Coca-Cola Pulls Its "Permanent" Flavor From Store Shelves

Coca-Cola is discontinuing its Spiced flavor just six months after its launch, marking the end of an unsuccessful effort to appeal to younger consumers, Jordan Valinsky reported for CNN.

Despite the brand’s efforts, the Coca-Cola Spiced failed to resonate with its target audience. I Photo: Super Saver Foods at 56th Nebraska Parkway (5460 South 56th Street, Lincoln, NE) Facebook

In a statement, the company said it is “always evaluating customer preferences and adjusting” its product lineup accordingly. “As part of this strategy, we’re planning to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025,” a spokesperson explained.

The decision to discontinue Spiced, which was initially marketed as a permanent addition, came as a surprise. Coca-Cola did not offer a specific reason for the withdrawal, but low awareness of the product may have contributed to its underwhelming sales.

Coca-Cola launched Spiced in February with a major advertising campaign, combining the classic Coke taste with raspberry notes. It was aimed at Gen-Z consumers, who tend to prefer bolder flavors.

However, despite the brand’s efforts, the product failed to resonate with its target audience.

In recent years, Coca-Cola has experimented with a variety of limited-time offerings, such as the Oreo-flavored soda and others with abstract names like “Dreamworld,” “Starlight,” and “Byte.” The company also collaborated with DJ Marshmello on a flavor that, ironically, didn’t taste like marshmallow.