Coca-Cola is pulling its newest ‘permanent’ flavor from store shelves | CNN
Coca-Cola’s latest flavor experiment, Coca-Cola Spiced, is fizzling out just six months after its debut. Launched with a bold promise to win over younger consumers, the company’s decision to pull the plug on Spiced has left some scratching. Coca-Cola said the move is part of its strategy to adjust to customer preferences, hinting that a fresh, new flavor is coming in 2025. While the company didn’t give a detailed reason for Spiced’s early retirement, it likely had to do with low consumer awareness and confusion around the flavor. Despite the name, it wasn’t spicy but blended traditional Coke with raspberry notes.
Coca-Cola’s hopes for Spiced weren’t small. It was meant to be a permanent addition to the lineup, driven by trends showing younger consumers craving bold and complex flavors. The beverage giant has faced competition from rising brands like Olipop and Poppi, which offer innovative and health-conscious alternatives. To keep up, Coca-Cola has rolled out several limited-edition flavors in recent years, from the trippy “Dreamworld” and “Starlight” to its marshmallow-inspired DJ Marshmello collab. Spiced, however, seems to have gotten lost among the shuffle of these other quirky, short-lived drinks.
Interestingly, Spiced wasn’t a total shot in the dark. Coca-Cola’s research showed increased interest in spiced beverages, and raspberry was a popular flavor in its Freestyle machines, where millions of customers pick and mix drink flavors. But when Spiced hit store shelves, it didn’t click like Coca-Cola expected. Even with flashy ads, the flavor failed to stand out. Perhaps it was a victim of being overshadowed by other limited-time offers, or maybe it just didn’t pack the punch Gen Z was looking for.
As Coca-Cola adjusts its lineup, it’s also saying goodbye to other flavors like Cherry Vanilla and Diet Coke with Splenda, as part of a sweeping portfolio overhaul that has cut hundreds of drinks in recent years. This comes as the company faces a shift in consumer habits, with people leaning more towards sparkling waters and hydration drinks. In response, Coca-Cola is doubling down on its Topo Chico and BodyArmor brands, trying to keep up with the times while staying true to its roots………..
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Rising Dough
As brands like Coca-Cola chase evolving consumer tastes, how can businesses balance innovation with loyalty to their traditional products while still appealing to investors and shareholders who expect strong financial performance?
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