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Message
40 Years Ago, New Coke replaced Coca Cola
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:08 am
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:08 am
And it was pandelorium.
"On this day in 1986, the Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke, a reformulated soft drink meant to replace its flagship beverage and boost sales at the expense of its rival Pepsi. Public outrage ensued, however, and even the company's own bottlers rebelled. Just 79 days later, old Coke—now called Coca-Cola Classic—went back on sale. New Coke was discontinued in 2002."
"On this day in 1986, the Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke, a reformulated soft drink meant to replace its flagship beverage and boost sales at the expense of its rival Pepsi. Public outrage ensued, however, and even the company's own bottlers rebelled. Just 79 days later, old Coke—now called Coca-Cola Classic—went back on sale. New Coke was discontinued in 2002."
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:12 am to The Quiet One
I was 12 when this happened and still remember the taste. It was like a bad Pepsi. Ii remember correctly, Coke sales were beinging cut into by Pepsi, so Coke decided to try to make Coke taste more like Pepsi.
But on the flip side when Coke reintroduced as Coke Classic, it was a huge seller.
But on the flip side when Coke reintroduced as Coke Classic, it was a huge seller.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:14 am to The Quiet One
Mexican Coke in a glass bottle is undisputed champ for colas
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:17 am to The Quiet One
My aunt drank coke all day every day. When they announced the "new" coke, she went from store to store buying as much of the original as she could find. She had a closet full of those old wooden cases filled with bottles of coke.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:18 am to The Quiet One
I’ll always believe this was one of the most purposeful and creative marketing plans ever. At the time Coke and Pepsi were neck and neck- - they took away Coke and made us fall in love with it all over again. Returned it as “Coke Classic” and eventually phased out the replacement to go back to just Coke.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:32 am to MorbidTheClown
quote:
My aunt drank coke all day every day.
So, how big was she, and did she have diabetes?
I had a pt's daughter tell me she drank 8, 20oz cokes a day, she was the shape of a giant beachball...
This post was edited on 4/23/26 at 7:33 am
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:34 am to The Quiet One
What a complete shitshow.
Everyone involved with the decision should have been fired
Everyone involved with the decision should have been fired
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:35 am to The Quiet One
quote:
pandelorium
This a new one for me, and I like it
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:41 am to Hangover Haven
quote:
So, how big was she, and did she have diabetes?
She was actually pretty thin. Drank coke all day, smoked Benson&Hedges all day and lived to be 80.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:46 am to udtiger
quote:
What a complete shitshow.
Everyone involved with the decision should have been fired
IMO, it was intentional. Pepsi was cutting into Coke's market share and the Coke product became stale. It needed to be reintroduced.
Genius marketing ploy if you think about it.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:46 am to MorbidTheClown
quote:
She was actually pretty thin. Drank coke all day, smoked Benson&Hedges all day and lived to be 80.
Good for her....
This gives me even more confidence in the "when you number is up, your number is up" theory.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:49 am to The Quiet One
quote:
New Coke was discontinued in 2002
that's about 16 years after I thought they phased it out.
I really don't remember ever seeing it again after the return to "classic"
Posted on 4/23/26 at 8:08 am to Split2874
quote:
I was 12 when this happened and still remember the taste. It was like a bad Pepsi. Ii remember correctly, Coke sales were beinging cut into by Pepsi, so Coke decided to try to make Coke taste more like Pepsi.
Pepsi is terrible idk why they thought that would’ve been a good idea. If ain’t broken don’t fix it.
This post was edited on 4/23/26 at 8:09 am
Posted on 4/23/26 at 8:09 am to HarryHoudini
It is a believable conspiracy theory that they did it on purpose
Sales were in a big slump so it was a reason to be in the headlines for weeks and make people remember why they loved the OG
Sales skyrocketed when they brought it back
Sales were in a big slump so it was a reason to be in the headlines for weeks and make people remember why they loved the OG
Sales skyrocketed when they brought it back
Posted on 4/23/26 at 8:11 am to dallastiger55
Yeah I just saw another post mentioning this. Didnt think of that but Def Makes sense.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 8:23 am to HarryHoudini
I’m pretty sure Diet Coke is based on new coke.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 8:29 am to Barrister
quote:
I’ll always believe this was one of the most purposeful and creative marketing plans ever. At the time Coke and Pepsi were neck and neck- - they took away Coke and made us fall in love with it all over again. Returned it as “Coke Classic” and eventually phased out the replacement to go back to just Coke.
I would probably agree with you, but the fact that they kept making New Coke until 2002 (which I absolutely do not remember) makes me believe it really was a mistake that they corrected quickly.
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