Coca-Cola’s Spiced Soda Fizzles Out After Just Six Months

Coca-Cola’s attempt to woo younger drinkers with a new “Spiced” flavor has ended in a fizzled-out disappointment. Just six months after its launch, the company announced it will be discontinuing production of the raspberry-infused soda, marking another failed attempt to capture the coveted Gen-Z market, CNN reports.

While Coca-Cola claims they are “always looking at what our customers like and adjusting,” the company has remained silent on the specific reason for Spiced’s demise. However, experts suggest a lack of awareness and confusion around the flavor, which was not actually spicy, likely contributed to poor sales.

Coca-Cola had initially positioned Spiced as a permanent addition to its lineup, touting its research that indicated a consumer appetite for spiced beverages. The company even highlighted raspberry’s popularity on its Freestyle drink machines as a key source of inspiration.

Despite these initial hopes, Spiced may have become lost in a sea of other limited-time offerings from Coca-Cola, including Oreo-flavored soda, “Dreamworld,” “Starlight,” and “Byte” flavored Coca-Cola, as well as the DJ Marshmello collaboration.

While Coca-Cola doesn’t disclose individual flavor sales, the company’s recent earnings call failed to mention Spiced, suggesting its impact was minimal. Additionally, North American volumes for Coca-Cola slumped by 1% in the second quarter, indicating a potential broader consumer shift away from sugary sodas.

Spiced’s failure is not an isolated case. Coca-Cola has been trimming its beverage portfolio for the past four years, discontinuing over 200 drinks, including Tab, AHA Sparkling Water, and Odwalla, in response to changing consumer preferences.

The company is now focusing on growing its Topo Chico water line and expanding its BodyArmor brand, catering to the growing demand for healthier, more flavorful beverages.