Coca-Cola recently announced the new Spiced flavor, saying it blends the traditional Coke flavor with raspberry and spiced flavors.
Coca-Cola has introduced a new Spiced flavor that combines the classic Coke taste with raspberry and spiced notes. This variant, available in both full sugar and zero-sugar options, is set to hit store shelves in the US and Canada in the coming weeks. The launch comes as Coca-Cola faces competition from smaller brands offering more vibrant and fruit-inspired flavors, such as Olipop and Poppi.
“Growth in sales of flavored sodas has generally outpaced cola for years, which is helped by a growing multicultural population,” said Duane Stanford, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest.
The move is seen as a response to the ongoing trend of flavored sodas outperforming traditional cola sales, particularly fueled by a growing multicultural population. In 2022, traditional Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and Diet Coke saw a modest 1% sales growth in North America, while sparkling water and juice brands experienced a more robust 3% growth.
This development follows Coca-Cola’s relatively infrequent addition of permanent flavors to its lineup, with Spiced joining a select few that include the flagship flavor, cherry, and vanilla.
Coke doesn’t often add new permanent flavors to its lineup: Spiced joins just a few other flavors it always sells, including its flagship flavor, cherry and vanilla.
Spiced was selected because it’s “all about being on category trend and responsive to our consumer preferences,” who are craving bolder and punchier flavors, Sue Lynne Cha, Coke’s vice president of marketing for North America, told the press.
Coke’s research found that an “increase in consumer willingness to try a spiced beverage” and that raspberry was selected more than 5 million times on its Freestyle drink machines in 2022, which the company “often uses for inspiration” for new flavors, she said.
“Consumers are looking for more bold flavors and more complex flavor profiles. That’s a trend we started to see in food, but also in beverage and we thought that was a unique space for us to play in,” she said, adding that there’s been of a “desire of discovery” with people wanting to try something new.
“It appears Coca-Cola is looking to splice that trend onto its flagship with hopes of getting young consumers to consider the entire franchise,” she added. Coca-Cola Spiced goes on sale February 19 in both cans and bottles in various sizes at most national retailers.
