Coke bottlers say Coca-Cola Co will introduce new lime-flavored regular cola in February. BD is unable to conclusively confirm name of new product, but several system executives say it will be called, "Coca-Cola With Lime" and say word "Classic" will not be used. Bottler says company's enthusiasm "is based on the success of Diet Coke with Lime which is doing well." New lime cola would be company's first regular CSD line extension for trademark Coke since Vanilla Coke introduced in 2002. Since then, it has introduced C2 mid-cal and Diet Coke with Lime. Possibility of a lime-cola reported last month by Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Views. Bottlers appear mainly positive on lime cola: 1) "Diet Coke with Lime has done well, and I have a good feeling about this." 2) "I wish they'd devote most of their time and resources this year to diets, not to more regulars." 3) "Diet Coke With Lime has been one of our biggest successes, and I welcome this." 4) "Diet Coke With Lime has proven to be far better than (Diet Coke With) Lemon. Lime (flavor) plays well. This will get a good push, but not as big as C2 did." 5) "We need news in this business. (New lime cola) is a good idea, but not a big idea."
Plus. Citrus CSD. Late last year, BD reported (BD 12/10/04) Coke is considering new Mt. Dew competitor called, "Vault." Coke applied to trademark that name on Dec. 17. Bottler predicts Vault will "at least be tested this year." Diet cola. Coke is also considering new no-cal or low-cal cola sweetened with sucralose. Bottler tells BD that name, "Coke Zero," is still under consideration, but so are others. Sprite Zero. Last year, Diet Sprite was renamed "Diet Sprite Zero." Several system executives predict name will transition to "Sprite Zero" this year, though one adds, "that's not certain."
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