Company brings back the old Coke

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 15

Company brings back the old Coke

The new formula, sweeter-tasting Coca-Cola appears to have fizzled on the American public’s palate in spite of its recent widely publicised introduc-’ tion. As a result New Zealanders may not get to taste the flavour that was supposed to replace and surpass the secret recipe that has made Coca-Cola a bestseller round the world for 75 years. In the United States the Coca-Cola Company has bowed to the pressure from dedicated Coca-Cola fans and announced that it will bring back the old Coke, and sell it in addition to the new flavour. A spokesman for the com-

pany said that the original drink would be sold under a new name — Coca-Cola Classic which would be reissued because “thousands of dedicated Coca-Cola consumers have told us they still want the original taste as an option.” As a result of this latest announcement, the CocaCola Export Company is reviewing its proposal to introduce the new-formula Coke to New Zealand. The company’s technical manager, Mr David Bennett, said the Aucklandbased company would now have to investigate the reasons behind the reintroduction of the traditional Coca-Cola before making any decision.

Coca-Cola Classic will be available in the United States within several weeks. It will be added to the company’s range of products. Diehard American CocaCola drinkers had ordered shipments from New Zealand and Canada to tide them over while they sued the company for a return of the traditional drink. One of the leaders of the movement to bring back the old Coca-Cola in Seattle, Washington, Mr Gay Mullins, disclosed that New Zealand had found a temporary niche in the American market carrying the proverbial, “coals to Newcastle” or rather, Coke to Coke country.

“We had shipped to us from New Zealand, Coke-aid kits, cases of the old Coke,” he said.