Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site unccvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!mcnc!unccvax!dsi From: dsi@unccvax.UUCP (Dataspan Inc) Newsgroups: net.rumor Subject: Re: Why *did* they change Coke? Message-ID: <227@unccvax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 9-Jul-85 09:09:34 EDT Article-I.D.: unccvax.227 Posted: Tue Jul 9 09:09:34 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 08:13:00 EDT References: <2509@topaz.ARPA> Organization: UNC-Charlotte Lines: 43 I don't know, but stockbrokers pull this kind of crap all the time. Most household commodity manufacturers live this way, too; so why not the Coca-Cola Corporation USA?? (How ** Many ** times have Tide or Pampers been improved in the last 3 years ????) Soft drink growth has been flat: less than 3 %/yr. Beverages as an industry (including hard spirits, beer and wine) have been doing even worse. Coca-Cola USA has been whipped at_the_fountain for years. In addition, CCUSA has some loser units, such as Columbia Pictures (including television) and some participation in independent UHF TV stations, which ain't cheap. Their commodity brands have been pretty flat, too (heard any controversy over Minute Mud frozen orange bush by-products lately ??) So why not change and get some cash flow (and free publicity); then change back (more cash flow, more publicity). Saturation advertiting just doesn't have the impact of Dan Rather covering the NY news conference announcing the new Coke. Was the worldwide formulation changed (do people in Bombay have to suffer with that ^#^%$(*^)(*^(*% disgusting fluid as well?) Perhaps they were imbibing a bit of atropine with that extra radical attached ? The way I see it, CCUSA could accomplish a lot more by 1) fixing their product packaging--particularly cans-- so that the product inside didn't acquire the taste of the can and 2) GET THOSE DAMN PEOPLE WHO SERVICE FOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT TO FOLLOW THE RECIPIE (including correct C02 line pressure, clean lines and water, etc) faithfully. Coke tastes rottener than Pepsi at the typical undermaintained fountain. People who pump bilge water don't do much good for Coke, either. Frankly, this 'abrupt change' business isn't to be believed. When I was in grammar school, a Coke left to stand for a few hours developed these twisty particulate thingies at the bottom (mom said it was caramel?) and they all tasted much better. Then again, the pull tab can hadn't been invented yet and they cost 15 cents at the expensive places. 'Nuff said. David Anthony Chief Soft Drink Taste-Tester DataSpan, Inc. UUCP: (akgua, philabs, decvax, mcnc)!unccvax!dsi .