Coca-Cola Zero Sugar

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar was Coca-Cola's largest product launch in 22 years. The new product was ideated at the Spanish branch, turning Marcos de Quinto into one of the key people of the company.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} The global campaign was developed by creative agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky.{{Cite news|last1=Hickman|first1=Martin|date=July 4, 2006|title=Introducing 'Bloke Coke' - is this now the real thing?|work=The Independent|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/introducing-bloke-coke--is-this-now-the-real-thing-406556.html|url-status=dead|access-date=June 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719003240/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/introducing-bloke-coke--is-this-now-the-real-thing-406556.html|archive-date=July 19, 2009}} It was marketed as having a taste that is indistinguishable from standard Coca-Cola, as opposed to Diet Coke, which has a different flavor profile.[http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/04/05/coke-zero-unveils-new-taste-experiment-ad Coke Zero unveils new 'taste experiment' ad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130145/http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/04/05/coke-zero-unveils-new-taste-experiment-ad |date=April 2, 2015 }} - The Drum, April 5, 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/products/difference-between-coke-zero-and-diet-coke.html |title=FAQ: What's the difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero? |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223225931/http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/products/difference-between-coke-zero-and-diet-coke.html |access-date=2021-05-06|archive-date=December 23, 2010 }}

File:CokeZero.JPG

In 2017, despite increasing sales in the United States, the Coca-Cola Company announced that Coca-Cola Zero would be reformulated and rebranded as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, intended to taste more like standard Coca-Cola while emphasizing the lack of sugar content.{{Cite news|url=http://www.coca-colajourney.com.au/stories/coke-no-sugar--closer-than-ever-to-the-classic-coca-cola-taste|title=Coke No Sugar: Closer than ever to the classic Coca-Cola taste|work=The Coca-Cola Company|access-date=2017-06-17|language=en-AU}}{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/07/26/news/companies/coke-zero/index.html|title=Coca-Cola is replacing Coke Zero with a new drink|first=Olivia|last=Chang|date=July 26, 2017|website=CNNMoney}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/rip-coke-zero |title=We're About to Lose the Best Soda the World Has Ever Known |first=Jay |last=Willis |date=July 26, 2017}} The new formula was first tested in the United Kingdom in June 2016, with plans to roll it out in other countries in the following months.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-19 |title=Coca-Cola Zero to be renamed in UK and will taste 'more like Coke' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/19/coca-cola-zero-renamed-uk-taste-more-like-coke-sugar |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}[http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/company-statements/coke-zero-and-coca-cola-zero-sugar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008134701/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/company-statements/coke-zero-and-coca-cola-zero-sugar|date=October 8, 2017}} - Coca-Cola Company, retrieved June 15, 2017

The announcement caused some vocal backlash from consumers.{{cite web |url=https://www.self.com/story/coke-zero-sugar |title=Coke Zero Is Being Replaced by Coke Zero Sugar and People Are Outraged |first=Alexa |last=Tucker |date=July 31, 2017 |work=Self}}{{cite web |url=http://people.com/food/coke-zero-sugar-twitter-reactions/ |title=People Are Very, Very Upset About the Demise of Coke Zero |first=Shay |last=Spence |date=July 26, 2017 |work=People}} The Washington Post noted Coke Zero is very popular, and that fans compared the planned change to the launch of New Coke in 1985. However, Beverage Digest executive editor Duane Stanford noted that it was very similar in flavor, and that the formula likely was tweaked only slightly as the ingredients list is the same. He noted that the rebranding was the main emphasis.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/26/coca-cola-second-quarter-earnings/511675001/|title=Coke Zero out, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in due to recipe change|first=Nathan|last=Bomey|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=December 22, 2018}}

In Australia, the soda was relaunched as "Coca-Cola No Sugar" in 2017 but had trouble gaining initial acceptance.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/coke-no-sugar-is-supposed-to-be-replacing-coke-zero-but-australians-arent-playing-along/news-story/554d56b24aa232767dd62a3f07dfb7b0 |title=Coke No Sugar is supposed to be replacing Coke Zero. But Australians aren't playing along |first=Benedict |last=Brook |date=February 22, 2018}}

