Need quick rundown of the latest marketing and advertising news? We’ve got you covered. Catch up on the hottest topics today in our Weekly Must Reads.

Michelob Ultra to Sponsor More Women’s Sports

In honor of Women’s Equality Day last week, Michelob Ultra announced a new pledge to invest at least $100 million in sponsorships with female athletes by 2025. As part of the pledge, the brand also promised that all their advertising efforts, including their “Team Ultra” of influencers, will have equal representation of men and women. Michelob Ultra’s announcement came alongside a new campaign, “Save It, See It,” which features multiple female athletes and encourages consumers to follow more women on social media. 

This initiative is a significant step forward in Michelob Ultra’s support for gender equality, which has ramped up in the last two years. They’ve added notable celebrities, such as Serena Williams and Alex Morgan, to Team Ultra, and recently became the official beer sponsor of the WNBA. Learn more about the beer brand’s efforts here: https://adage.com/article/marketing-news-strategy/michelob-ultra-commits-100-million-womens-sports/2361086

Coca-Cola Partners with Lime to Support Recycling

Coca-Cola has been in the news a lot recently for its new Coke Zero Sugar drink, but now the brand is making an impact in a new way. Coke is rolling out new Sip Sized bottles, which are made from 100 percent recycled materials. To introduce these bottles, Coke has partnered with the electric scooter brand Lime to offer free rides to anyone who purchases and recycles a Sip Sized drink. To earn the free 10-minute ride coupon, customers must complete a pledge to recycle the bottle at cokeplaytowin.com/endlesslyrefreshing, and will then receive a Lime promo code in their email.

In addition to the Sip Sized bottles, Coca-Cola also plans to transition some of its other products to 100 percent recycled materials as well. This initiative will help reduce the brand’s use of new plastic by 20 percent compared to 2018. You can discover more about Coca-Cola and Lime’s partnership here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210825005052/en/Coca-Cola%C2%AE-Encourages-Recycling-by-Offering-Free-Rides-through-Lime-Partnership

The Newest Chicken Sandwich…Taco?

The newest fast food chicken sandwich isn’t a sandwich at all. It comes from Taco Bell, so of course, it’s a chicken sandwich taco – or is it? The new menu item was tested in Nashville and Charlotte earlier this year, and thanks to a positive audience response, will now be introduced nationwide later this week. As part of the rollout campaign, Taco Bell is asking fans an important question: is this delicious food really a taco, or in fact a sandwich? To help answer the question, the brand enlisted debate teams from Clemson University and the University of Georgia, and the two groups will argue the issue head-to-head during the football game between their schools on Saturday.

As a special perk for their loyal followers, Taco Bell is offering early access to its Crispy Chicken Sandwich/Taco for rewards members only. Members can order the item through the Taco Bell app during Happier Hour this week ahead of the official release for a sneak taste. Find out more details about this new campaign here: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/taco-bell-crispy-chicken-sandwich-taco-nationwide-debut

TikTok to Bring In-App Shopping with Shopify

Brace yourself, Instagram – in-app shopping is coming to TikTok. The social media platform and Shopify recently announced a new partnership that will bring shopping features inside the app. Under the new deal, Shopify merchants who have a TikTok for Business account can create a shopping tab on their profile and add products photos, prices, and direct links to purchase the items on their website. The feature is currently being piloted for users in the US and UK, with an expansion coming for other markets in the coming months.

Twitter is currently piloting a similar shopping feature in their app, and other platforms, such as Snapchat and Pinterest, have been experimenting with new virtual shopping experiences to help drive purchases for brands. Get caught up on TikTok’s exciting new venture here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/tiktok-partners-with-shopify-to-pilot-in-app-shopping/605581/