Similar to the fiercely competitive landscape of fast-food chains, the beverage industry is brimming with companies striving to solve a crucial puzzle: How can they entice consumers to repeatedly shell out money for their products instead of just making a one-time purchase?
In the realm of quick-service restaurants, a prevalent strategy involves consistently presenting novel offerings to consumers. This can manifest through high-profile partnerships with well-known personalities; for instance, when Korean group BTS teamed up with McDonald’s for an exclusive menu item or when singer Charli XCX created her bespoke beverage for Dunkin’ Donuts.
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At other instances, it appears as though they unveil a fresh seasonal menu filled with dishes that elicit exclamations of wonder from customers. Starbucks excels at this strategy; their execution is impeccable, causing enthusiasts to eagerly anticipate each annual release (particularly during autumn when the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte returns alongside an array of novel tastes concocted by Starbucks).
Although it may not be as significant as an entirely fresh lineup, beverage corporations similarly strive to align with seasonal changes by introducing novel options. For instance, Coca-Cola has launched a new Orange Cream variant that you can find at retail outlets. Additionally, Coca-Cola is experimenting with a distinct new taste for its traditional lemon-limeSprite, promising what seems like an unconventional blend.
Sprite is experimenting with an unconventional flavor blend.
In January, Coca-Cola unveiled a new Sprite variant that was influenced by a popular TikTok challenge. The trend involved placing a tea bag inSpriteand letting it infuse for about 20 minutes to alter its taste.
Known simply as Sprite + Tea, this beverage has hit store shelves and offers both standard and zero-sugar variants. Food blogger Markie Devo spotted and reported the launch. posted about it On his X account on May 19, he noted that the beverage had been seen earlier at Walmart stores.
Users of Reddit who tested the latest flavor flocked to the dedicated soda subreddit to share their opinions, with reactions varying from enthusiastic approval to significant disappointment.
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Lou-Lineas69 commented, "I really enjoyed it since I’m not typically a fan of tea, but this made for an excellent beverage and will definitely become part of my summertime routine!"
"Struggling with this choice — the taste isn’t terrible, yet I find it hard to accept carbonated iced tea, and I wasn't prepared for that sensation," commented user Nhblacklabs.
Nevertheless, HighwayStar77 was not satisfied, commenting, "The drink has an unpleasantly fake tea taste. It fails to be sweet despite using as much as 65 grams of sugar. Think of diluted strong black tea combined with low-quality sparkling water. Not a fan at all. Since I tried the bottled variety, perhaps the canned one might have a better flavor."
Coca-Cola edges forward
While the legacy soda company is not making huge gains right now, it's still in the green when it comes to profit. Coca-Cola reported a net revenue growth of 3 percent for 2024 and 6 percent for the year during its earnings call on February 11.
This is fantastic news, particularly considering the current economic conditions where individuals are cutting down on non-essential expenses due to President Trump's tariffs. In relation to these tariffs, it appears that Coca-Cola might be among the companies exceptionally well-equipped to withstand their impact.
In a recent discussion with CNBC , Coca-Cola CEO James Quincy stated that the company operates with a strong local focus from an operational standpoint and emphasized that "beverages in the U.S. are produced by American employees in American plants." This has enabled the well-known brand to weather challenges better than many firms dependent on substantial import reliance.
Quincy mentioned that our involvement with imports and exports, both globally and in terms of trade, is actually quite minimal.
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