In July 2018, it was confirmed that the original formula would continue to be sold under the original Coke Zero branding in New Zealand alongside the Coke Zero Sugar product.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/coke-zero-to-be-phased-out-in-australia-from-august-1-but-not-in-new-zealand/IKKH6LH3URDCN7NDLIASNJR2ZQ/|title=Coke Zero to be phased out in Australia from August 1 - but not in New Zealand|website=The New Zealand Herald |date=July 18, 2018 }} The original Coke Zero branding was finally phased out in 2022 alongside the local launch of the 2021 reformulation.{{cite news | url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2022/05/coke-zero-no-sugar-officially-scrapped-coke-zero-sugar-launched.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524235815/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2022/05/coke-zero-no-sugar-officially-scrapped-coke-zero-sugar-launched.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 24, 2022 | title=Coke Zero, No Sugar officially scrapped, 'Coke Zero Sugar' launched | newspaper=Newshub }}

In July 2021, the Coca-Cola Company announced that another reformulation of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar would be released throughout the U.S. in August and then throughout Canada in September.{{Cite web |title=Coca-Cola (KO) Zero Sugar Gets Better: Will it Aid the Stock? |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coca-cola-ko-zero-sugar-152203598.html |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=finance.yahoo.com |date=July 14, 2021 |language=en-US}} The reformulation would be the same recipe that was already available in Europe and Latin America.[https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/coke-zero-sugar-refresh Best Coke Ever? Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Refreshes Taste and Look]" (press release). The Coca-Cola Company. July 13, 2021.D'Angelo, Bob (July 14, 2021). "[https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/coke-zero-sugar-will-be-changing-its-flavor/ Coke Zero Sugar will be changing its flavor]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". WSBT-TV. The company said the recipe would "optimize existing...flavors and existing ingredients" without requiring a change in the listed ingredients or nutritional information. Along with the reformulation, the labeling was updated.

The original Coca-Cola Zero logo generally featured the Coca-Cola logo in red script with white trim, with the word "zero" underneath in lower case in the geometric typeface Avenir (or a customized version of it). These words appeared on a black background. Some details varied from country to country. Later packagings swapped the colors of the "Coca-Cola" script and "Zero", leaving the former in white and the latter in red.

The first Coca-Cola Zero Sugar logo featured the Coca-Cola logo in white script, with the words "zero sugar" in black underneath; the word "zero" in lower case in the geometric typeface Avenir (or a customized version of it) and the word "sugar" in upper case. These words appeared in a red disc on a black background. In European markets, the packaging instead matches the classic Coca-Cola red design with the addition of a black band around the top of the label with the text "zero sugar".{{cite web|title=Red is the new black – Coca-Cola reveals new packaging design|url=https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/coca-cola-reveals-new-look-packaging-and-marketing-campaign|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102124305/https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/coca-cola-reveals-new-look-packaging-and-marketing-campaign|archive-date=2 January 2020|access-date=2020-01-02|website=www.coca-cola.co.uk|language=en-GB}} After the 2021 reformulation, the red disc was removed and the logo was changed to black text on a red background, the color of the background changing for certain flavors.

• Carbonated water
• Caramel color
• Phosphoric acid
• Aspartame
• Potassium benzoate
• Natural flavors
• Caffeine{{Cite web |title=Coca-Cola Zero Sugar - All Products & Ingredients {{!}} Coca-Cola US |url=https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/coca-cola/products/zero#:~:text=CARBONATED%20WATER,%20CARAMEL%20COLOR,%20PHOSPHORIC,CITRATE,%20ACESULFAME%20POTASSIUM,%20CAFFEINE. |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.coca-cola.com |language=en-US}}

