Coca-Cola introduced New Coke in 1985 as its first major formula change.
The reformulation followed taste tests in which many consumers preferred a sweeter formula associated with rival Pepsi. Coca-Cola announced the change on April 23, 1985, and temporarily replaced the original drink in the United States and Canada. The decision generated intense public criticism, including complaints from loyal customers who felt that a familiar cultural product had been taken away.
After less than three months, the company returned the original formula under the name Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke continued in limited form for several years before being discontinued in 2002. The episode is often cited as a major lesson in brand loyalty and the limits of blind taste tests.
The original formula was not simply renamed New Coke: the two were sold as separate products after the original returned. The company later brought New Coke back briefly in 2019 for a television tie-in.