ATLANTA – Coca-Cola will
offer a new version of its popular Coke Zero this summer, one sans caffeine,
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Caffeine Free Coke Zero will hit
shelves at supermarkets, convenience stores, drugstores and other locations in
mid-July. A national rollout will commence in August.
Coke Zero holds the 11th
spot in U.S. carbonated soda rankings, according to Beverage Digest. The
caffeine-free version will come in 12 packs of 12 ounce cans and 2 liter
bottles. Bottlers are seeing demand already for a caffeine-free version of Coke
Zero.
“Source says the aim is to
make this new product taste very similar to Coke Zero,” said John Sicher,
editor of Beverage Digest. “Sources say the strategy behind this new product is
to provide a caffeine-free version of Coke Zero (which contains caffeine) for
consumption in the evenings, when consumers may want a caffeine-free diet
cola.”
Coke’s goal is to make
Coke Zero “accessible for enjoyment all day long,” said Stuart Kronauge, who
leads sparkling for Coca-Cola North America Group. Coke launched Coke Zero
eight years ago. The brand has seen sales growth in the double digits for five
consecutive years.