Coke to phase out Vanilla Coke in U.S - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 11-04-2005, 06:53 PM

If you're a huge fan of Vanilla Coke®, you're in for a shock.

Coke to phase out Vanilla Coke in U.S

By Anupama Chandrasekaran

1 hour, 54 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co., the world's largest soft drink maker, said on Friday it would phase out its Vanilla Coke, Vanilla Diet Coke and Diet Coke With Lemon beverages in the United States by end of this year.

Coca-Cola shares were down 1.1 percent in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The announcement came a day after Coca-Cola said it would phase out Vanilla Coke and Vanilla Diet Coke in the United Kingdom early next year. The company said sales have declined.

Coca-Cola added that it plans to introduce Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke in the United States in January 2006.

The company said Vanilla Coke, which was introduced in the United States in 2002 and Diet Vanilla Coke in 2003, could return sometime in the future. Details about whether Diet Coke With Lemon, which made its U.S. entry in 2001, would be brought back were not available.

"I don't know if we have ever taken out a flavor and brought it back to the market, but the landscape continues to change and we want to be as flexible as possible to adapt to the changing landscape," said Scott Williamson, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola.

The phase out follows declining sales for the brands in the United States. Vanilla Coke sales slipped to 35 million unit cases in 2004 from 90 million unit cases in 2002, while Vanilla Diet Coke sales dropped to 13 million unit cases last year from 23 million unit cases in 2003, according to Beverage Marketing, a beverage research and consulting firm.

Sales of Diet Coke with Lemon have fallen to 9.9 million unit cases in 2004 from 24 million unit cases in 2001, data showed.

Analysts have said that one of the keys to the company's future is to innovate new products that will help Coca-Cola capture more consumers who have moved away from sugary soft drinks to diet versions, or to healthier low-or no-calorie beverages such as water and orange juices with reduced sugar.

Both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Inc., the No. 2 soft drink company, are battling for the allegiance of increasingly picky U.S. consumers. The United States is the largest market for the soft-drink companies.

"It is a rapidly changing beverage landscape and it is important for Coke to move quickly to deliver on what the consumer wants," said Gary Hemphill, managing director of Beverage Marketing. "The competition for shelf space is intense."

Shares of Dow Component Coca-Cola were down 44 cents at $42.15 on the NYSE.

Yahoo! News/Reuters-November 4, 2005

Number 9 Dream · 11-04-2005, 07:31 PM

OMG, noooo...I love the lemon and lime Diet Cokes!

Brent88 · 11-04-2005, 08:50 PM

Vanilla coke=

Don't mess with it.

I'm not a big fan of coke anymore though, I much prefer really sweet tea.

dawsongirl · 11-04-2005, 09:47 PM

I always liked Vanilla Pepsi better anyway. Vanilla Coke had too much of a vanilla aftertaste.

gilligan fanatic · 11-04-2005, 09:48 PM

I hate vanilla coke, but I do like the lemon. That is to bad. At least they won't get of regular diet, my favorite.

Ireneparalegal · 11-04-2005, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I always liked Vanilla Pepsi better anyway. Vanilla Coke had too much of a vanilla aftertaste.

I agree...tasted like medicine after...BUT save the cans...COLLECTOR'S ITEMS. I remember when the NEW COKE came out...what a big flop that was.

swedeace · 11-04-2005, 09:51 PM

Well, if that's the case, then I will purchase some Vanilla Coke and enjoy it while I can before they stop manufacturing it.

Steve M. · 11-04-2005, 10:30 PM

No more Vanilla Coke?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ewan's My Man · 11-04-2005, 10:35 PM

Diet Coke with lemon tasted like Trix cereal...

Karen* · 11-05-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I always liked Vanilla Pepsi better anyway. Vanilla Coke had too much of a vanilla aftertaste.

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 11-05-2005, 09:07 PM

I only like the regular Coke myself. I didn't even try the other flavors. (I hate change lol) but I would crawl into a hole if they ever got rid of Coca Cola!

swedeace · 11-05-2005, 09:21 PM

Because of this thread, I decided to purchase a 12 pack of Vanilla Coke to savor it before it runs out.

PZelda · 11-05-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve M.

No more Vanilla Coke?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Add one teaspoon of vanilla extract to a can of regular Coke...I did this all the time in 2001 and 2002 before Vanilla Coke came out. It actually tastes very good, if not better than the current Vanilla Coke.

Of course, I don't drink soda anymore...So, I really don't care.

Courtnee · 11-05-2005, 10:52 PM

did they ever make a diet vanllia coke?

ABlairican Pie · 11-05-2005, 10:59 PM

Damn. I really like Vanilla Coke.

