Taking into account the battle between New South Wales and Queensland in the middle of the year, Queensland coffee brand Merlo Coffee is changing up its colours to reflect the Queensland maroon.
During most of the year the blue colours of Merlo Coffee are supported by its locals, however when New South Wales and Queensland clash in the State of Origin the coffee company is admonished for its blue.
From May 26 to June 11 this year Merlo will create collector’s editions of its takeaway cups to support the state’s Rugby League team.
“Merlo Coffee has been blue for 22 years, blue is in our branding DNA, it’s how we are recognised and loved in a competitive world,” Dean Merlo, founder of the coffee company, said.
“But we’ve had enough. Every State of Origin season we have New South Wales supporters coming in, declaring Merlo a cockroach supporter, a true-blood blue, and it’s devastating to me, to our team and to everything Merlo stands for as a proud Queenslander.
“We have to stamp Maroon on Merlo to answer Billy Moore’s inspirational half time call in Game 1 State of Origin 1995, to stand as tall as the King at Suncorp Stadium and state our intentions – that we are a Queenslander!”
Along with the cups, Merlo staff will don Maroon shirts, and while not a difficult decision, Merlo said it took time to come into effect.
“We decided to turn maroon last year, but given production and logistics required, we had to bide our time, just as the mighty Maroons wait for their right time to show the Blues what State of Origin football is all about!” he said.
