Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

The 1985 debut of New Coke
1 posted on 07/11/2025 3:14:05 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: nickcarraway

I remember Bill Cosby was hired by new Coke as a celebrity spokesman.

Looking back, it’s likely the Cos had his own blend of new Coke for those special occasions.


48 posted on 07/11/2025 5:22:10 PM PDT by GSWarrior
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

I’m the guy in the corner at a house party meme...”They don’t know I’m a root beer guy.”


50 posted on 07/11/2025 5:38:14 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

The whole thing was done to disguise the fact they swapped out sugar for high-fructose corn syrup ...


52 posted on 07/11/2025 6:42:25 PM PDT by Fish Speaker (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

I’d swear of senior mgrs today must have read this case in business school as a “how to” guide......based on some of the idiotic decisions seen.


54 posted on 07/11/2025 6:53:07 PM PDT by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

40 years ago today I was living it up as a recent high school grad.
Beautiful white 78 Camaro, super cool job, and a fun new gf.
New Coke was the last thing on my mind.
Wish I could go back.
Ahhh the summer of ‘85...


56 posted on 07/11/2025 6:55:17 PM PDT by mowowie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

40 years later. I guess it’s time for the Cola Wars’ survivors to start creeping back out of the jungle.


58 posted on 07/11/2025 7:46:04 PM PDT by x
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

i haven’t bought a coke product since their management told their corporate employees to ‘act less white’. racism cuts both ways and i do not knowingly patronize racist bigotry


65 posted on 07/12/2025 4:40:55 AM PDT by camle (keep and open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

Hearing someone asking for a New Coke is like someone saying give me a TAB or give me death.


67 posted on 07/12/2025 8:00:29 AM PDT by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

All planned to introduce High-Fructose Corn Syrup to replace regular sugar.


70 posted on 07/12/2025 10:19:05 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: nickcarraway

Except of course it worked. That’s the thing people always ignore in this story. New Coke happened because Coke sales were dropping through the floor. Pepsi was on a path to beating them (and according to some charts already were). So they changed the recipe to something a lot more like Pepsi. And the rebellion happened. But in that rebellion people remembered the liked Coke. So Coke got to re-energize the brand with the Classic Coke marketing, sales went back up and all was well. So while New Coke itself failed without that failure you never get the Classic Coke revival that put them back to the top of the heap.


71 posted on 07/12/2025 10:21:11 AM PDT by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson