Coke Alternative Booms in West Bank Amid Palestinian Boycott
Palestinian backlash towards American brands has grown considerably in the last 15 months. Coca-Cola, for example, is no longer the refreshing go-to it once was in the West Bank. According to The Associated Press, an increasing number of residents are ditching the beverage’s bandwagon for a new brand named Chat Cola.
Chat Cola, with its red can and cursive brush-style logo resembling Coca-Cola, has surged in popularity. Restaurant waiters now suggest it as an alternative, and ordering a Coke might even earn you a “shame, shame” in Arabic. The boycott of American brands like Coca-Cola stems from U.S. support for Israel, with many Palestinians using their purchasing power as a form of protest.
Mad Asaad, who works at the bakery-cafe chain Croissant House in the city of Ramallah, said, “No one wants to be caught drinking Coke. Everyone drinks Chat now. It’s sending a message.”
Coca-Cola is just one of several American brands facing a boycott, with McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbucks also seeing declining sales. In Ramallah, two KFC locations have already shut down. The most striking change, however, is Chat Cola’s rapid rise—so much so that Coca-Cola cans are being pushed to the bottom shelf or removed entirely in many places.
Fahed Arar, general manager of Chat Cola, credits the boycott with the brand’s newfound popularity. “I’m proud to have created a product that matches that of a global company,” he told The Associated Press during an interview at its red-painted factory in the West Bank town of Salfit. In 2024, the West Bank’s “buy local” movement contributed to a 40% increase in sales for Chat Cola. The burgeoning beverage now fills supermarket fridges.
Salah Hussein, head of the Ramallah Chamber of Commerce, weighed in on the boycott, “It’s the first time we’ve ever seen a boycott to this extent. After Oct. 7, everything changed. And after Trump, everything will continue to change.” He added that Birzeit University, located near Ramallah, even canceled its Coke orders. Orders for Chat Cola have started to come in from nearby countries Lebanon and Yemen, and ironically, Europe and the US as well.
Chat Cola’s PR manager, Ahmad Hammad, has embraced the brand’s rising popularity by rebranding with a new “Palestinian taste” logo and merchandise featuring the national flag. To keep up with demand, Chat Cola is opening a second production facility in Jordan and has introduced new flavors, including blueberry, strawberry, and green apple.
Growing popularity notwithstanding, Chat Cola has a lot of hurdles to overcome as it moves ahead. Maintaining quality control, which has been an ongoing issue for Palestinian-made products, is just one of many. To learn more about Chat Cola’s inspiring rise in the West Bank, click here.
