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April 10, 2012

Coca-Cola Vending Machines Want Hugs

By Julie Griffin, Contributing Writer

Reports claim vending machines are more dangerous than sharks, and are twice as likely to kill you. But there is nothing threatening about the Coca-Cola vending machine set up outside of the National University of Singapore with the words, “Hug Me” scrawled across the front in the trademark white font on red background. People who comply with the machine’s request earn a free coke. It kills you with kindness.



As part of Coca-Cola’s “Open Happiness” campaign, the company has stationed a number of “Happiness Machines,” like this one, across the globe since 2009. In past campaigns in the U.S., machines have distributed flowers and balloons across campus. In Rio de Janeiro, some lucky passer-bys have scored surfboards, beach balls and sunglasses, according to reports by Mashable.

Leonardo O’Grady of Coca-Cola told the press after witnessing the reaction to the huggable vending machine in Singapore, “Reactions were amazing...at one point we had four to five people hugging the machine at the same time as well as each other! In fact, there was a long line of people looking to give hugs – it was really fantastic and heartwarming.”

As the video demonstrates, all you need to do for a refreshing beverage is give the machine a big hug. Sometimes a cold, crisp coke on a summer day will have you saying, “Ahhhhhh!” But the reaction to this machine is more like, “Awwwwww.”

Coca Cola ranks the third-highest in sales growth this year at 5.2 percent, according to a release this April. Stock analysts recently suggested shareholders buy in Coca Cola, as the company may be in a significant Uptrend as they began trading at over $70 per share last month.




Edited by Braden Becker
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