🥤 July 11, 1985 – Coca-Cola Brings Back “Classic” Coke

Seventy-nine days after the fiasco of “New Coke,” the Coca-Cola Company bowed to public demand on July 11, 1985 and reintroduced the original Coca-Cola formula as “Coca-Cola Classic.” The announcement – greeted with cheers and relief from consumers – made front-page news across the country. Coca-Cola execs admitted they had underestimated the public’s emotional attachment to the 99-year-old soda. With the return of the old recipe (now branded “Classic”), Coca-Cola regained its market lead against Pepsi, and the episode became a textbook case in marketing disasters and brand loyalty.

The turnaround was dramatic. In the spring of 1985, New Coke’s sweeter taste had debuted to initial curiosity, but soon there were protests, hotline complaints, and even “Bring Back Old Coke” clubs formed by devoted fans. Some people hoarded cases of the original Coke; one man drove to a bottling plant and spent $1,000 to stockpile it. Coca-Cola’s abrupt course correction in July not only restored its flagship product but also taught corporations a lesson about listening to consumers. Coca-Cola Classic went on to thrive, while “New Coke” (later rebranded Coke II) quietly disappeared from shelves.

Interesting Fact: Coca-Cola’s reversal was so momentous it led TV newscasts and newspaper headlines nationwide. The company’s CEO later joked that they weren’t idiots for trying New Coke – “and we’re not geniuses for bringing it back” – yet the return of Classic Coke sent sales skyrocketing, proving consumers really meant it when they said “Don’t mess with my Coke!”