New Coke

New Coke was the unofficial name of a reformulation of the soft drink <a href="/facts/Coca-Cola/wbnCJYb6">Coca-Cola</a>, introduced by <a href="/facts/The_Coca-Cola_Company/Bp12JHWb">the Coca-Cola Company</a> in April 1985. It was renamed Coke II in 1990, and discontinued in July 2002.
By 1985, Coca-Cola had been losing <a href="/facts/Market_share/kvXSlhlB">market share</a> to <a href="/facts/Diet_soft_drink/pHtE3hMo">diet soft drinks</a> and non-cola beverages for several years. <a href="/facts/Blind_taste_test/3tsD3hra">Blind taste tests</a> suggested that consumers preferred the sweeter taste of the competing product <a href="/facts/Pepsi-Cola/4ntWzEI9">Pepsi-Cola</a>, and so the Coca-Cola recipe was reformulated. The American public reacted negatively, and New Coke was considered a major failure.
The company reintroduced <a href="/facts/Coca-Cola_formula/rlYX4Va7">the original formula</a> within three months, rebranded "Coca-Cola Classic", resulting in a significant sales boost. This led to speculation that the New Coke formula had been a ploy to stimulate sales of the original Coca-Cola, which the company has vehemently denied. The story of New Coke remains influential as a <a href="/facts/Cautionary_tale/B49z56DK">cautionary tale</a> against tampering with an established successful brand.

New Coke open-in-new

New Coke