New Coke

What were they thinking? Most popular beverage in the world, let's change it. How many heads rolled on this great idea?
What did you think of it?

 
It was acknowledged to be one of the worst business decisions of all time. 
 
 
Glenn
 
 

The version I read was that it was in reaction to their continually losing to Pepsi in the "Pepsi Challenge."  They were too dumb to realize that a majority of tasters might pick the sweeter drink when given just a taste of each, but did not prefer the sweeter beverage for a whole serving.
 
Probably that and management wanting to be viewed as "biased toward action," or "change agents," or "proactive instead of reactive," or whatever the stupid management buzz word was at the time.

It was a terrible decision for them. It tasted nothing like the classic Coke we were all used to. It lacked flavour and depth. More like brown soda water than anything else. It cost them dearly. One of the first things we did after they changed it and we tasted it, was to scour the area for old Coke and buy up a multitude of cases. I think we had over 20 cases at one point. Thankfully, we moved overseas shortly after that and were able to get real Coke again.

I liked Coke II, but I'm a Pepsi/Royal Crown guy. I was never a fan of original Coca Cola.

I think they should've sold both side by side. The original for the diehards, the new one to try to sway Pepsi drinkers. Especially now considering how many other varieties they make now.

I don't get these "job Justifiers" at these major food companies.
a Supermarket only has xxx sq ft. 63 flavors of potato chips, 10 flavors of Pringles. 22 types of Kraft Mac & Cheese????? 

I remember this well. 
 
The Coca Cola Corporation of America went about this very "scientifically":  the "New Coke" evidently won every single blind taste test v. Coke & Pepsi.
 
In so doing they grossly disrespected the most powerful BRAND ever created by the mind of man.
 
That was an effort commonsense should have dictate never to have been attempted. 
 
Is anyone interested in my new design for the female genitalia?
 
 

I disagree, IMO, it was the smartest marketing ploy ever done. It created a groundswell for coke that even reached congress, publicity money can't buy,and while it was off the market, they switched from sugar to corn syrup thus giving them enough time for people to forget what coke tasted like with sugar. It also changed from 120 calories per 12 oz to 140 calories.

Foodbme


I don't get these "job Justifiers" at these major food companies.
a Supermarket only has xxx sq ft. 63 flavors of potato chips, 10 flavors of Pringles. 22 types of Kraft Mac & Cheese????? 

It is very simple.  If Kraft can convince you (as Supermarket Owner/Buyer/Manager) that their Mac & Cheese is essential to handle in all of its forms (because of the national advertising and promotions they will be doing), you won't have space left to handle any of the cheaper and private-label brands (or at least not more than one facing, which Kraft hopes will get lost with all of the facings of theirs.)
 
I worked 37 years in a supermarket, from 1962 to 2000, (long before Kraft had thought of 22 types of mac & cheese) and even then the Kraft salesman would use every excuse in the book to get more facings on their products at the expense of other brands.

I always prefer Pepsi to Coke. Pepsi just tastes "crisper" to me.

Is this a 30 year old thread? You all must be really bored. 

On a different note, I have totally fallen in love with Coke Zero........same great taste...with no "artificial sweetner taste"  Same for Sprite Zero.  They got it right on that.  Only diet drink I can stand.