All versions of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar sold in various countries are based on the same flavoring formula, and all are carbonated. One liter of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar contains 96 mg caffeine.{{cite web|date=April 13, 2010|title=How much caffeine is in Diet Coke, Coca‑Cola and Coke Zero? : FAQ - Coca-Cola GB|url=http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/ingredients/how-much-caffeine-is-in-diet-coke-coca-cola-and-coke-zero.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205011309/http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/ingredients/how-much-caffeine-is-in-diet-coke-coca-cola-and-coke-zero.html|archive-date=5 December 2010|access-date=January 24, 2014|publisher=Coca-cola.co.uk}} Additionally, artificial sweeteners are used. In the U.S., this includes aspartame and acesulfame potassium.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/diet-coke-vs-coca-cola-zero_n_1199008.html|title=Diet Coke vs. Coca-Cola Zero: What's The Difference?|date=November 1, 2012|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=AOL|access-date=December 28, 2013}} However, the exact combination of sweeteners and preservatives used varies from market to market. Compared to Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar contains less caffeine, and uses acesulfame potassium and aspartame as sweeteners, while Diet Coke uses only aspartame as a sweetener. In addition, Coca-Cola Zero sugar contains potassium citrate unlike Diet Coke and does not use citric acid like Diet Coke.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Zero sugar, two choices: What’s the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/zero-sugar-two-choices-difference-210952193.html |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

Scientific studies consistently confirm aspartame and acesulfame potassium can be safely consumed.{{Cite journal |last=Program |first=Human Foods |date=2024-11-04 |title=Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food |url=https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/aspartame-and-other-sweeteners-food#:~:text=Scientific%20evidence%20has%20continued%20to,the%20approved%20conditions%20of%20use. |journal=FDA |language=en}}

File:Javits Ctr West Side 07 - Coke Zero Sugar.jpg in 2017]]

Coke Zero was originally specifically marketed to men, who are shown to associate "diet" drinks with women.{{cite web|url=http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/should-mens-products-fear-a-womans-touch |title=Should Men's Products Fear a Woman's Touch? |publisher=HBS |date=November 13, 2013}} It was primarily marketed towards young adult males{{Cite book

| last = Tungate

| first = Mark

| publication-date = 2008

| year = 2008

| title = Branded Male: Marketing to Men

| publication-place = London and Philadelphia

| publisher = Kogan Page Limited

| pages = Chapter 3

| isbn = 978-0-7494-5011-3

| url = https://archive.org/details/brandedmalemarke0000tung

}}Elliott, Stuart; March 5, 2007; "[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/business/media/05adcol.html Can’t Tell Your Cokes Apart? Sue Someone]"; The New York Times; retrieved March 6, 2007. and it has been nicknamed "Bloke Coke" in the UK. In the U.S., advertising has been tailored to its targeted market by describing the drink as "calorie-free" rather than "diet", since young adult males are said to associate diet drinks with women. U.S. marketing also emphasized its similarity in taste to sugared Coca-Cola; an advertising campaign for the beverage focused on Coca-Cola executives who were so angry over the drinks' similarities, they were considering suing their co-workers for "taste infringement". Continuing the theme, a Coca-Cola Zero ad aired during Super Bowl XLIII parodied Coke's iconic "Hey Kid, Catch!" commercial, which is interrupted by two Coca-Cola "brand managers" accusing Troy Polamalu of "stealing" their commercial.{{cite web|last1=Hinds|first1=Julie|date=February 2, 2009|title=Super Bowl ads deliver big laughs|url=http://archive.freep.com/article/20090202/ENT03/902020367/Super-Bowl-ads-deliver-big-laughs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133105/http://archive.freep.com/article/20090202/ENT03/902020367/Super-Bowl-ads-deliver-big-laughs|archive-date=2 April 2015|access-date=March 20, 2015|website=Detroit Free Press}}{{cite news|title=Coke to reprise 'Mean Joe' commercial for Super Bowl|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/01/26/daily11.html|website=Atlanta Business Chronicle|access-date=March 20, 2015}}

