New Coke
New Coke was the unofficial name of a reformulation of the soft drink Coca-Cola, introduced by the Coca-Cola Company in April 1985. It was renamed Coke II in 1990 and was discontinued in July 2002.
By 1985, Coca-Cola had been losing market share to diet soft drinks and non-cola beverages for several years. Blind taste tests suggested that consumers preferred the sweeter taste of Pepsi, Coca-Cola's main competitor, so the Coca-Cola recipe was reformulated. The American public reacted negatively, and New Coke was considered a major failure.
Within three months, the Coca-Cola Company reintroduced the original formula, rebranding it "Coca-Cola Classic", resulting in a significant sales boost. This led to speculation that the New Coke formula had been just a ploy to stimulate sales of the original Coca-Cola, which the company has always vehemently denied. New Coke remains influential as a cautionary tale against tampering with an established and successful brand.
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