Latest news with #CoffeeMate
Indianapolis Star
08-05-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Fish oil, bacon, cat food: The items a now ex-MCSO deputy is accused of stealing
A Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) deputy was arrested for continuously shoplifting from an east-side Walmart while either in uniform or using an official vehicle. The deputy was observed multiple times on video not scanning items at self-checkouts and was detained after one incident. Timothy Beavo, 61, has been charged by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office with six counts of theft and three counts of official misconduct. Now an ex-deputy, the Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed with IndyStar that Beavo has been terminated, and a status of counsel hearing for his case is set for June 18, 2025. At 3:05 p.m., on March 30, a Cloverdale police officer was working off-duty employment in uniform at the Walmart, 10671 East Washington St., when an asset protection investigator alerted him about a man stealing in the store. The deputy, who was not in uniform at the time, had skipped certain items in his cart while using self-checkout. The officer and investigator watched the store's camera systems and saw that while scanning items, the deputy set off the system's AI theft detection, which paused the transaction. After a Walmart employee cleared the pause, the deputy finished a first transaction before starting another. He scanned one bottle of fish oil but didn't scan another one, placing both items into a Walmart bag. The supplements were recovered, totaling $14.54. Beavo was banned from all Walmart, Sam's Club, and Murphy Gas Station locations, but no charges were filed due to the low amount of the purchase. The next day, it was revealed through still photos, videos, and receipts that more items weren't scanned, including a package of light bulbs that cost $8.97. That's when an investigation was launched into past times Beavo had visited the store. The investigation uncovered several instances dating back to Feb. 13 when police say Beavo failed to scan several items, including Coffee Mate creamer, thick-cut bacon, cat food, Lays potato chips, cat food and greeting cards. In several of those store visits, he was in uniform and was using his department-issued vehicle. IMPD: Veteran IMPD officer resigns from department after being charged for shoplifting at Target During a taped interview of Beavo on April 1, the ex-deputy stated several times that he might have forgotten to scan items, but the register did not indicate anything was wrong; otherwise, he would have paid for the items on March 30. According to a probable cause affidavit for his arrest, he told law enforcement that he did not remember taking any other items before March 30 and did not recall a second transaction on March 30 where he's accused of failing to pay for some light bulbs. 'A community's loss of trust in a law enforcement officer must be dealt with administratively, and if necessary, criminally," Sheriff Kerry Forestal said in a statement to IndyStar. "MCSO voiced our strong support in charging Beavo with official misconduct in addition to theft, as he was in uniform three of the nine times he allegedly shoplifted." Beavo had been an employee since 2002. According to online records, Beavo's salary with the Marion County Sheriff's Office was $84,935 last year. He was placed on administrative leave and stripped of law enforcement powers while the sheriff's office investigated. Three days later, on April 2, 2025, Beavo's employment was terminated.
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
When Marketing Plans Meet Reality: Coffee Mate's "The White Lotus" Moment
Nestle's Coffee-mate and HBO's The White Lotus collaborated on special flavors. The season finale ... More had a major surprise in store for the brand. In the fast-paced world of marketing, even carefully planned campaigns can take unexpected turns. Coffee Mate's recent collaboration with HBO's The White Lotus shows how brands must be prepared to pivot when reality doesn't match the marketing plan. [Spoiler Alert - details of the final episode of The White Lotus Season 3 follow.] Coffee Mate had partnered with HBO to release two limited-edition creamers themed around the show's third season set in Thailand: Thai iced coffee and piña colada flavors. What the Nestlé-owned brand didn't know was that in the season finale, poisoned piña coladas would become a central plot point. A character nearly kills his family using the drink spiked with seeds from a poisonous tree. Coffee Mate marketers responded perfectly to the unexpected plot twist on Instagram So what happens when your branded piña colada creamer suddenly shares the spotlight with a murder plot involving poisoning the same tropical drink? 'Poison' is an association food brands usually try to avoid. When the episode aired, Coffee Mate's marketing team responded swiftly on Instagram with a simple yet perfect message: "Well this is awkward." That single post resonated with consumers and other brands alike precisely because it acknowledged the unexpected connection in an authentic way. This rapid response was possible because of Coffee Mate's approach to marketing. As Daniel Jhung, president of Nestlé USA's coffee and beverage division explained to the Wall Street Journal, they operate with "a virtual war room" during key events. They observe reactions in real time and respond quickly without requiring multiple approval layers. Anyone who's worked in marketing knows the frustration of waiting for approvals while a timely opportunity slips away. The Coffee Mate team's ability to react wouldn't have been possible without proper empowerment. As Jhung noted, "If they've got to go through five layers of approval, you're not going to be able to do these things in real time." Some