US – The Coca-Cola Company has announced plans to discontinue its Coca-Cola Spiced line of drinks, just six months after its launch.
In a recent statement, the global beverage giant confirmed that it would phase out Coca-Cola Spiced in preparation for the introduction of a new flavor in 2025.
Coca-Cola Spiced, which debuted in the US and Canada in March, was available in both full-sugar and zero-sugar variants.
The drink featured a unique blend of raspberry and spice flavors and was sold in various formats, including 500ml bottles, 355ml 12-packs, and a 222ml six-pack “mini” format for the full-sugar version.
The decision to discontinue the product comes as part of Coca-Cola’s ongoing efforts to respond to consumer preferences and optimize its product range.
A company spokesperson noted, “We are always looking at what our consumers like and adjusting our range of products.”
At the time of its launch, Coca-Cola Spiced was introduced as a permanent addition to the Coca-Cola portfolio in North America. It was the first new product under the Coca-Cola Trademark to be released in the region in over three years.
This comes after the Fanta producer signed a deal with Bacardi Limited to launch a ready-to-drink (RTD) pre-mixed cocktail featuring BACARDÍ rum and Coca-Cola.
The new drink, Bacardi Mixed with Coca-Cola, is set to debut in Mexico and select European Union markets in 2025.
The companies revealed that the global benchmark for the drink’s alcohol by volume (abv) is 5%, although the exact abv will vary by market.
In the six months to the end of 28 June, the business saw a 3 percent rise in net revenues and a 13 percent increase in organic revenues. Unit case volumes were up 2 percent.
The company upped its guidance for several financial metrics following its half-year performance. It now expects its annual organic revenue to increase by 9-10 percent year on year, versus the previous 8-9 percent forecast.
It is also now predicting its comparable, currency-neutral earnings per share, to rise by 13-15 percent, compared to 11-13 percent in its earlier expectations.
Recently, Coca-Cola HBC unveiled plans to invest US$1 billion in Nigeria over the next five years as part of its ongoing expansion efforts in the country.
Over the last decade, Coca-Cola HBC has invested US$1.5 billion in Nigeria through its local arm, Nigerian Bottling Company.
With this new investment plan, the company aims to more than double its investment rate, strengthening its position in the Nigerian market.
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