Pepsi: the Choice of the Fat Generation

Apparently this was announced on Friday and we missed it:

Toronto has signed an exclusive Cold Beverage Agreement with Pepsi. This means that Pepsi will be the sole provider of beverages to children at all parks and rec locations in the GTA. Why? Well, not only does the city get some help on offering services to kids, but it reaps a tidy 800K kick-back in the process of selling children's health down the river.

Like her or not, I have to hand it to Olivia Chow - she really does take her job as Children's advocate seriously. She is pissed about this, and is pushing to have the vending machines stock 100% non-cola refreshments. I hope she wins (but sadly, she won't). BTW, Pepsi also have a CBA with York University - so they are making sure ot be the sole supplier of liquid shit to you children from start to finish! Here's the article:

Council voted last night to accept a $2.5 million contract for Pepsi to be the exclusive beverage provider in the city's recreation centres and parks. Councilor Olivia Chow had pushed for the contract to be tendered again on the grounds that soda pop is to blame for rising obesity in children. "A lot of kids are addicted to pop, because it has caffeine in it," said Chow (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina). "We are encouraging kids in the community centres to drink liquid sugar." While the contract calls for Pepsi to stock half of its vending machines with healthy drinks like water or fruit juice, Chow argued it should be 100 per cent.Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby urged councillors to accept the contract, saying it should not be up to the city to dictate what children are drinking. Parents should be the ones deciding what their children are consuming, she said. "People have to be responsible for their own actions," said Lindsay Luby (Ward 4, Etobicoke Centre).

The contract calls for Pepsi to pay the city a licensing fee of $1.35 million, as well as 30 per cent of revenues from vending sales, projected to come to $1.1 million over five years. In addition, Pepsi will provide $1.15 million over the course of the contract for special events, a youth soccer program and a recycling program. Previously, Pepsi paid $1.5 million for a five-year contract, which expires at the end of October. The city is expected to receive more than $800,000 in commissions by the end of that contract.