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Firehouse Subs first to roll out upgraded Coca-Cola Freestyle machine

April 30, 2019

Firehouse Subs restaurants are rolling out the next generation of the Coca-Cola Freestyle beverage dispensing platform, making it the first national chain to have the latest model. Dubbed Coca-Cola Freestyle 9100, the upgraded unit allows guests to select, mix and pour more than 175 drink choices, according to a company press release. The older model offers about 100.

"Just as our crew members can customize any sub to our guests' tastes, Freestyle 9100 allows guests the freedom to get the drink they are craving — whether it's sparkling water, a sports drink, lemonade, tea or a sparkling soft drink — the way they want it," Firehouse CEO Don Fox said in the release.

Firehouse Subs was one of the first restaurants to roll out the original Coca-Cola Freestyle in 2007, and the chain is the only place people can get Freestyle-exclusive beverages, such as Cherry Lime-Aid, Cherry Lime-Aid Light, Sparkling Cherry Lime-Aid and Sparkling Cherry Lime-Aid Light, served with fresh-squeezed lime.

Chris Hellmann, vice president and general manager of Coca-Cola Freestyle, said besides the increased number of beverages, the model also comes with an improved content management system. It allows the company to release "digital recipes" to the dispenser, surprising guests with unique drink offerings like Team USA custom mixes, Fanta Halloween and Coca-Cola Holiday mixes, for example.  New brand choices include Orange Vanilla Coke and Sprite Lymonade, plus limited-time flavors of Minute Maid Lemonade.

"We've also built this platform with the future in mind," Hellmann said. "We added microphones, speakers, optical sensors and a new equipment option that will eventually support the addition of drink categories not available on Freestyle today, such as teas and new varieties of juices."