Coca Cola Discontinues New Drink Line Just 7 Months After Launch

Soft drink giant Coca Cola has suddenly announced it is stopping production of its latest flavored drink without giving a reason.

Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero drinks were "discontinued" just seven months after their launch - Photo: CNN

According to AP News Agency, on September 25, the Group Coca-Cola has suddenly announced that it will discontinue the Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero Sugar soft drinks, despite planning to make them a long-term business product instead of just a short-term sale, just seven months after launching them on the market.

The beverage giant said the two product lines will be phased out and replaced with a new flavor launching next year.

“We always listen to what consumers love and adapt our products,” the company said in a statement.

It is known that these two product lines was launched in the US and Canadian markets in February this year.

At the time, the company said it planned to sell the product line for three years in North America, rather than just for a short period like previous product lines.

Coca Cola did not explain in detail the reason for discontinuing production, but many people believe that the failure of this drink line may come from its name.

Coca-Cola Spiced doesn't have much spice and has a mostly raspberry flavor.

In addition, many people are also skeptical that the development of this flavor of Coca Cola has happened too quickly.

In February this year, the company's North America marketing director, Shakir Moin, said Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero Sugar were developed in just seven weeks.

While it normally takes the group about a year to develop a new beverage.

“Consumers and market “Everything is changing rapidly. We have to change faster than this,” Mr. Moin affirmed.

The beverage giant has long sought to appeal to younger demographics to get them more interested in its traditional soft drinks.

In 2022, the company launched Coca-Cola Creations, a limited-edition line of eight flavors with eye-catching packaging. Flavors like coconut, strawberry, watermelon, and more were added to the traditional carbonated soft drink.

Last month, the company introduced its latest limited edition Oreo flavor with special black-and-white packaging.

In addition, Coca Cola also shows its ambition to diversify its beverage portfolio by investing heavily in alcoholic beverages. The group's first alcoholic beverage product in the US, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, was launched in 2021.

Earlier this month, Coca-Cola and privately held liquor company Bacardi Limited announced a deal to launch a line of ready-to-drink rum and soft drink cocktails in Europe and Mexico next year.

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