Ignorant morons anger at Coca-Cola deal to place vending machines in Venice

The multinational has been granted special access to the city in exchange for a much-needed injection of money into municipal funds.

Visitors will be allowed to buy canned drinks, snacks and sandwiches from the machines despite local bylaws banning people from eating in the open in the area of St Mark's Square.

Bar owners and food vendors are particularly irate at what they claim is tacky and unfair competition.

Maurizio Franceschi, the secretary of the regional retailers association, said: "It's not just business people who experience this as competition, but the citizens of Venice who see the presence of international brands such as McDonalds as a violence against the city.

"I see this as having a major impact and I don't see it in a very positive light."

The mayor of Venice Massimo Cacciari has been forced to defend the controversial sponsorship deal: "I'm astonished at the polemics that are erupting over a partnership project between the city council and one of the biggest and most prestigious brands in the world."

The mayor recently revealed that the city has run out of money for its regular maintenance programme and many of its historic churches risk falling into disrepair.

He said the Coca-Cola deal was no different to similar sponsorship pacts with companies such as Lancia, Swatch and Bulgari, which had provided money for restoration projects in exchange for promotional opportunities, he said.

"This financial strategy is indispensable for the preservation of our monumental and artistic heritage and is exactly in line with the recommendations of the Culture Ministry," he said.

Critics should have the decency to suggest alternatives or cough up the money themselves, Mr Cacciari added.

The mayor's assistant, Maurizio Calligaro, said there was no question of the vending machines tarnishing the city's image.

He said they would not bear the famous Coca-Cola label and would be placed discreetly on the main ferry piers, in the car-park and in outlying areas of the city.

In return for its money, Coca-Cola will also be allowed to use two historic buildings for two company dinners a year and will have privileged hospitality rights at the annual Historic Regata.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/4787836/Anger-at-Coca-Cola-deal-to-place-vending-machines-in-Venice.html

Ignorant morons anger at Coca-Cola deal to place vending machines in Venice

Ignorant morons anger at Coca-Cola deal to place vending machines in Venice

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