do you understand a pricing strategy? ›

How to choose your pricing strategy
  1. Determine your value metric. ...
  2. Evaluate pricing potential. ...
  3. Review your customer base. ...
  4. Determine a price range. ...
  5. Review competitors' pricing. ...
  6. Consider your industry. ...
  7. Consider your brand. ...
  8. Gather feedback from customers.
Sep 22, 2022

What is the key to successful pricing? ›

Economists talk of supply and demand as key factors behind pricing—successful entrepreneurs manipulate demand by making their products more desirable. The right price should fall between your cost and the value you offer to customers. Within this range, your prices should be closer to the value of what you're selling.

Is Coca Cola price sensitive? ›

Answer and Explanation: Coca-cola is one of the many products available in the soft drinks industry. If the price of coca-cola rises people have many other options to look at. This means that the demand for coca-cola is sensitive to price, giving it a higher price elasticity of demand.

How does Coca Cola add value to their products? ›

For example Coca Cola being a well-known brand, the company can sell its products at a higher price compared to other lesser-known soft drink brands. A strong brand translates to high-quality, so customers are willing to pay more.

What is price discrimination in pricing strategy? ›

Price discrimination is a selling strategy that charges customers different prices for the same product or service based on what the seller thinks they can get the customer to agree to. In pure price discrimination, the seller charges each customer the maximum price they will pay.

What is the secret behind Coca-Cola's marketing strategy? ›

The commercial itself closely follows Coca-Cola's primary principles in their advertising rather than attempting to sell it as a drink. co*ke focuses on selling an abstract positive concept, such as happiness, family, and sharing.

What strategies does Coca-Cola use to sell their brand? ›

Promotion. co*ke aggressively markets its product lines through advertising across multiple mediums and channels, including TV, online ads, sponsorships, etc. Coca-Cola's sponsorships include NASCAR, NBA, the Olympics, American Idol, etc.

What process strategy does Coca-Cola use? ›

Coca Cola bottling company uses continuous flow manufacturing (CFM).

Why are Coca-Cola prices so high? ›

Prices continued to rise in the soda industry thanks to the cost of aluminum increasing. According to Reuters in an early 2021 report, the cost of aluminum climbed about 60% over the course of a year.

What is the price of Coca-Cola brand? ›

How much is Coca-Cola worth? In 2022, Coca-Cola's brand was valued at 97.9 billion U.S. dollars.

What is the Coca-Cola price? ›

Buy Coca Cola Soft Drink 750 Ml Bottle Online At Best Price of Rs 38 - bigbasket.

What is the importance of pricing to customers? ›

The importance of pricing

To put it simply, if a customer believes spending their money on your product/service will provide them enough value based on their needs, they'll be happy to make a purchase. This is why, for example, increasing the price of medicines doesn't decrease demand for them in a major way.

Can pricing strategies affect the company's success? ›

The price you set affects your profit margin per unit sold, with higher prices giving you a higher profit per item if you don't lose sales. However, higher prices that lead to lower sales volumes can decrease, or wipe out, your profits, because your overhead costs per unit increase as you sell fewer units.

Which pricing strategy is the most appropriate in a competitive market? ›

Penetration pricing strategy

This strategy is usually used to enter a new competitive market. Sellers enter the market at a lower price point to generate demand and a consumer base and then increase prices once they are established.

What are the two pricing strategies companies can use when bringing out a new product? ›

The two broad, new-product pricing strategies are market-skimming and market-penetration.

What factors will impact the pricing strategy? ›

These are some of the strategic factors you need to consider regarding your pricing.
  • Positioning. You know the old saying, "You get what you pay for." Your price affects the perception of your product in the market. ...
  • Cost. ...
  • Environmental Factors. ...
  • Demand Curve. ...
  • Market Control. ...
  • Psychological Factors.
May 28, 2010

What are the main goals of pricing? ›

Five main objectives of pricing are: (i) Achieving a Target Return on Investments (ii) Price Stability (iii) Achieving Market Share (iv) Prevention of Competition and (v) Increased Profits! Before determining the price of the product, targets of pricing should be clearly stated.

What affects pricing strategies? ›

The state of the market for the product – if there is a high demand for the product, but a shortage of supply, then the business can put prices up. The state of the economy – some products are more sensitive to changes in unemployment and workers wages than others.

