Why Did Coca-Cola Give Up on Spiced So Quickly? [Video]

Coca-Cola announced plans to discontinue a new flavor, Coca-Cola Spiced, just seven months after its debut.

The planned phase-out was particularly a surprise because Spiced marked the brand’s first described “permanent” alternative launch to classic Coke in the U.S. in three years.

“We’re always looking at what our customers like and adjusting our range of products,” Coke said in a media statement. “As part of this strategy, we’re planning to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025.”

Launched at a livestream media event in New York and with a splashy ad campaign in February, Coke described Spiced — aimed at younger consumers — as having a “classic taste of Coca-Cola with refreshing bursts of raspberry and a curated blend of warm spiced flavors.”

One challenge, assumed by several reports, was the name, with critics of the flavor arguing that the “spice” was minimal and that the artificial raspberry flavor was overwhelming. At the time of the drink’s launch, Coke …