Sodatheology - Part 5 : Vanilla Coke & The Lifestyle Circle

" I don't know if we have ever taken out a flavor and brought it back to the market, but the landscape continues to change and we want to be as flexible as possible to adapt to the changing landscape" said Scoot Williamson, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola at the day that the world's largest soft drink announce that it would phase out its Vanilla Coke, Vanilla Diet Coke and Diet Coke with Lemon beverages in the United States by end of this year. The announcement came a day after Coca-Cola said it would phase out Vanilla Coke and Vanilla Diet Coke in the United Kingdom early next year. The company said sales have declined.

How it happen to Vanilla Coke?. The real story of Vanilla Coke started back to 23 years ago when The Coca-Cola Company form a secret team of 8 people to develop a new soda flavors. But due to "New Coke" disaster, the plans for "Vanilla Coke" were shelved and the team of 8 was disbanded.

As the member of 8 coke employee learned of the new Vanilla Coke coming out in May 15,2002 he wondered if it could be the formula he and his secret team worked on years ago. Due to the jealousy, he came out with his own version of Vanilla Coke and make around 2,000 bottle, completed with flashy " V-Coke " logo in a 600ml pet bottle. He created a website where he shamelessly promote HIS Vanilla Coke. He said it would only be a matter of time before Coca-Cola shut him down with legal action.

But the trouble and hoax with all of this is that it's not real. The real truth behind the real truth is that The Coca-Cola Company just created its very first alternative marketing campaign with a site so real until some people couldn't tell the difference.

" Essentially, the whole concept of V-Coke and their activities are actually part of an experimental underground marketing program to help create buzz around Vanilla Coke. It's a brand new brand that there is a lot of buzz about anyway, so this seemed like a good thing to try with Vanilla Coke. So, everyone can choose to believe what they want to believe and what they want to drink. Many companies 'create' underground marketing program to build the interest and attention toward their products. There are individuals whose real stories are cleverly maneuvered by companies. In the end, for me, I am truly getting what I wanted all along....a huge interest and new found success for one of my best achievements. Either way, I am satisfied" said Susan McDermott, a Coca-Cola spokeswoman confirmed that Coke was behind the whole thing.

Officially, on the 116th birthday of Coca-Cola, The Coca-Cola Company making the first official delivery of Vanilla Coke to the United States market. At the time of launch, packaging graphics of Vanilla Coke will feature for the first time ever, the "Coke" brand name in the unique script of the Coca-Cola trade mark. The dynamic ribbon device or "wave" also returns to reinforce the connection to the Coca-Cola brand.

But after just around 3 1/2 years on the market, the Vanilla Coke will say goodbye to Coke lover in the United States and United Kingdom...but which other country will do a same action next ?. For Malaysia and as confirm by the Brand Manager of Coca-Cola Malaysia " Thank you for your interest in our product. Malaysia will continue to market Vanilla Coke in 2006, as the product is very successful in Malaysia".