| On This Day in History |
| Coca-Cola Changed Its Recipe. |
|
| image source: via Vox |
| On April 23, 1985, The Coca-Cola Company announced that the formula used to make the beloved soda would be changed for the first time in 99 years. Coca-Cola had been facing increasing competition from Pepsi and leadership hoped to reinvigorate the brand by updating the recipe. In the company’s blind taste tests, consumers reportedly preferred the reformulated, sweeter recipe, which was dubbed New Coke. However, when New Coke hit the market, consumers hated it. In fact, it was widely considered one of the worst marketing flops of the 20th century. Consumers were so outraged by the change that the company was flooded with roughly 8,000 calls a day! Coca-Cola also received tens of thousands of letters from angry consumers, one of which addressed then-CEO Roberto Goizueta as “Chief Dodo, The Coca-Cola Company.” Less than three months after the launch of New Coke, the company brought back the original formula. The beloved Coca-Cola recipe made its official return to store shelves on July 11, 1985 under the name Coca-Cola Classic and it remains a fan favorite today. |
|
Recent Comments