Don't know about James Esposito and his soda works but I can tell you a little about Koca Nola. It was supposed to be a direct competitor for Coke and was not colored with caramel like Coke but it was dark and fizzy like coke. It didn't keep its color well and frainchisers were complaining about it being an inferior product and would quit selling it. Other than that it must of been a good product because it was sold in alot of states.