February 01, 2008
Tyranny in a can? - UPDATED
It is one of those things that make you scratch your head and wonder.
Instead of the usual gift bags filled with presents and souvenirs given to performers, presenters, and other participants of the 50th Grammy Awards presentation, this year they will be receiving a specially designed package instead. This package, which according to the press release “is artistic and unique, something that will last as a memory for the event,” was designed by an energy drink company based out of San Diego, CA.
Here is where it gets bizarre: The name of this energy drink is Cuba Herbal Energy Juice, manufactured by the Cuba Beverage Company. And as you can see from their packaging below, they are definitely referring to the island of Cuba.
Curious as to what led the founder and CEO of this company, CJ Johnson, to name his company and drink after an island in the Caribbean, I went on their website, which welcomes you to "Cuba," to see if I could find out. I found no reference to Cuba whatsoever. There is plenty of information about the company, its founder, its drink, but no explanation is offered for the choice of the name.
If any of you out there—perhaps those who live on the west coast—know anything about this company, fill us in with your comments.
UPDATE
Frank from Castro Death Watch, who has a much better eye than I do, found this little interesting piece of information on Cuba Beverage's website from an August 2007 press release:
The Company’s founders have spent many years doing business with Cuba under licenses from the United States Department of Treasury and Department of Commerce. They were inspired by Cubans’ healthy lifestyles and the refreshing all-natural drinks available in the country.
I wonder how many cans of this stuff Cuba Beverage Company is expecting to sell in Cuba? Oh, never mind, how silly of me; Cuba already has a "healthy lifestyle." Why in the world would they need an expensive energy drink?
Posted by Alberto de la Cruz at February 1, 2008 05:25 PM |
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Comments
It bears watching!
There is a LOT of capital leaving Cuba through Mexico into the United States. There are several Cuban investments (read castro family) in Mexico (and elsewhere) that are beginning to have their presence felt in Florida (most specifically Miami). As I understand, these companies or businesses are “supposedly” owned by “Cuban-Mexicans.”
Rumor has it that the new “Bodeguita del Medio” restaurant (which by the way forced a Cuban-American family to change their long established business name on 8 Street) is one. The “Bodeguita del Medio” in Mexico is a franchise of the original from Cuba. The one in Miami is supposedly a franchise of “you know who.” There are plans to spread this franchise to all of the U.S.
According nuevoaccion.com there is another restaurant to be opened soon called “Los Timbalitos.”
Posted by: Firefly ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 1, 2008 05:59 PM
No es pa'tanto, el tipo aprendio de Cuba en Miami:
http://www.bevnet.com/news/2007/11-01-2007-Cuba_Beverage.asp
“Living in Miami, I was inspired by the Cuban lifestyle and their choice for refreshing natural nectars and juices”, says Mr. Johnson. The crisp clean look of the can gives the feelings of ‘Light and Refreshing’. By embracing that clean look and the health conscious we launched an Advertising campaign directly targeting those with that demand. Full page Ads hit the shelves starting in December and include such titles as; Lucky, Vogue, Cosmo, Fitness, Self, Elle, Marie Claire, & Harper’s Bazaar, just to name a few.
Asi que cogelo suave.
Posted by: bayonet at February 1, 2008 06:11 PM
Thank you Bayonet--that's why I was asking.
Posted by: albertodelacruz at February 1, 2008 06:19 PM
IMO, it surely would have been nice for Mr. Johnson (since his Cuban experience comes from being among Cubans in Miami), to add even in small prints "LIBRE" under "CUBA" along with the rest of the graphics on the packaging! If approached about it, he could have always stated that libre conveys a "free" healthy lifestyle gained by drinking his product! . . . too much to ask? Wishful thinking ... on my part! ;)
I wish you well :) Melek
"For what will a man be profited,
if he gains the whole world,
and forfeits his soul?" ~ Matthew 16:26
Posted by: Melek at February 2, 2008 12:10 PM
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