In Australia, the product's launch was promoted by a fake front group; the campaign included outdoor graffiti and online spamming that mentioned a fake blog.[http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/03/20/tantillos-branding-bite-pepsi-goes-online-exclusively.aspx "Tantillo’s Branding Bite: Pepsi Goes Online (Exclusively)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611073550/http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/03/20/tantillos-branding-bite-pepsi-goes-online-exclusively.aspx |date=June 11, 2010 }} Marketing Doctor Blog. March 20, 2008.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking/coke-site-gets-zero-for-effort/2006/01/24/1138066785594.html "Coke Gets A Zero For Effort"] Marketing Doctor Blog. January 25, 2006. Once exposed, consumer advocates assailed the campaign as misleading and established the Zero Coke Movement{{cite web|title=The Zero Movement|url=http://www.thezeromovement.org/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112042556/http://www.thezeromovement.org/|archive-date=12 January 2006|access-date=July 24, 2006|publisher=Tim Longhurst}} to comment on the ethics of Coke's activities.{{cite web|title=The Zero Coke Movement|url=http://www.thezeromovement.org/quotes_on_the_coke_zero_movement.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718020320/http://www.thezeromovement.org/quotes_on_the_coke_zero_movement.html|archive-date=July 18, 2006|access-date=July 24, 2006}}

Coca-Cola Zero sponsors Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in August, and also the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan, a motorcycle endurance race.{{cite web|url=https://www.bvb.de/?%EF%BF%BDS%1B%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD|title=Borussia Dortmund|website=www.bvb.de}}

In 2013, Coca-Cola swapped the logo on Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero bottles and cans in many European countries with 150 of the most popular local names for a summer-long "Share a Coke" campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/Coke-Share-Campaign-051513.aspx |title=Coca-Cola Gets Personal in Europe with "Share a Coke" Campaign |publisher=Brandchannel.com |date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121162444/http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/Coke-Share-Campaign-051513.aspx |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }} The same campaign was used in North America the following summer.

For Christmas 2013, Coke Zero launched an interactive website that allowed people to customize the designs of their Christmas sweater,[http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-holiday-marketing-campaigns-of-2013-list 7 Great Holiday Marketing Campaigns of 2013] Matthew Bushery. The Hubspot. December 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2014 which have a significant role in United Kingdom Christmas traditions.[http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Coke_Zero_dares_fans_to_design_the_ugliest_Christm_15652.aspx# Coke Zero dares fans to design the ugliest Christmas sweater] Kevin Allen. PR Daily. November 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2014 On the website, people could detail the cut, pattern, and icons for their sweater,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/coke-zeros-digital-sweater-generator-calls-your-inner-knitter-153944|title=Coke Zero's Digital Sweater Generator Calls on Your Inner Knitter|magazine=AdWeek|date=November 2013}} and join a popularity contest.[http://www.psfk.com/2013/11/coca-cola-tacky-christmas-sweater.html#!C11c9 Coca-Cola helps fans create customer tacky Christmas Sweaters for the holidays.] Ross Brooks. PSFK. November 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2014 Users could choose designs from Christmas trees and Santa's head to reindeer, sleighs, and turkeys.[http://www.fastcocreate.com/3021849/create-the-seasonal-horror-of-your-dreams-with-coke-zeros-holiday-sweater-generator Create the seasonal horror of your dreams with Coke Zero’s Holiday Sweater Generator] Rae Ann Fera. FastCoCreate.com Retrieved April 9, 2014 This initiative was tied to a social media campaign,[https://web.archive.org/web/20131122192946/http://designtaxi.com/news/362216/Coca-Cola-Lets-You-Create-Your-Own-Ugly-Christmas-Sweater/ Coca-Cola Lets You Create Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater] Anthea Quay. DesignTaxi. November 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2014 where the top 100 sweater designs with the most votes were manufactured and shipped to the contest winners.[http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1221623/coke-zero-invites-users-create-own-tacky-christmas-sweater Coke Zero invites users to create their own tacky Christmas sweater] Ben Bold. Marketing Magazine UK. November 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2014 According to the Coca-Cola Company, the website generated nearly 42,000 sweater designs in its first four days.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131130051047/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/tis-the-season-for-tacky-traditions-coke-zero-launches-online-sweater-generator ‘Tis the Season for Tacky Traditions: Coke Zero Launches Online Sweater Generator] Jay Moye. The Coca-Cola Company Press Center. November 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2014

{{see also|Coca-Cola Creations}}

• Sugar substitute

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}

{{Varieties of Coca-Cola}}

{{Coca-Cola brands}}

{{Diet sodas}}

Category:Caffeinated soft drinks

Category:Coca-Cola cola brands

Category:Diet drinks

Category:Food and drink introduced in 2005