Tag: coke

Happy 25th Birthday Diet Coke!

Twenty five years ago today, Diet Coke was introduced to the world at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Just four years later, it became the #1 low-calorie sparkling beverage in the world, a title it continues to hold to this day.

I am definitely a fan of Diet Coke. I have been drinking mostly Coke Zero lately, but I enjoy a Diet Coke every now and then. It has a very distinct taste that I think is fairly divisive: either you like it or you don’t.

Diet Coke is about more than beverages however:

“Since its launch, Diet Coke has been synonymous with stylish sophistication,” said Katie Bayne, chief marketing officer, Coca-Cola North America. “Through the years, Diet Coke marketing and advertising has reflected and embraced pop culture, and the brand has become a global icon that embodies great cola taste with an undeniable sense of style.”

Ah yes, pop culture. Numerous celebrities have endorsed Diet Coke, and the drink itself has become something of a celebrity recently – along with its good friend Mentos, that is. Oh by the way, if you like the image I included in this post (and who doesn’t) then check out the video.

If you have some time to waste, check out the Wikipedia entry for Diet Coke. I had no idea there were so many sub-brands, for instance. Lots of interesting information.

I still haven’t seen Diet Coke Plus anywhere, but I’d like to give it a try. Hopefully it shows up in Edmonton soon. Oh and Cherry Coke Zero too.

Happy Birthday Diet Coke!

Read: Coca-Cola

Diet Coke Plus – Coming Spring 2007

Post ImageAs you may or may not know, I’m a pretty hardcore Coke addict (cola and brand). I like just about everything Coke-related, including Diet Coke. Most of my friends say they don’t like the taste, but I do! And starting next year there will be even more reasons to enjoy Diet Coke with a new addition to the product line:

Diet Coke Plus, as the drink is called, will be “the first nutrient-enhanced carbonated soda to be offered by a major brand” and will not replace the current Diet Coke, which is the best-selling sugar-free soda in the world.

By nutrient-enhanced, they mean fortified with vitamins and minerals. Assuming it tastes like normal Diet Coke, I’d give it a try!

Read: Slashfood

Coke Coffee

Post ImageI am the first person to admit that I am a brand whore. I know it, and I don’t really care. A brand I have a particular allegiance to is Coke. As a bit of a Coca Cola addict, I tend to love all things Coke. The whole New Coke fiasco? I prefer to believe it was brilliantly planned and executed, whether it was or not. I also love Starbucks, both coffee and brand. So when I heard that Coke was going to be testing the coffee beverage waters, I was a little excited and a little torn between the two. The news is actually a little old I guess, but here’s the story from Forbes:

It’s a small deal that could pack a big pop, or just a little fizz. Coca-Cola has quietly leased a 4,000-square-foot retail space in Toronto. While it’s just a storefront, it foreshadows what insiders say is the beverage giant’s dreams of dunking Starbucks in its own brew.

They have trademarked the name FarCoast for this hot beverage experiment, which launched in Toronto at the same time as Coca-Cola Blak, described as a “Coca-Cola Classic-based beverage that finishes with a rich essence of coffee.” Here’s an old press release on Blak that I was able to find. I seem to recall hearing about it, but it seems much further along now.

I’m going to be in Toronto in May, so I will definitely have to check this place out if its up and running.

Read: Forbes

Coca-Cola Zero

For all my fellow Coke addicts, a new no-calorie version is coming soon, called Coca-Cola Zero:

The drink will be sweetened partly with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Aspartame is a key ingredient in Diet Coke, but a spokesman for the Atlanta-based company said Coca-Cola Zero will have a unique taste.

The new drink will debut in the United States in June, and hopefully not too long after that in Canada. The can looks pretty sweet, I must say. Of course I want to try it, if for no other reason than because it’s a Coke product. But makes me wonder happened to Coke C2? Failure? Sure doesn’t seem relevant anymore.

Want to know what the coolest part about Coca-Cola Zero is? The marketing campaign is slick! According to the official site, the company will be auctioning off “a special Coca-Cola Zero sample pack” on eBay sometime in April, with all proceeds being donated to charity. Regardless of how neat that idea is, the press release makes me laugh:

The auction marks the first time The Coca-Cola Company has offered any new product on eBay prior to launching it nationally.

You don’t say! I don’t know ANYONE who has bought Coke on eBay, probably because it’s a dumb place to buy it. I can’t believe they had to point that out!

Read: MSNBC and Press Release