A major supermarket has refused to stock new Coke product
Just months after announcing its profits had declined by a staggering 55 per cent, it seems things are going from bad to worse for the Coca-Cola Company. Yesterday a Woolworths spokesman told Fairfax Media they would not be stocking the company’s new “Coca-Cola No Sugar” product, designed to be an eventual replacement for Coke Zero.
“We have taken the decision to not range this product at this time,” they said. “Our customers looking for a no-sugar or low-sugar cola option have ample choice already in the category across a range of different pack sizes and formats.”
Given that the supermarket will continue to stock Coke Zero until it is phased out, Woolies claims there simply isn’t enough shelf space to warrant such a similar product, especially given the growing market for more varieties of bottled water.
On the other hand, rival supermarket Coles and chains such as 7-Eleven and Hungry Jack’s have already begun selling the product, which Coca-Cola describes as the “closest we have ever come to the classic taste,” without the sugar.
“We're entirely confident that Coca-Cola No Sugar will be a huge success,” a spokeswoman for the company said. “Taste tests show Coca-Cola No Sugar is actually preferred by Coca-Cola Classic drinkers to Coke Zero, and equally liked by Coke Zero drinkers.” The beverage company will be conducting a 2 million can giveaway over the next eight weeks to encourage consumers to give the new product a try. It is not yet known when exactly Coke Zero will be discontinued, but Coca-Cola has revealed it will begin to phase out the beverage next year.