New Coke

New Coke was a reformulation of the original Coca-Cola recipe introduced in 1985, aimed at modernizing the taste to compete with sweeter sodas like Pepsi. Despite extensive testing, consumers initially rejected it, expressing a strong preference for the classic flavor. The backlash was so intense that Coca-Cola reintroduced the original formula as "Coca-Cola Classic" shortly after, while retaining New Coke as an alternative. The episode is a notable example of consumer attachment to a brand's original product and the risks of altering long-standing formulas.