Not since “New Coke” has Coca-Cola insisted on being so wrongheaded.
“New” Coke lasted just 79 days before Coke customers rebelled and the company was forced to revert to the original recipe.
"The simple fact is that all of the time and money and skill poured into consumer research on a new Coca-Cola could not measure or reveal the depth and abiding emotional attachment to original Coca-Cola felt by so many people." Donald R. Keough, then Coca-Cola President.
The embarrassing flop went on to replace Ford’s Edsel as the #1 marketing blunder of the ages. Just 6 years ago, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fiasco, Coke again acknowledged it’s mistake and claimed to have learned a forever lesson.
“Thirty years ago, we introduced New Coke with no shortage of hype and fanfare. And it did succeed in shaking up the market. But not in the way it was intended. When we look back, this was the pivotal moment when we learned that fiercely loyal consumers -- not the Company -- own Coca-Cola and all of our brands. It is a lesson that we take seriously and one that becomes clearer and more obvious with each passing anniversary."
Until, that is, they entered the enlightened age of Woke Coke. In their wokeness the company introduced first an illegal policy of hiring only law firms that pass its quota test for diversity. Simultaneously they implemented a mandatory employee “training” program to pass that diversity along to a workforce that they apparently considered “too white.”
Alas, it seems “Woke Coke” is nearly as big a hit as “New Coke.”
‘Woke’ Coke Pauses Diversity Plan After ‘Intense Backlash,’ Plan Author Suddenly Resigns…
I here-by award to the Coca-Cola Company the esteemed Obama-era prize:
Today’s post proudly sponsored by the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum twins:
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