Cut Cocaine outlines online distribution plans
Ocke Cokey managing director Garry Shepherd speaks exclusively to Morning Advertiser's Jessica Harvey about the impending UK launch of its controversially named high-caffeine stimulant drink "Cut Cocaine".
MA: What are the plans for the UK distribution of the Cut Cocaine drink brand?
Shepherd: I'm going to try and do most of my distribution through the web. It isn't going to work like that forever, but that's how it will start. We do have one or two distributors, but they want to keep quiet at the moment. A few of them are just sitting there, waiting to see what happens. If I put down a distribution network now, then a lot of people would be upset, so I don't want to do that. I'm keeping everything very close to my chest.
MA: What would you say to people claiming this was an irresponsible move to launch this product into the UK?
Shepherd: I don't think it's irresponsible at all. It's a product that had been banned in the States, purely because of its name and it had made this claim on the label that it was a dietary supplement, which it clearly isn't.
MA: What about the perception, that if it was mixed with vodka, or any other alcohol that it would encourage binge-drinking?
Shepherd: That's perception. I would chase people like Bacardi, or Diageo because they're advertising every day that you should drink alcohol. This is not an alcohol, this is a soft drink.
MA: Do you think the high caffeine content is dangerous?
Shepherd: Have you never had a double espresso? I mean, there's no difference is there, really. Some people buy coffees that are Columbian Gold blend. What's the difference between them supplying their caffeine in a brown powder called Columbian Gold, or me supplying a fruit-flavoured carbonated drink called Cut Cocaine?
MA: What about the Guarana having the higher caffeine content?
Shepherd: It's arguably better. It certainly gives you a slightly different hit than the coffee bean. In fact it's very pleasant.
MA: So, let's reiterate, the wasabi and cinnamon version that numbs the throat will not be available in the UK, that's the Cocaine brand, Ocke Cokey are launching the variant 'Cut Cocaine'.
Shepherd: This is misinformation by the press trying to link our product with a class A drug - I think it's disgusting. It's a perception, they haven't done their homework properly, they've been lazy. To be fair, they've added two and two together and made 22. I have no intention of bringing the Cocaine drink to the UK, we don't believe it's going to work for the tastes in the UK. However, Cut Cocaine is a fabulously-tasting drink. It's what it says on the tin, it's a high caffeine stimulant drink. I find it disgusting that the Daily Mail and The Sun have decided to print misinformation.