marketers still operate with rigid approval structures, which can kill momentum and relevance. For Coffee Mate, these entertainment collaborations are more than just flavor extensions. They are intended to make the brand "be part of the zeitgeist and pop culture, and resonate with young consumers," according to Jhung. By aligning with buzzy properties like The White Lotus, the brand positions itself within conversations that traditional advertising can't penetrate. Of course, there are risks when plot lines are closely guarded secrets. Marketers face a delicate balance: When do you amplify a moment, and when do you let it naturally fade away? Coffee Mate is taking an organic approach to this unexpected attention. Jhung notes, "If the conversation naturally dies, then it'll die. But sometimes it brings new life because someone says something clever, or another brand says something else, and you can continue the dialogue." The Coffee Mate Instagram account responded to many comments on their original post but didn't add new piña colada or White Lotus content. This case offers a few valuable takeaways for marketing leaders: Whether this unexpected connection helped or hurt Coffee Mate's piña colada creamer sales remains to be seen, but the brand has already won by demonstrating marketing agility at its finest. The ability to pivot gracefully might just be the most valuable marketing skill we can develop.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Realize 'White Lotus' Creamer Contained a Season 3 Finale Easter Egg: 'Everyone Wash Your Blenders'
When Coffee Mate announced a special White Lotus creamer in January, many fans thought the flavor — piña colada — was simply a nod to the show's resort setting. But the tropical drink turned out to play a pivotal role in this week's finale. In the episode, which aired Sunday, April 6, Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) blends piña coladas with seeds from poisonous pong-pong tree fruit and gives out glasses to wife Victoria (Parker Posey), son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook). He tells youngest child Lochlan (Sam Nivola) to drink a Coke instead. However, Timothy has second thoughts once his family begins consuming the dangerous beverage and slaps it out of Saxon's hand, telling everyone the "coconut milk is off." The next morning, Lochlan makes a protein shake without washing out the poisonous seeds in the blender, subsequently vomits and becomes unconscious. Timothy rushes to revive Lochlan, who later wakes up. After watching season 3's dramatic conclusion, fans were quick to spot the connection between the deadly drink and the fruity creamer in their refrigerator. 'I got this back in February being like wow what a random flavor for the Thailand season,' wrote a TikTok user who goes by thepastylatina over footage zooming in on the product. 'Not Mike White making our coffee an Easter egg,' the accompanying video caption read, referring to the show's creator. 'And PSA everyone wash your blenders before re-using plz.' Commenters left playful replies, with one writing, 'Wow 10/10 marketing.' 'Girl, wash your blender, coffee mugs, spoons…NOW,' someone else wrote. Related: Death, Poison and Blackmail: Every Wild Moment from the The White Lotus Season 3 Finale Related: That Tree From The White Lotus Is Real — Could the Real-Life Poisonous Plant Actually Kill Someone? When Coffee Mate first revealed the White Lotus collection, which also includes a Thai Iced Coffee variety, the brand said both items would give 'majestic, five-star vacation vibes.' 'Nothing screams serenity quite like the sweet combination of coconut and tangy pineapple,' read a description of the piña colada flavor in the press release. The release also encouraged viewers to use the creamers, which were available at grocery stores nationwide for a limited time and cost $4.49 for a 28-oz. bottle, in their favorite soda to serve at Sunday night watch parties for the HBO the original article on People
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Coffee Mate on its piña colada creamer after 'White Lotus' finale: 'This is awkward'
Hear this story In January, Nestlé released a Coffee Mate Piña Colada Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer, inspired by the HBO series "The White Lotus." Piña coladas play a significant role in the Season 3 finale of "The White Lotus." The coffee creamer, in addition to a Thai iced coffee, which is also inspired by the show, is available on the Nestlé website and from retailers like Walmart and Target. Spoiler alert: This story contains details from "The White Lotus" Season 3 finale. "The coconut milk is off!" If you were one of the more than 6.2 million viewers who tuned in to "The White Lotus" Season 3 finale on Sunday night, piña coladas have a whole new meaning. And while brands are jumping on the hit series' bandwagon, one was ahead of the pack. In January, Nestlé released a Coffee Mate Piña Colada Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer in collaboration with HBO. The 28-ounce bottle bears "The White Lotus" logo, front and center, but the creamer was first promoted on Coffee Mate's socials on March 31, a little less than week before the season finale released. And according to the brand, it wasn't aware of the role piña coladas played in the finale when the creamer hit shelves. In the final episode of the third season of "The White Lotus", wealthy father Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) concocts a large batch of piña coladas for his beloved (and spoiled) family, laced with blended pong pong fruit seeds, which are highly poisonous. