The August Buying Blue Community of Practice generated many questions about U-M’s exclusive pouring rights agreement with Coca-Cola. Here are several key takeaways:
- Ordering for campus use: Coca-Cola and approved partner-brand beverages are available through the Staples and Amazon Business catalogs in Marketsite+. These are the preferred ordering channels, and noncompliant beverages have been blocked from the catalogs.
- Restaurant orders brought to campus for meetings: Order Coca-Cola beverages when they are available. If an off-campus restaurant does not offer Coca-Cola products, units may order the beverages it provides.
- Off-campus dining: When dining at an off-campus restaurant or venue, employees and guests may purchase the beverages offered. A comment explaining the purchase is not required in Emburse Enterprise.
- Retail purchases: Purchasing Coca-Cola products from local retailers is currently allowable, although ordering through Marketsite+ is highly preferred.
- Travel per diem: The pouring rights agreement does not apply to meals covered by per diem.
- Common exclusions: Ground and brewed coffee, tea bags and brewed tea, hot cider, fresh milk, nondairy alternatives, coffee creamers, snacks, and beverages brought to campus for personal consumption are outside the agreement.
Procurement Services continues working with Coca-Cola, Staples, and Amazon Business to improve product selection, availability, packaging options, and pricing. If an item is unavailable through Staples, check the Amazon Business catalog in Marketsite+.
To simplify product selection, Amazon Business now features an organization-wide shared list named “U-M Coca-Cola Beverage List.” The list features products that align with the agreement and will be periodically updated by catalog managers.
For covered brands, exclusions, ordering instructions, and FAQs, review the Exclusive Pouring Rights Campus How-To Guide. For help with a specific situation, submit a Pouring Rights Support Request.
The implementation team continues to work with Coca-Cola to develop additional guidance for suppliers, student organizations, on- and off-campus hosting, and private events. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
The webinar recording, slides, and Q&A are also available on the Buying Blue webpage.