On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola Co. famously announced that it was trading in its Coca-Cola (aka Coke) soft drink’s nearly century-old secret formula for a new, sweeter one. Certain taste tests had shown that many consumers preferred the sweeter taste of Pepsi, so “New Coke” was the company’s answer to that particular problem.
The new product received a not-so-enthusiastic public reception, however. In fact, many Coke drinkers were so upset that they launched campaigns across the country to try to persuade Coca-Cola to bring back the original Coke. And that’s exactly what the company did less than three months later, on July 11 — under the new Coca-Cola Classic brand.