Kraft ‘appalled’ by Spokane bar’s drink name

Kraft Foods wants a Spokane bar to quit using its iconic Kool-Aid brand for a controversial drink name that protesters say trivializes rape.

The newly opened Daiquiri Factory at 121 N. Wall St. sells a drink called “Date Grape Koolaid.”

“We at Kraft are appalled,” Kraft spokeswoman Caroline Krajewski said after the issue hit the national press and swept across social media.

The company intends to take action on the use of its Kool-Aid trademark soon.

“Kool-Aid does not support or condone this drink, and finds its name to be highly insensitive to a serious issue. This blatant misuse of the Kool-Aid trademark is offensive to so many, including us,” she said in a written statement.

The Daiquiri Factory isn’t backing down to protesters who gathered outside the bar Saturday.

A post on its Facebook page Sunday said 10 gallons of the drink were served Saturday night.

Another post on Saturday said, “Come on In! We are having a Grape Time!!”

One protester carried a sign that said, “Warning: This bar thinks date rape is funny.”

A few hecklers appeared but moved away when a police officer arrived Saturday. An employee at the door said no one from the business was commenting.

An attempt to contact Alexander Dang, who is identified on the Daiquiri Factory website as its general manager, was unsuccessful.

The bar was closed Monday afternoon. Its telephone voice message said it would reopen Thursday.

The bar describes itself as “Spokane’s premier hits and hip hop night spot complete with multiple flavors of daiquiris.”

The night spot was previously occupied by Beignets, a restaurant that closed last year. News of the drink and controversy appeared Monday in the New York Daily News. Also carrying reports were USA Today, the Associated Press and numerous news websites.

MoveOn.org on its website identified a bar in Clarksville, Tenn., where the same drink name was being used and the bar was the target of a petition to stop using the drink name.