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Coca Cola 's New Product Concept Essay

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Summary On April 23rd, 1985, Coca-Cola announced that the taste of Coke was going to be changing for the first time in 99 years (Coca-Cola, 2012). (The formula had previously been changed, but the flavor of the drink was considered the same [Klein, 2015]). This landmark change came in the midst of increasing competition with Pepsi, who had rebranded themselves as a more “youthful” brand decades prior, and soon after taste tests that indicated that consumers preferred a sweeter formula, akin to Pepsi’s main product (Bhasin, 2016). Not long after New Coke’s release, Coca-Cola was faced with backlash from consumers, who surprisingly had a much deeper connection to the product than what was expected. Whether Coke’s new product concept was rooted in competition, customer satisfaction, or finances, Coca-Cola learned a lesson that they, nor any major corporation in the United States, will ever forget. Now, this milestone is considered one of the most significant marketing mistakes in modern history, despite Coca-Cola’s continued success in the soft drink industry.

Based on your research, how beneficial was the launch of New Coke for Coca Cola? Address both short-term and long term benefits (or lack thereof).
Coca-Cola’s infamous launch of New Coke, cryptically referred to as “Project Kansas” prior to its release, was thought to be wrought with competition-driven logic and high hopes, and had the potential of what many believed to be a groundbreaking achievement for the company

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