Coca-Cola Freestyle Is More Than a Soda Machine: It’s Restaurant Tech Marvel

In this episode of Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants, Paul Molinari of Popcorn GTM talks with Coca-Cola’s Angela Diffly and Freestyle’s Anthony Bonitatibus about Coca-Cola Freestyle as a connected restaurant technology platform, not just a touchscreen beverage dispenser. They explain how Freestyle functions as an insights engine that turns every pour into data operators can use, and how it can integrate via API with POS, loyalty, back-of-house systems, digital ordering, and first-party apps (with Wendy’s cited as an example). They discuss how Freestyle drives beverage volume through customization, offers hundreds of recipes and many zero-sugar options, and uses microdosing cartridge tech that saves back-of-house space and reduces crew burden. The conversation covers rapid promotion rollouts, custom flavors, “dirty soda” execution, an AI-driven Share a Coke Freestyle activation, and how partners use geographic and brand performance insights to merchandise and promote effectively. Popcorn GTM: https://popcorngtm.com Coca-Cola Freestyle: https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/freestyle 00:00 Freestyle As Tech Platform 02:05 Inside The Machine Data 03:12 APIs And Stack Integrations 04:29 Selling More Beverages 06:16 Microdosing And Ops Wins 07:52 Using Data For Personalization 10:22 Custom Flavors Fast 12:44 Loyalty And Exclusive Drinks 14:52 Dirty Soda And Off Menu 17:18 AI Powered Drink Creation 19:46 Unlimited Platform Future 20:30 Operator Visibility Insights 21:50 Turning Data Into Action 23:40 Lightning Round Deep Cuts 24:59 Surprising Scale Stats 25:24 Cherry Coke Always Wins 26:07 Who Nails The Experience 28:49 Overhyped Tech Trends 30:55 Wrap Up And Where To Connect #RestaurantTech #CocaColaFreestyle #modernsolutions Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory