Diet Coke’s decision to launch a slate of new flavors had some critics wondering if the company was heading for another “New Coke” disaster.
But one executive says Coca-Cola has learned from past mistakes.
“We’ve learned that when you have a great thing, you don’t mess with it,” Rafael Acevedo, the company’s North America group director, told Cheddar, pointing out that, unlike with the 1985 marketing fiasco, the classic Diet Coke isn’t going anywhere.
What is changing is the packaging -- the company introduced slimmer cans -- and the flavor options. Ginger Lime, Feisty Cherry, Zesty Blood Orange, and Twisted Mango were added to the line up.
“We’re targeting spice seekers, and we want to target those people who are trying to look for bolder flavors and new experiences,” Acevedo said. “We saw that the sleek can actually connects with the new target as well, it makes the brand feel more premium and more modern. So all the research that we have is telling us that consumers absolutely love it.”
And Diet Coke certainly did its research. The company spent over two years working on this project and talked to about 10,000 consumers to figure out what would work.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/diet-coke-refreshes-itself-for-2018).
The Department of Transportation is investigating a Delta Air Lines flight that was delayed with passengers trapped on a tarmac which led to some heat-related injuries during extreme temperatures in Las Vegas.
The Department of Transportation is investigating a Delta Air Lines flight where passengers were stuck in extreme heat while waiting on a flight on the tarmac.
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott's first open call for grants yielded 6,353 applications from nonprofits — meaning candidates have at least a 4% chance of being selected for a $1 million grant.
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in June to the slowest pace since January, as a near-historic low number of homes for sale and rising mortgage rates kept many would-be homebuyers on the sidelines. The national median sales price fell on an annual basis for the fifth month in a row, though fierce competition led to about one-third of homes selling for more than their list price.
