Soda Companies' Wildest Experiments: A Look Back at the Biggest Failures

The soda aisle of the 1980s and 1990s was a wild place. Major beverage companies were experimenting with new flavors, colors, and branding strategies to stand out from the competition. Some of these experiments failed miserably, while others gained cult followings that lasted for decades.

One of the most infamous failures was Crystal Pepsi, a clear cola introduced by Pepsi in 1992. The idea behind it was to create a cleaner-looking alternative to traditional colas. However, the product's sales were lackluster, and it was discontinued in 1994. Despite its failure, Crystal Pepsi has been revisited several times over the years through limited releases.

Another notable flop was OK Soda, introduced by Coca-Cola in the mid-1990s. The drink had an intentionally cynical tone and packaging that was meant to appeal to Generation X. However, it never gained enough momentum to be rolled out nationwide and was eventually abandoned.

Pepsi also experimented with various new products during this time period, including Pepsi A.M., a breakfast cola introduced in 1989. The drink contained more caffeine than regular Pepsi but failed to gain traction. Josta, another Pepsi product, combined guarana with caffeine and targeted younger customers. However, it was discontinued in 1999 due to lack of popularity.

Coca-Cola also had its share of failures during this time period. New Coke, introduced in 1985, was a reformulated version of the classic cola that sparked widespread criticism. The company eventually restored the original formula as Coca-Cola Classic but continued to sell New Coke under the name Coke II until it was eventually discontinued.

Surge, another Coca-Cola product, was introduced in the late 1990s and gained a devoted following despite its eventual decline in sales. However, it has since been revived through limited releases.