Consumers respond enthusiastically to glass bottles and cane sugar recipe.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Mexican Coca-Cola has developed a cult-like following among consumers where the drink is sold, especially in Grand Rapids, The Grand Rapids Press reports.
Whether it??s because the drink is bottled in glass or flavored with cane sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup, consumers report a noticeable flavor boost, and a Facebook page dedicated to the drink has attracted thousands of fans.
"It's a strange thing," said Grand Rapid convenience store owner Genaro Vazquez, who said the drink is more popular among non-Hispanic customers. "They love it. They come for four or six at a time, especially in the summer."
The drink typically sells for a premium, with Vazquez selling it for $1.35 a bottle, while some stores price it as high as $2.50. But its availability is becoming easier, which is bringing down the cost.
Coca-Cola North America began importing Mexican Coke in 2005 to a handful of markets and has since expanded its availability to the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest.
Spartan Stores used to stock small quantities in a handful of stores, and Mexican Coke and Mexican orange-flavored Fanta are now available in 88 of the 97 corporate-owned stores. They sell for a dollar a bottle, and since the beginning of May, each store has sold an average of 51 cases.
Meijer has carried 12-ounce and 16.9-ounce glass bottles of Mexican Coke "for some time," according to company spokesperson Fran Guglielmi.
"We??re seeing more people look for it," he said. "If the interest continues to grow, we??re going to look at bringing more of it into the stores and expanding our offerings."
Coca-Cola research shows that there is no perceptible taste difference between the two Coke recipes, though Greg Galvez, vice president and general manager of importation and commercialization for Coca-Cola North America, acknowledged taste is a complex sense.
"(It) is affected by many things, including the food you consume with the product, the size of the glass, and the amount of ice in the glass, the temperature of the beverage, etc.," he said.
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