FOOD NEWS
What Made New Coke A Disaster?
By Chase Shustack
In 1985, Coca-Cola announced that it would change the classic Coca-Cola formula, which TIME magazine described as "putting a miniskirt on the refurbished Statue of Liberty." It was meant to challenge Pepsi, but instead, what was called New Coke would become a symbol of a total corporate blunder.
New Coke caused such an uproar that Americans united to push back against one of the biggest soda juggernauts in the country, even though New Coke didn’t taste bad. The American people simply preferred the classic, familiar taste of the old Coca-Cola, and the idea that such a classic symbol of American consumerism could be changed so easily rattled many.
There was only one solution: Coca-Cola had to bring back the old Coke, which they did just 79 days after New Coke was first launched, introducing "Coca-Cola Classic" (original Coke in a new can). Coca-Cola would go on to accept the disastrous launch of New Coke, humbly agreeing that perhaps it wasn't a great idea to change something that was a beloved, steadfast symbol for so many Americans.