Greek beverage companies protest over Coca Cola's marketing strategy

Vikos, EPSA and Lux, three Greek-owned beverage companies, on Tuesday lodged an official protest with the culture ministry over its stance on Coca Cola's marketing strategy and the use of national symbols on its packaging.

In an announcement, the three beverage companies said that the National Communication Control Council, a member of the European Advertising Standards Alliance, recently vindicated the three companies and gave Coca Cola a 30-day deadline to remove national symbols from its ad campaign - not only from its collection packaging, but its entire marketing campaign. Vikos, EPSA and Lux, in their protest, said that despite the Counci's decision, the culture ministry's stance on the commercialisation of national heritage raised questions.

The three companies warned they will take all necessary action if this protest is ignored by the culture ministry.