Coke Coffee: Coca-Cola Rolls Out New Zero-Suga, Zero Calorie Drinks

Coca-Cola on Monday unveiled Coca-Cola with Coffee, available for sale in stores in the U.S.

The breakthrough innovation creates the new “refreshment coffee” category with a pioneering proposition that “sips like a Coke and finishes like a coffee” – giving Coca-Cola fans and java lovers alike a refreshing and reinvigorating reset to their daily routine.

Coca-Cola with Coffee and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar bring together a great Coca-Cola taste infused with Brazilian coffee. Coca-Cola with Coffee is available nationwide in three signature flavors – Dark Blend, Vanilla and Caramel – and its zero-sugar counterpart comes in Dark Blend and Vanilla. All varieties are shelf-stable and contain 69 mg of caffeine per 12-oz. can. They will be available in the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee aisle.

“We’re focusing our innovation efforts on doing what Coca-Cola has always stood for and does best – which is to deliver emotional and functional uplift – in bigger, bolder, more differentiated ways,” said Brandan Strickland, brand director, Coca-Cola Trademark. “Coca-Cola with Coffee is a true hybrid innovation that provides the perfect solution for that mid-afternoon pick-me-up we all want, especially in today’s work-from-home environment. We’re fulfilling this need state and occasion in a uniquely Coca-Cola way.”

More than 50% of Coca-Cola drinkers and coffee loyalists enjoy both beverages on a regular basis. “Many people are often torn between reaching for a soft drink or a coffee at 3 p.m. at work, at school or on the go,” Strickland added. “Now, you don’t need to leave Coca-Cola to get your coffee fix.”

As the brand team continued to learn from consumers, zero sugar was identified as an innovation opportunity. The team worked with R&D to create Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar - Dark Blend and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar - Vanilla.

“While other categories including energy drinks have ventured into zero-sugar territory, RTD coffee hasn’t because many offerings are dairy-based,” Strickland said. “So we see this as a major whitespace opportunity.”

Coca-Cola is teaming up with Walmart and DroneUp, a nationwide drone services provider, to bring Coca-Cola with Coffee and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar to the “buzzworthy” community of Coffee County, Ga. On Jan. 25, select consumers who live in a single-family residence within a one-mile radius of the Walmart Supercenter in Coffee County can opt-in to have Coca-Cola with Coffee and Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar delivered safely via drone delivery. Starting Jan. 25, consumers can also receive a free can of Coca-Cola with Coffee, using the Ibotta app, at Walmart stores across the country (offer valid on Coca-Cola with Coffee for any variety, 12 fl oz can only).

Last July, Coca-Cola gave 2,000 members of the Coca-Cola Insiders Club, an exclusive opportunity to taste Coca-Cola with Coffee before it hit shelves. The beverage subscription service gives “Insiders” the chance to sign up to receive some of Coke’s newest drinks and surprise swag.

Coca-Cola with Coffee is the latest creative extension of the Coca-Cola Trademark in the United States, following the rollouts of Coke Energy/Coke Energy Cherry, Cherry Vanilla Coke, Orange Vanilla Coke (and their zero-sugar counterparts). The innovation also is the latest output of the company’s “lift and shift” strategy to scale successful beverage innovations from market to market via an experimental, test-and-learn approach.

The U.S. is the 50th market to launch Coca-Cola with Coffee, which was first piloted in Japan in 2018. Each country (the U.S. is no different), tailors the Coca-Cola With Coffee recipe and packaging mix to meet local tastes.

Research shows that consumers are more open to trying new category-crossing drinks like Coca-Cola with Coffee, which push Coca-Cola into uncharted territory while staying true to its core values. In preliminary consumer testing, more than 80% of consumers who tried Coca-Cola with Coffee said they would buy it. Retail customers are equally excited to stock the new offering.

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