Coca-Cola Cherry

Coca-Cola Cherry, also referred to by its original name Cherry Coke, is a cherry-flavored version of Coca-Cola. It is produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers in the United States and some international markets. Coca-Cola Cherry was originally launched in 1985, the very first flavored cola to be distributed by the company, and their second ever product extending the original Coca-Cola brand following the launch of Diet Coke in 1982.[1] Today there are also no-calorie variants based on Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. In addition, the drink is also available microdispensed through Coca-Cola's Freestyle vending machines.

Background

Long before its official introduction in stores in 1985, many diners, drugstore soda fountains and movie theaters dispensed an unofficial version by adding cherry-flavored syrup to Coca-Cola.[2]

The Coca-Cola Company first began testing its official Cherry flavored version of Coke along with other flavors on visitors to the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.[3][4] Following further tests in various markets, Cherry Coke then entered mainstream production in the U.S. during the summer of 1985.[5] Cherry Coke was the third variation of Coca-Cola at that time – the others being regular Coca-Cola and Diet Coke – as well as the first flavored Coke[6] (there would not be another flavored Coke until Diet Coke with Lemon in 2001).[7] Cherry Coke was released nationally around the same time as New Coke, the controversial reformulation of original Coca-Cola. The company boasted Cherry Coke as "the first major entry into a whole new category: cherry-flavored sodas."[8]

In 1991, Coca-Cola reformulated Cherry Coke to make it taste more similar to fountain cherry cola after sales began to decline.[9]

Packaging and marketing

Packaging for Coca-Cola Cherry may differ from country to country. In the United States, Coca-Cola has altered the logos and label designs for Coca-Cola Cherry several times since it was introduced in 1985. In most cases, the can and bottle label designs have consisted of a purple hue, often with depictions of cherries.

Cherry Coke's design was significantly changed beginning in 1994, adopting a graffiti inspired design as part of a major makeover by Coca-Cola targeting the youth.[10][11] The design was rolled out in phases in different markets around the world.[12] In Canada, the drink was reintroduced in 1998 after a few years off market and the "Do something different" campaign was launched both there and in America for youth.[13][14]

In April 2002, Coca-Cola announced the repositioning of Cherry Coke and a new look, consistent with that of the then newly launching Vanilla Coke.[15] On February 7, 2007, Coca-Cola launched a new campaign for the Coca-Cola Cherry brand in the US, resulting in a significant redesign of the product's label. American rapper and record producer Jay-Z was chosen to be the spokesman and played a part in designing the new can graphics.[16]

As part of Coca-Cola's ongoing "One Brand" marketing campaign, a new U.S. packaging design for Coca-Cola Cherry was introduced in January 2019. The new packaging follows the design principles already employed in the United States for Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and Coca-Cola Life. The word "Coca-Cola" is superimposed upon a red disc with a picture of a cherry below the text. The background color of the can or bottle remains the same shade of purple introduced in the 2007 design. The word "Cherry" is placed above the red disc, similar to the "Original Taste" text currently used on cans and bottles of original Coca-Cola.[17]

Distribution

After its original launch in 1985, the product quickly garnered great interest throughout America. Internationally, Cherry Coke was test marketed in Japan to positive interest. The drink was rolled out to Canada, Puerto Rico, Norway and the Netherlands by the end of 1985.[18] By the end of 1986, availability was expanded to 33 markets around the world.[19]

Since then, the product has been sold on and off in various markets throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Cherry Coke was first introduced to New Zealand in 1993[20] and to Australia in 2003.[21] In Japan, it was discontinued a few years after its release, but has since seen limited edition revivals.[22] In Sweden it was also discontinued during the 1980s but was relaunched in the country in 2012.[23]

In Spain, the drink was introduced in 1995 and sold for three years. It returned as a limited edition in 2013 before becoming permanent due to demand.[24] In Poland, Cherry Coke made its debut in 1996 and was sold until 2018, replaced by the Zero Sugar version.[25]

Coca-Cola Cherry returned to the market in Brazil during the 2016 Summer Olympics as a limited edition drink.[26] It launched in Austria permanently in 2025 after having had periodic limited edition runs for ten years.[27]

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