Coca-Cola to pause production of Vanilla Coke and Diet Vanilla Coke

07/11/05 Coca-Cola North America has announced that it will introduce Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke in January 2006.

The simultaneous launch of Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke is a first for Coca-Cola North America. "Cherry- flavored beverages are experiencing significant growth as are no calorie soft drinks," said Katie Bayne, senior vice president, Coca-Cola Trademark, Coca- Cola North America. "Our innovative fusion of real cola, luscious black cherry, and smooth vanilla flavors creates a taste that is complex and delicious."

Diet Cherry Coke and Cherry Coke will not be affected by this introduction. "Consumers have made Diet Cherry Coke and Cherry Coke leaders in their respective categories, so we are expanding our popular family of cherry-flavored soft drinks to include Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke," said Bayne.

Vanilla Coke and Diet Vanilla Coke will go on hiatus at year's end, but may be made available again in the future. "With well over 250 million cases sold, Vanilla Coke and Diet Vanilla Coke have been significant contributors for three years," said Bayne. "We are exploring ways to bring them back at another time, but right now Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke are what consumers are telling us they want."

Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke will feature a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (ace-k). Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke will be the sixth member of the Diet Coke family, which includes the flagship Diet Coke, America's #1 diet soft drink, Caffeine Free Diet Coke, Diet Coke with Lime, Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda Brand Sweetener, and Diet Cherry Coke.

Both Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke will be available in a range of package sizes and will be supported by a variety of marketing programs. Further details on launch plans will be made available closer to the introduction. The launch of Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke continues a wave of innovation from Coca-Cola North America which has included a range of offerings across all beverage categories.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day.

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