How do companies use pricing strategies? ›

Pricing strategies are the different approaches that businesses take to figure out what the cost of their goods and services should be. To choose the appropriate pricing strategy, companies consider factors like current product demand, cost of goods sold, consumer behavior, and market conditions.

Is Coca Cola price elastic or inelastic? ›

co*ke is an elastic good. If the price of Pepsi increases by 1%, we can expect a 1.55% )*(2*&3* in the amount of Pepsi sold.

Will demand for Coca Cola be price elastic or inelastic Why? ›

Normally, sales increase with price drops and decrease when prices rise. Coca Cola products are considered to have an elastic demand because quantity demanded for its products often change when prices change.

How do customers feel about Coca Cola? ›

In comparison to other brands the consumer perception of Coca Cola is >80% (very positive [91%]) in comparison to other brands.

Why is Coca-Cola marketing so successful? ›

Throughout the decades and multitudes of marketing campaigns, Coca-Cola has consistently communicated one strong and compelling message: pleasure. Enduring, simple slogans such as “Enjoy” and “Happiness” never go out of style and translate easily across the globe.

What is the competitive advantage of Coca-Cola? ›

Coca-cola effectively uses a low pricing strategy a lot to penetrate new markets that are very price-conscious. They set the prices around the same level as the competitors to enable Coca-cola to be distinct but affordable. They do this to beat the competition on price and raise the awareness of the Coca-Cola brand.

What are the benefits of price discrimination to consumers? ›

Price discrimination can provide benefits to consumers, such as potentially lower prices, rewards for choosing less popular services and helps the firm stay profitable and in business. The advantages of price discrimination will be appreciated more by some groups of consumers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of price discrimination pricing strategy? ›

Some benefits of price discrimination include more revenues for the seller, lower prices for some customers, and well-regulated demand. The disadvantages of price discrimination are a potential reduction in consumer surplus, possible unfairness, and administration costs for separating the market.

What are real life examples of price discrimination? ›

For example, when a consumer purchases airline tickets several months in advance, they will typically pay less than a consumer who purchases a ticket for the same flight two days before. This is because when the demand for a particular flight is high, airlines raise the ticket prices as a response.

What is the type of pricing strategy? ›

Apart from the four basic pricing strategies -- premium, skimming, economy or value and penetration -- there can be several other va... A product is the item offered for sale. A product can be a service or an item.

What type of pricing strategy does PepsiCo use? ›

Most of PepsiCo's products are priced based on the market-oriented pricing strategy. The company's objective in using this strategy is to ensure that its prices are competitive, based on other firms' prices and prevailing market conditions.

Which companies use cost based pricing? ›

Some prominent examples of companies using cost based pricing include Walmart and Ryanair. These are considered the low-cost producers in their respective industries. Both companies set lower prices and get a massive competitive advantage by appealing to cost reduction.

How does Coca-Cola attract customers? ›

Sponsorships are one of the most widely used methods to attract most customers. Coca-Cola is also one of those well-recognized brands for its sponsorships. Coca-Cola provides world-wide sponsorships for organizations like the Olympics, FIFA, NBA, and also television shows like American Idol.

Why is pricing strategy important? ›

The importance of pricing

Pricing is important since it defines the value that your product are worth for you to make and for your customers to use. It is the tangible price point to let customers know whether it is worth their time and investment.

How does pricing affect customers? ›

If the product is already in abundance in the market, then pricing will definitely play an important role because the increase in price will discourage customers from buying it. Similarly, if prices are lowered under such market conditions, then consumers will increase the amount that they purchase significantly.

What strategy is an example of product pricing? ›

Cost-Plus Pricing Strategy

It's also known as markup pricing since businesses who use this strategy “markup” their products based on how much they'd like to profit. To apply the cost-plus method, add a fixed percentage to your product production cost. For example, let's say you sold shoes.

Does Coca Cola use competition based pricing? ›

Coca-Cola has referred to their pricing strategy as "meet-the-competition pricing". The company analyzes the pricing strategies of its competitors, sees where comparable products have been priced, and strives to set their own prices around the same level as their competitors.

Which pricing strategies are used mainly for new products? ›

A company will often use a price skimming or penetration pricing strategy for new products. Companies that use a price skimming strategy will typically set prices relatively high versus competitive products.

What are the benefits of cost-based pricing? ›

Cost-based pricing can also ensure a steady rate of profit. This is one of the few pricing strategies that can guarantee a profit. Regardless of the state of the industry, if you price your goods and services in relation to their production costs, you will generate revenue.

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