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "Well this is awkward," Coffee Mate said in a Tuesday Instagram post, promoting the coffee creamer. Other brands pile on: 'Have you ever heard of wine?' If social media is for anything, it's for brands to troll − make fun of − other brands, and no one is letting Coffee Mate down easy. "Piper nooooooo," Pringles commented on Coffee Mate's Instagram post, referencing Timothy's daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), who takes a sip of the fatal beverage. "Have you ever heard of wine?" California's Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens commented − a line that Timothy's wife Victoria (Parker Posey) asks her husband later in the night, after the family sips on his homemade drinks. In an entire Instagram post dedicated to the piña colada coffee creamer, online cooking magazine Delish shared a photo of the creamer with the on-photo caption, "Great for your protein shakes!" The comment is a nod to Timothy's son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) who makes protein shakes during the family's trip. It's with the blender Saxton uses to make his shakes that Timothy blends together the deadly piña coladas. Where can you buy Coffee Mate's 'White Lotus'-inspired creamer? A 28-ounce bottle of Coffee Mate's White Lotus piña colada coffee creamer is available on the Nestlé website and online from retailers like Walmart and Target. In addition to the creamer, Coffee Mate released a White Lotus non-diary Thai iced coffee, also made in collaboration with HBO. How long will the White Lotus coffee creamer, iced coffee be available? The White Lotus piña colada coffee creamer and Thai iced coffee will be available through summer, a Nestlé spokesperson told USA TODAY. How to watch 'The White Lotus' "The White Lotus" is available on HBO's streaming service, Max. The basic Max subscription with ads cost $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. The standard Max subscription without ads is $16.99 per month, or $169.99 per year. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Coffee Mate on its piña colada creamer after 'White Lotus' finale: 'This is awkward'
Coffee Mate on its piña colada creamer after 'White Lotus' finale: 'This is awkward' Show Caption Hide Caption 'The White Lotus' star reveals why her storyline can be triggering 'The White Lotus' star Michelle Monaghan talks to Ralphie Aversa about how the female friendship story line is so relatable and toxic. In January, Nestlé released a Coffee Mate Piña Colada Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer, inspired by the HBO series "The White Lotus." Piña coladas play a significant role in the Season 3 finale of "The White Lotus." The coffee creamer, in addition to a Thai iced coffee, which is also inspired by the show, is available on the Nestlé website and from retailers like Walmart and Target. Spoiler alert: This story contains details from "The White Lotus" Season 3 finale. "The coconut milk is off!" If you were one of the more than 6.2 million viewers who tuned in to "The White Lotus" Season 3 finale on Sunday night, piña coladas have a whole new meaning. And while brands are jumping on the hit series' bandwagon, one was ahead of the pack. In January, Nestlé released a Coffee Mate Piña Colada Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer in collaboration with HBO. The 28-ounce bottle bears "The White Lotus" logo, front and center, but the creamer was first promoted on Coffee Mate's socials on March 31, a little less than week before the season finale released. And according to the brand, it wasn't aware of the role piña coladas played in the finale when the creamer hit shelves. In the final episode of the third season of "The White Lotus", wealthy father Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) concocts a large batch of piña coladas for his beloved (and spoiled) family, laced with blended pong pong fruit seeds, which are highly poisonous. "Well this is awkward," Coffee Mate said in a Tuesday Instagram post, promoting the coffee creamer. More: I stayed at a real-life 'White Lotus' hotel for a weekend. It was nothing like I expected. Other brands pile on: 'Have you ever heard of wine?' If social media is for anything, it's for brands to troll − make fun of − other brands, and no one is letting Coffee Mate down easy. "Piper nooooooo," Pringles commented on Coffee Mate's Instagram post, referencing Timothy's daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), who takes a sip of the fatal beverage. "Have you ever heard of wine?" California's Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens commented − a line that Timothy's wife Victoria (Parker Posey) asks her husband later in the night, after the family sips on his homemade drinks. In an entire Instagram post dedicated to the piña colada coffee creamer, online cooking magazine Delish shared a photo of the creamer with the on-photo caption, "Great for your protein shakes!" The comment is a nod to Timothy's son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) who makes protein shakes during the family's trip. It's with the blender Saxton uses to make his shakes that Timothy blends together the deadly piña coladas. Where can you buy Coffee Mate's 'White Lotus'-inspired creamer? A 28-ounce bottle of Coffee Mate's White Lotus piña colada coffee creamer is available on the Nestlé website and online from retailers like Walmart and Target. In addition to the creamer, Coffee Mate released a White Lotus non-diary Thai iced coffee, also made in collaboration with HBO. How long will the White Lotus coffee creamer, iced coffee be available? The White Lotus piña colada coffee creamer and Thai iced coffee will be available through summer, a Nestlé spokesperson told USA TODAY. How to watch 'The White Lotus' "The White Lotus" is available on HBO's streaming service, Max. The basic Max subscription with ads cost $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. The standard Max subscription without ads is $16.99 per month, or $169.99 per year. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
