After years of research to create the best tasting sugar-free Coke ever, Coca-Cola launched the new Coke No Sugar in Fiji.

Created after more than five years of research, recipe mixing and flavour trials, Coke No Sugar has been designed to taste as similar to the original Coca-Cola Classic as possible by a team of taste experts at the company’s US headquarters.Coca-Cola Amatil (Fiji) Ltd’s General Manager Roger Hare said: “We are very proud that we are one of the first countries in the world to launch Coke No Sugar.

“We recognise that Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji Ltd have a leadership role to play in Fiji and introducing Coke No Sugar is about our business taking that leap from simply offering more choice to actively encouraging people to drink a ‘no sugar’ option.”

Mr Hare said the company is committed to offering more sugar-free options.

Coca-Cola Amatil Communications Manager NZ and Pacific Neil Waka said the presence of Coke No Sugar in the Pacific has been overwhelming.

“Its growing incredibly well, its been a surprise to some people and not to others because in the Pacific people love Coca Cola and to be able to provide people with no sugar option that taste very similar.

“What we have done is we have provided people an opportunity to taste test.

So people buy both and put them side by side and let someone else pour it for you and see if they can tell the difference.

“Its great to be able to do that with so many people some of them get it wrong and they can’t some time tell the difference and its about the taste that’s what people love Coca Cola.

“And if you can provide a no sugar option that provides less calories or kilojoules than that’s positive and means you can enjoy your Coke but with no sugar,” said the experienced broadcaster.

Coke No Sugar becomes a new permanent member of the Coca-Cola family in Fiji and has been available nationally from March 28, 2018 in all major and independent retailers.

“We think it’s the closest we have ever come to the classic taste of Coca-Cola,” Felisha Tuiloma, Marketing Manager of Coca-Cola Amatil (Fiji) Ltd (CCAF) said.

“We wanted the experience of drinking Coke No Sugar to be as close as possible to the ‘real thing’.

“That’s no small task when you consider the original taste is so well-known and has been around for over 130 years.

“Faced with this challenge, our team of taste experts spent five years mixing different flavours and conducting 18 separate consumer trials before finally cracking it.

“We believe the new Coke No Sugar is closest we have ever come to the classic taste of Coca-Cola and the best tasting sugar-free cola we’ve made,” Ms Tuiloma said.

The global rollout of Coke No Sugar will be the biggest launch of a new Coca-Cola since Coke Zero was introduced in Fiji in 2007.

“People are looking for a better balance in their diet and lifestyle, which is why we are changing the way we do things at Coca-Cola,” she said.

“Coke No Sugar will be a great new choice for those who love the taste of Coke but are watching their sugar intake.

“We want Coke No Sugar to be a consideration for Fijians and giving them the chance to taste it for themselves is important to us.”

Coke No Sugar will be available in an extensive range of package sizes and formats: 330ml Cans, 600ml PET bottle, 1.25L PET bottle and 2.25L PET bottle.

Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji have had a number of launches including a staff launch, customer and the public in Suva, Nadi and Labasa.

Facts

Q1. What is Coca-Cola No Sugar?

Coca-Cola No Sugar is a brand-new sugar-free Coca-Cola. We think it tastes even more like classic Coca-Cola but without sugar.

Q2. When is it launching in Fiji?

Coca-Cola No Sugar will be available in stores nationally from March 12, 2018 in all major and independent retailers.

Q3. What pack sizes will Coke No Sugar be available in?Coca-Cola No Sugar will be available in an extensive range of package sizes and formats: 330ml can, 600ml PET bottle, 1.25L PET bottle, 2L PET bottle and 2.25L PET bottle.

Q4. Why did you launch Coca-Cola No Sugar?We think that Coca-Cola No Sugar is the best tasting sugar-free cola we have ever made. It is the product of years of research and marks the latest step in the evolution of our sugar-free Coke recipes that began with Diet Coke in 1982. We continued the journey towards finding a recipe which tastes closer to Coke when we launched Coke Zero in 2007.

Q5. Is Coca-Cola No Sugar new?

Yes.Coca-Cola No Sugar was created after more than five years of research, trying dozens of recipes and undertaking numerous consumer trials and it will become a new permanent member of the Coca-Cola family.

Q6. ]Is this about sugar concerns?

Coca-Cola wants to make sure that people who love the taste of Coca-Cola can keep enjoying a great taste but without the sugar. The fact is, we completely agree that too much sugar isn’t good for anyone, but we also know that sugar can be part of a healthy diet when it’s consumed in the right amount. If you‘ve stopped drinking Coca-Cola because you are worried about how much sugar you are consuming, give Coca-Cola No Sugar a try. Coca-Cola No Sugar will be a great new choice for those who love the taste of Coke but are watching their sugar intake.

Q7. Where can I taste a free sample of Coca-Cola No Sugar?

Consumers will be able to get free samples in more places and via more methods than ever before including office drops, sponsored Coca-Cola events and in most retail outlets across the country. The Coca-Cola No Sugar sampling campaign will run from March until the end of the year.

Q8. Is Fiji the first country to launch Coca-Cola No Sugar?

Fiji’s launch of Coca-Cola No Sugar follows its debut in Mexico in 2016 where the consumer response to the great new taste has been overwhelmingly positive.

Q9. What is Coca-Cola No Sugar sweetened with?Coca-Cola No Sugar has no sugar in it.It is sweetened with the same sugar alternatives as Coke Zero and Diet Coke. Coca-Cola No Sugar is sweetened with aspartame and acesulphame potassium (sometimes called Acesulphame-K or Ace-K) which is also what Coke Zero and Diet Coke is sweetened with.w

Both aspartame and Acesulphame-K are used in place of sugar in many foods and drinks to provide people with a low kilojoule or no sugar alternatives.

The sugar alternatives in Coca-Cola No Sugar are among the most researched in the world, with scientific studies consistently confirming their safety.

Q10. Why have you named it Coca-Cola No Sugar?

We chose the name to be as clear as possible about the fact that the new Coke No Sugar is exactly that – a Coca-Cola with no sugar.

The ingredients listed on packaging don’t appear to differ between Coke Zero and Coca-Cola No Sugar, what’s the difference then?

The key difference is due further optimisation of the flavours. Like all product labels in Australia and New Zealand (and Fiji) any flavours used in the recipe are all included in the ingredient list under the term ‘flavours’. You will however see from the ingredient list that packaged Coca-Cola No Sugar does not contain any preservatives.

Q11. What’s the price?

The recommended retail price of Coca-Cola No Sugar will be in line with the recommended retail prices of our other Coca-Cola trademark drinks. Our prices are recommendations only and the retailer is free to set its own price.

Q12. The ingredients listed on packaging don’t appear to differ between Coke Zero and Coca-Cola No Sugar, what’s the difference then?

The key difference is due to further optimisation of the flavours. Like all product labels in Australia and New Zealand (and Fiji) any flavours used in the recipe are all included in the ingredient list under the term ‘flavours’. You will however see from the ingredient list that packaged Coca-Cola No Sugar does not contain any preservatives.

Q13. What does this mean for Diet Coke?Diet Coke has a distinct taste and is designed to be a lighter cola offering without sugar.

People love the taste of Diet Coke and we’ve got no plans to change that.But for people who enjoy a Coca-Cola Classic and are looking to consume less sugar Coca-Cola No Sugar can offer them a great Coke taste but without the sugar.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj