Coca-Cola Spiced has been canned just seven months after its launch in the United States and Canada. It was the company’s first alternative to classic Coke in the U.S. in three years.
“We’re always looking at what our consumers like and adjusting our range of products,” a Coca-Cola Company spokesperson told NTD. “As part of this strategy, we’re planning to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025.”
The company did not elaborate further on the decision and what led to it, though low consumer awareness and confusion about the flavor (the drink wasn’t actually spicy) likely contributed to weak sales.
When it launched the flavor in February, the company described the drink as having the “classic taste of Coca-Cola with refreshing bursts of raspberry and a curated blend of warm spiced flavors.”
The Coca-Cola Company, famously tight-lipped about its products’ recipes, did not specify what spices it added to the drink to distinguish it from the original raspberry Coke.
The decision to cut Spiced is unexpected, as the flavor was initially promoted as a permanent addition to the Coca-Cola product line.
Spiced Coke wasn’t the only Coca-Cola flavor to go out of production in recent history. Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla, launched in 2020, was quietly discontinued sometime early this year or late last year. The company only publicly confirmed its decision in March with a post on X after customers complained they had been unable to find their favorite flavor.
The discontinued products will likely have little impact on Coke’s global popularity. The multi-billion-dollar company’s recent financial results show a global net revenue increase of 3 percent and a 2 percent increase in product sales. That said, sales declined by 1 percent in North America, where the Spiced flavor was marketed.
Coca-Cola doesn’t disclose specific sales figures for individual flavors, and Spiced was not mentioned in the company’s latest earnings report.
While the company did not disclose any information about the upcoming new cola flavor, it did announce last week a partnership with Bacardi to debut a ready-to-drink rum and cola cocktail.
The pre-mixed cocktail will initially be launched in Mexico and select European markets in 2025, with additional worldwide markets to follow.
“This new relationship with Bacardi Limited supports our strategic expansion,” Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said in a statement.
In addition to its regular line-up, Coca-Cola’s Creations platform has been launching limited-time offerings since 2022, such as the Oreo-flavor Coke and the more abstractly labeled “Dreamworld,” “Starlight,” and “Byte” flavored cokes.
A collaboration with DJ Marshmello produced a strawberry and watermelon-flavored Coke.