Soda Sales Fall for First Time in 20 Years

New York Times ^ | March 9, 2006 | MELANIE WARNER

[neodad]

IBBF! (In Before Bush's Fault)

[TXBubba]

I keep telling the guys at Coke to give us Diet Coke with Lime and Splenda. Nothing yet.

[fishtank]

I guess the fridges are going to get stinky...either that, or people aren't baking....

[billorites]

Nothing beats this stuff.

[FreedomFarmer]

Empty calories and no nutritional value. Rather like talking to a socialist.

[radiohead]

I don't care what they say - Diet Pepsi, breakfast of champions.

[alisasny]

For Lent I gave up soda and buying soda. I told my children I would not be buying any more soda. So far its working out well and I am drinking much more water and flavored water.

[adamsjas]

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Demand is slipping because people can't find this:

[discostu]

They saw the handwriting on this wall a long time ago, that's why the big soda companies have been expanding into non-soda beverages and even non-beverages. Check out these products lists, I don't think they're worried about soda's market share very much.

http://www2.coca-cola.com/brands/brandlist.html
http://www.pepsico.com/PEP_Company/BrandsCompanies/index.cfm

[Jemian]

Boy! Do I feel guilty. Around Valentine's Day a report came out which showed a link between aspartame and cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. I immediately stopped with the Diet Coke (a little more than 2 liters a day). Now, this, coke has lost market share. It's my fault. It's all my fault.

[chpmass]

They've learned how to make suckers pay a dollar for a bottle of Dasani and/or Aquafina, which is a much more lucrative market marginwise than soda ever was.

[Global2010]

I am really happy with Diet Cherry Coke and it is hard to find now that they are pushing Diet Vanilla Cherry Coke.

Diet Cherry Pepsi is to sweet for my liking.

I do think they have Diet Lime Coke or is it that you don't have splenda.

I also love my Diet 7up the other non cola's leave an after taste.

Then there is Safeway Seltzer Lemon Lime which is no sweetener no sodium.

And for breakfast/lunch ROCK STAR diet
Gotta have the bubbles for the tummy.

[Kaylee Frye]

Diet Rite, baby! Still get my cola flavor, but no sugar or caffeine!

[Young Werther]

Every year before Super Bowl the soda manufacturers increase there prices. I've seen $3.68 for a 12 pack! They didn't charge that much when Coca Cola contained the essence of the coca plant! I realize the gasoline prices have hit food prices, ($2.00 for a loaf of bread!) but I'll drink tap water first.

Change the Lightbulbs and this cost will be brought back under control!

[rwfromkansas]

I find sports and energy drinks to not be tasty at all.

I try to drink as much water as I can, but I will always have pop as well.

I can't stand it when people call it soda...that reeks of New England elitism.

It is POP, dang it. :)

[rwfromkansas]

If flavored water okay?

[discostu]

Actually other companies spearheaded the bottled water movement, but Coke was smart enough to see that their success meant soda might not be a cash cow forever and started diversifying. Of course with their marketing and wholesale clout they pretty quickly killed most of the other water competition.

[rwfromkansas]

Yikes. Glad I don't drink aspertame...use splenda soft drinks (who knows...may be cancer risk there).