Coca-Cola Is Bringing Back “New Coke”

Coca-Cola is hoping a failed product from the 1980s will help it go viral in 2019.

The company is bringing back a limited number of New Coke cans in honor of the upcoming third season of “Stranger Things,” in which the product is featured.

“Stranger Things” creators Ross and Matt Duffers came up with the idea to bring New Coke back as a way to promote the show, which will start streaming on Netflix on July 4. The third season of the show takes place during the summer of 1985 — when Coca-Cola debuted a new recipe for its iconic beverage.

So-called New Coke was a flop, Consumers reacted so poorly to the new drink that Coca-Cola pulled it from shelves after a few months. New Coke was rebranded as Coke II, and sold in some places after 1985. But this is the first time Coca-Cola is bringing back New Coke with that branding.

There are three ways for customers to get the retro product: As a gift when they buy limited-edition “Stranger Things” Coke and Coke Zero Sugar glass bottles online starting Thursday, through “Stranger Things” themed pop up vending machines that will be in cities this summer, or as a giveaway when they purchase a gift or ticket at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. Coca-Cola has produced under 500,000 of the New Coke 12-ounce cans, and expects to run out quickly.

The company is also selling “Stranger Things” themed cans of regular Coke and Coke Zero Sugar, and is releasing a remake of a 1980s ad featuring characters from the show.

(Via: CNN)