11-04-2005, 06:53 PM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	Coke to phase out Vanilla Coke in U.S If you're a huge fan of Vanilla Coke®, you're in for a shock. Coke to phase out Vanilla Coke in U.S By Anupama Chandrasekaran 1 hour, 54 minutes ago NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co., the world's largest soft drink maker, said on Friday it would phase out its Vanilla Coke, Vanilla Diet Coke and Diet Coke With Lemon beverages in the United States by end of this year. Coca-Cola shares were down 1.1 percent in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The announcement came a day after Coca-Cola said it would phase out Vanilla Coke and Vanilla Diet Coke in the United Kingdom early next year. The company said sales have declined. Coca-Cola added that it plans to introduce Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke in the United States in January 2006. The company said Vanilla Coke, which was introduced in the United States in 2002 and Diet Vanilla Coke in 2003, could return sometime in the future. Details about whether Diet Coke With Lemon, which made its U.S. entry in 2001, would be brought back were not available. "I don't know if we have ever taken out a flavor and brought it back to the market, but the landscape continues to change and we want to be as flexible as possible to adapt to the changing landscape," said Scott Williamson, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola. The phase out follows declining sales for the brands in the United States. Vanilla Coke sales slipped to 35 million unit cases in 2004 from 90 million unit cases in 2002, while Vanilla Diet Coke sales dropped to 13 million unit cases last year from 23 million unit cases in 2003, according to Beverage Marketing, a beverage research and consulting firm. Sales of Diet Coke with Lemon have fallen to 9.9 million unit cases in 2004 from 24 million unit cases in 2001, data showed. Analysts have said that one of the keys to the company's future is to innovate new products that will help Coca-Cola capture more consumers who have moved away from sugary soft drinks to diet versions, or to healthier low-or no-calorie beverages such as water and orange juices with reduced sugar. Both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Inc., the No. 2 soft drink company, are battling for the allegiance of increasingly picky U.S. consumers. The United States is the largest market for the soft-drink companies. "It is a rapidly changing beverage landscape and it is important for Coke to move quickly to deliver on what the consumer wants," said Gary Hemphill, managing director of Beverage Marketing. "The competition for shelf space is intense." Shares of Dow Component Coca-Cola were down 44 cents at $42.15 on the NYSE. Yahoo! News/Reuters-November 4, 2005
	__________________ HBO Documentary: Left of the Dial: Grade: B+ "Morals aren't supposed to stop because it's politically inconvenient to continue them." Keith Olbermann - *Countdown with Keith Olbermann* April 22, 2009 (MSNBC) UPCOMING DVD RELEASES June 16, 2009: The Three Stooges Collection: Volume 6 Star Trek coming to KDOC-TV Monday May 4 @ 9:00pm Farewell KNX/CBS Columbia Square (April 30, 1938-August 12, 2005). Thanks for 67 great years of information and entertainment. My DVD Collection

11-04-2005, 07:31 PM	#2
Number 9 Dream That '70s Girl Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,875	OMG, noooo...I love the lemon and lime Diet Cokes!
	__________________ Live a little be a gypsy get around http://www.librarything.com/profile/skelterhelter http://retrogirl82.dvdaf.com/owned formerly Retrogirl82

11-04-2005, 08:50 PM	#3
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Vanilla coke= Don't mess with it. I'm not a big fan of coke anymore though, I much prefer really sweet tea.
	__________________ Brent

11-04-2005, 09:48 PM	#5
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	I hate vanilla coke, but I do like the lemon. That is to bad. At least they won't get of regular diet, my favorite.
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

11-04-2005, 10:30 PM	#8
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	No more Vanilla Coke? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
	__________________ I don't really get out a lot. When I do go out, I couldn't be happier. I love being in a nice milieu. I'm as happy as a clam. Just as long as I'm not in some club playing hip-hop. You hear that sort of thing in a lot of places. That's not my milieu. Rock and roll is good-time music. I love rock. So did my parents.

11-04-2005, 09:47 PM	#4
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	I always liked Vanilla Pepsi better anyway. Vanilla Coke had too much of a vanilla aftertaste.

11-04-2005, 09:51 PM	#7
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Well, if that's the case, then I will purchase some Vanilla Coke and enjoy it while I can before they stop manufacturing it.

11-04-2005, 10:35 PM	#9
Ewan's My Man I'll Cover You Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 29, 2001 Location: Beneath the opera house... Posts: 5,682	Diet Coke with lemon tasted like Trix cereal...
	__________________ Don't you ever wanna be somebody to envy Don't you wanna be footloose and free? Well, you could be the life of the party If you were more- Like me! All you have to do is jump over the moon Moo with me!

11-05-2005, 09:07 PM	#11
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195	I only like the regular Coke myself. I didn't even try the other flavors. (I hate change lol) but I would crawl into a hole if they ever got rid of Coca Cola!

11-05-2005, 09:21 PM	#12
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Because of this thread, I decided to purchase a 12 pack of Vanilla Coke to savor it before it runs out.

11-05-2005, 10:52 PM	#14
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	did they ever make a diet vanllia coke?
	__________________ Whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection A freckle on the nose of life's complexion The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye I gotta fly once, I gotta try once, Only can die once, right, sir? Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see, I gotta have my bite, sir. Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer" I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade

11-05-2005, 10:59 PM	#15
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Damn. I really like Vanilla Coke.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion