Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted April 2, 2002 Topics seem to be a bit limited in this place, so I figure I'd throw this out... http://news.ft.com/ft....K5HZ8CC Coca-Cola in secret plans for vanilla-flavoured drink Coca-Cola, the US soft drinks company, is secretly working on plans to launch a vanilla-flavoured version of its flagship Coke drink. If the project goes ahead, the new drink - probably named Vanilla Coke - will be the biggest launch of a new Coca-Cola product since the disastrous introduction of New Coke 16 years ago. Coca-Cola would not confirm or deny it was considering the launch, saying only that "we've always got a number of things in development". But the latest edition of Beverage Digest, a respected industry newsletter, will reach subscribers this week quoting one US bottler as saying: "It's over 90 per cent [certain], and it's a great idea." John Sicher, Beverage Digest's publisher, said numerous people in the Coca-Cola system had led him to believe there was "a strong chance" the company would launch a vanilla-flavoured cola in the US "within the next few months". He said the plan was "well beyond the idea stage" and some people had seen working versions of the label. Bottlers he had spoken to were "very enthusiastic" about the project. Coke is the world's most valuable brand and the Coca-Cola company has traditionally been extremely cautious about extending it to other drinks or products for fear of diluting it. Although the company introduced a lemon-flavoured version of its Diet Coke last year, the only flavoured version of standard Coke it has ever made is Cherry Coke, launched in March 1985. However, cola drinks are losing market share to other soft drinks in the US, putting manufacturers under pressure to reinvigorate sales with new products. Last year, according to Beverage Digest, Coke's volume declined 2 per cent in the US in spite of a big increase in advertising. PepsiCo, maker of Pepsi-Cola, is also feeling the pressure. Pepsi's volume fell 2.8 per cent in the US last year, and the company last summer introduced Pepsi Twist, a lemon-flavoured variant of its flagship drink. Vanilla Coke already has a popular following in the US. People make it by adding a shot of vanilla syrup - the sort used for flavouring coffee and pouring over desserts - to a glass of ordinary Coke. It is widely sold in cafes, diners and restaurants, along with other locally flavoured variations of standard Coke such as raspberry, lemon and chocolate. Coca-Cola's last big launch of a cola product was in April 1985, when the company changed the 99-year-old formula of traditional Coca-Cola and replaced the drink with New Coke. The move caused a national outcry in the US, where it was seen as akin to replacing the Stars and Stripes with a new, improved version. Coca-Cola was eventually forced to bring back the old formula but ended up with an increased market share. Douglas Daft, who became Coca-Cola's chairman and chief executive two years ago, is under intense pressure to revitalise the company's flagging growth by improving marketing and introducing new products. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted April 2, 2002 While this is quite likely an April Fools prank, Vanilla cola DOES taste pretty good. Jones Soda makes it, but I don't think any of the major companies will. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shaved Bear Report post Posted April 2, 2002 how is vanilla soda different from creme soda? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted April 2, 2002 If they can make that lemon-flavored sh*t, they can make this... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Blackston Report post Posted April 2, 2002 I suppose that it could be an April Fools' joke, but I am sort of doubting it. For one, the article was published on the evening of March 31, and the site appears to be fairly professional. I also thoroughly enjoy Coke mixed with a shot of vanilla, and would definately give it a try if it actually comes out. I also think that Cherry Coke is the best tasting cola drink on the market, so I may be somewhat weird. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest hardyz1 Report post Posted April 2, 2002 I think it will be good. Therefore it will fail. Because this is America, where shit succeeds and quality stuff fails. Most of the time, anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Man in Blak Report post Posted April 3, 2002 Well, I know that I like Vanilla Coke whenever I get it from a fountain drink place (Sonic)...which means that the formula that Coke will make for it when they mass produced it will inevitably suck. I'd still give it a try, though, probably out of pity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted April 4, 2002 I never really enjoyed Coke period much less Vanilla Coke but Ido enjoy Cherry Coke. I don't think it will be a Failure, but pretty much the "Success" that Cherry Coke has...Never took the world by storm but was not as Horrible as NEW COKE or Crystal Pepsi...and do they even make PepsiOne anymore? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 5, 2002 Better be better than that fucking Diet Coke Lemon shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shaved Bear Report post Posted April 5, 2002 what about that cherry pepsi, that was pretty bad too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 9, 2002 The New York Post actually got a hold of a 1 liter bottle of it some how, sampled it, and had like a full page with the results. They had the food and resaturant critics and one high school girl sample it. Everyone hated it and the best score it got was a two out of five from this one guy. They said it had an after taste of vanilla that tasted very fake and one guy said it was like drinking coke poured over vanilla wafers. They also dissed the bottle which is little fatter and thicker than the regular 1 liter Quick Slam Bottles for coke. I think they were called quick slams right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye Report post Posted April 10, 2002 One of the greatest 'home mixture' for colas is vanilla...i read about this like 2 weeks ago in the Calgary Sun...it will fail...its too personall....meaning that the mixture one prefers would certainly be different from that of someone else... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Will Scarlet Report post Posted April 11, 2002 I think it will fail. I remember trying vanilla cola once before, and it was okay, but nothing I would particularly buy again. I vaguely remember it tasting almost exactly like regular cola, and not really noticing the vanilla that much. Ah well. I will try it though. It cannot be any worse than Pepsi Twist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest areacode212 Report post Posted April 11, 2002 Well now, this sounds interesting. Not the fact that Coke is producing a "Vanilla Coke", but the fact that so many people seem to have already tasted some kind of home-made version. So what are the ingredients to this? Just a glass of Coke and a teaspoon of vanilla extract, or what? I'll try to make some and see how it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
