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New Coke's Epic 80s Fail and 2019 Comeback
25 Oct
Summary
- New Coke launched in 1985 to compete with Pepsi.
- Public outcry led to the original Coke's return within months.
- New Coke briefly returned for a 'Stranger Things' promotion in 2019.
In April 1985, Coca-Cola launched New Coke, a revised soda recipe intended to better challenge Pepsi. This drastic taste change, which made the cola sweeter, was met with significant public disapproval. The company faced an overwhelming number of complaints, prompting a swift reversal of the decision.
By July 1985, just over two months after its debut, the original Coca-Cola recipe was brought back to shelves. New Coke was eventually renamed Coke II in 1990 and was discontinued in North America in 2002.
New Coke experienced a limited comeback in 2019 through a collaboration with the Netflix series 'Stranger Things.' This reintroduction was part of a special promotion and was available online and in select locations, with less than 500,000 cans produced. Despite its initial failure, New Coke has remained a notable part of beverage history.
