Diet Coke relaunched with new flavors and packaging

ATLANTA — In a major brand relaunch, Coca-Cola Co. has added four new flavors to Diet Coke and revamped its packaging, shifting to a taller, sleeker and more colorful cans that still hold the same 12-oz. portion of soda.

“Diet Coke is one of the most iconic brands loved by millions of fans in North America,” Rafael Acevedo, Coca-Cola North America’s group director for Diet Coke, said in a statement. “Throughout this relaunch journey, we wanted to be bold, think differently and be innovative in our approach. And most importantly, we wanted to stay true to the essence of Diet Coke while recasting the brand for a new generation.”

The four brand new flavors, in tandem with the design, include Diet Coke Ginger Lime, Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, Diet Coke Zesty Blood Orange and Diet Coke Twisted Mango.

“We know Diet Coke has all kinds of fans – from people who have loved its great taste since it launched in 1982 to Millennial men and women who are always looking to try new things,” according to Acevedo.

“We’re modernizing what has made Diet Coke so special for a new generation. The same unapologetic confidence still comes through and the same great Diet Coke taste people love is here to stay, but we’re making the brand more relatable and more authentic,” he added.

The new flavors will come in taller cans, and the original flavor will be available in both tall and standard-size cans. The new flavors will be sold as single cans or in packs of eight and are slated to hit store shelves starting in mid-January.

Acevedo noted that the two-year innovation process was fueled by consumer research pointing to younger Americans’ affinity for big, yet refreshing and great-tasting, flavors in their favorite foods and beverages, from hoppy craft beers to spicy sauces.

“Millennials are now thirstier than ever for adventures and new experiences, and we want to be right by their side,” he explained. “We’re contemporizing the Diet Coke brand and portfolio with sleek packaging and new flavors that are appealing to new audiences.”