Coca-cola has discontinued flavour shoppers ‘absolutely love' leaving fans heartbroken

The Sun

2 days ago

COCA-COLA has discontinued a popular flavour and fans are heartbroken.
Coca-Cola Vanilla Zero has permanently vanished from supermarket shelves, The Sun understands.
The low-calorie drink had a classic cola taste alongside flavourings of the sweet and creamy spice.
It was sold in 2litre bottles as well as 330ml cans and 500ml bottles.
Heartbroken fans have put calls out on social media to figure out where the beloved drink had vanished to.
Writing on X, one customer said: "Is it true that Coke Zero Vanilla is being discontinued from your range in the UK as supplies are very difficult to find? Signed Coke Zero Vanilla lover."
The product is no longer available to purchase in UK stores.
Cans of the drink are advertised as out of stock on Asda, as well as Amazon. Sainsbury's also does not currently stock the product.
A few supermarkets such as Tesco and Morrisons are selling 2-Litre bottles of the drink for £2.15.
But this is not totally uncommon to see when a product is axed, as supermarkets try to shift old goods before they vanish completely.
News of the discontinuation will come as a blow to shoppers who described the drink as their "favourite" flavour.
Another shopper gave the drink a five star review and said it reminds them of cream soda.
'Run don't walk' says Irish shopper as major bargain on shelves at Dunnes Stores for just €5 - but there's a catch
And a third said: "I had cut my sugar down and stumbled on to this and it tastes great I absolutely love it very good replacement for the original."
The flavour first launched in April 2017, and was a hit with shoppers.
It is not the first time Coca-Cola has axed a popular drink.
Coca-Cola Lime was off shelves for nearly two decades, before being brought back last year.
It featured the classic Coke flavour but mixed with lime juice.
The beverage was sold in stores from 2005 until 2007 before being axed by the drinks maker.
Shoppers were also stunned to see Coca-Cola Cinnamon back on shelves last November.
The beverage was first launched in 2019 as a "limited-time offer" for the Christmas period, and made a return last year.
MORE DISCONTINUED PRODUCTS
And it is not only Coca-Cola that is shaking up its product offering.
Shoppers were devastated after learning Halo Top axed its dupe for Häagen-Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.
Alpen cereal bars have also now permanently disappeared from supermarket shelves.
Alpen bars were also loved by many watching what they eat or following a Slimming World or Weight Watchers diet plan, as the treat was low in calories.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the "sugar tax," forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.