Coca-Cola Takes Coke Out of Cinema Deal as Vue Goes for Pepsi
A bitter dispute has erupted between Coca-Cola and Vue, the largest cinema chain in Europe, after Vue switched suppliers to PepsiCo. The move marks a significant blow to Coca-Cola's contract with Vue, which operated over 90 cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
The agreement, which spanned almost two decades, was finally brought to an end when Vue put its contract up for tender last year. In March, the cinema chain selected PepsiCo as its exclusive supplier until at least 2030, marking a significant shift in their relationship with Coca-Cola.
Now, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain (CCEP), the company behind the iconic brand, is taking legal action against Vue Entertainment to reclaim alleged unpaid debts outstanding when the contract was terminated. The law firm Coltman Warner Cranston has been retained to pursue the case on behalf of CCEP.
A spokesperson for Vue denied that the dispute had been resolved and claimed that no amount was outstanding between the two parties. "The petition for winding up has been withdrawn and should never have been filed," said Tim Richards, the chief executive and founder of Vue. "There is currently no amount outstanding and the disputed amount was for under ยฃ100,000."
However, in a surprising twist, it appears that both sides had outstanding debts payable to each other. The exact figures were not disclosed.
Coca-Cola's decision to sue follows similar moves by Cineworld, its main rival in the cinema sector, which also switched suppliers to PepsiCo in 2020. The move has left Coca-Cola reeling, with the company seeking to recover losses from Vue.
In a statement, Darren Davoile of Coltman Warner Cranston declined to comment on client activity, while CCEP remained tight-lipped about the matter. Meanwhile, Vue continues to operate as usual, with its cinemas offering a range of beverages under the PepsiCo brand.
A bitter dispute has erupted between Coca-Cola and Vue, the largest cinema chain in Europe, after Vue switched suppliers to PepsiCo. The move marks a significant blow to Coca-Cola's contract with Vue, which operated over 90 cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
The agreement, which spanned almost two decades, was finally brought to an end when Vue put its contract up for tender last year. In March, the cinema chain selected PepsiCo as its exclusive supplier until at least 2030, marking a significant shift in their relationship with Coca-Cola.
Now, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain (CCEP), the company behind the iconic brand, is taking legal action against Vue Entertainment to reclaim alleged unpaid debts outstanding when the contract was terminated. The law firm Coltman Warner Cranston has been retained to pursue the case on behalf of CCEP.
A spokesperson for Vue denied that the dispute had been resolved and claimed that no amount was outstanding between the two parties. "The petition for winding up has been withdrawn and should never have been filed," said Tim Richards, the chief executive and founder of Vue. "There is currently no amount outstanding and the disputed amount was for under ยฃ100,000."
However, in a surprising twist, it appears that both sides had outstanding debts payable to each other. The exact figures were not disclosed.
Coca-Cola's decision to sue follows similar moves by Cineworld, its main rival in the cinema sector, which also switched suppliers to PepsiCo in 2020. The move has left Coca-Cola reeling, with the company seeking to recover losses from Vue.
In a statement, Darren Davoile of Coltman Warner Cranston declined to comment on client activity, while CCEP remained tight-lipped about the matter. Meanwhile, Vue continues to operate as usual, with its cinemas offering a range of beverages under the PepsiCo brand.