The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff Reports

Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:28 PM
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Coca-Cola Ditches Coke Zero - Replacement Drink "Coca-Cola Zero Sugar" Coming In Late August
 Coca-Cola announced Wednesday the company would be ditching Coke Zero. The replacement will be called "Coca-Cola Zero Sugar," which has already been a success in 25 markets around the world, including in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The drink will be hitting American shelves in August, CNN reports.

So, what's the difference between the two Cokes? Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is supposed to taste more like the original Coke. The packaging is also more similar to the original Coca-Cola design, keeping the iconic red color and incorporating it with the black.

The company said it wanted to be "as clear and descriptive as possible" so that consumers know the drink is sugar-free.

The makeover comes as major beverage industries are working to raise consumption of high-sugar and high-calorie drinks; soda sales in the United States fell to a 30-year low last year, according to Beverage Digest.

Coke Zero debuted in 2005 and was one of the top 10 soda brands in 2016. While sales grew by 3.5 percent last year, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar grew by double-digits globally.