View source for Coca-Cola C2

{{short description|Cola-flavored beverage}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Coke II]], a short-lived rebranding of the "New Coke" formula}}
{{Infobox Beverage
|name=Coca-Cola C2
|logo = Cocacola c2 brand logo.png
|image= CocaCola C2.jpg
|type=[[Diet soda]]
|manufacturer=[[The Coca-Cola Company]]
| origin= [[Japan]]
| introduced={{end date and age|2004|06|07}}
| discontinued={{end date and age|2007}}
| related= [[Coca-Cola Life]], [[Pepsi ONE]], [[Diet Coke]], [[Coca-Cola Zero Sugar|Coca-Cola Zero]]
|website = 
}}
'''Coca-Cola C2''' (also referred to as '''Coke C2''', '''C2 Cola''', or simply '''C2''') was a [[cola]]-flavored [[beverage]] produced in response to the [[low-carbohydrate diet]] trend.<ref>[https://www.agrodigital.com/2004/04/22/coca-cola-lanza-su-nueva-bebida-c2/ Coca-Cola lanza su nueva medida] on Agroditital, 22 Apr 2004</ref> This [[Coca-Cola|Coke]] product was marketed as having half the [[carbohydrates]], [[sugars]] and [[calories]] compared to standard Coca-Cola. It contained [[aspartame]], [[acesulfame potassium]], and [[sucralose]] in addition to the [[high fructose corn syrup]] (and [[Sugar]] in Japan) typically found in cola beverages distributed in [[Americas|America]].<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2004/05/24/news/fortune500/coke/ Coca-Cola launches low-carb C2 cola] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824220845/https://money.cnn.com/2004/05/24/news/fortune500/coke/ |date=2021-08-24 }}, May 24, 2004, CNN</ref>

==History==
Codenamed as "Coca-Cola Ultra",<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2004-03-25 |title=Will new variants stop cola getting canned? |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/will-new-variants-stop-cola-getting-canned/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Marketing Week |language=en}}</ref> [[The Coca-Cola Company]] unrevealed C2 in April 2004, announcing that the drink would be released in [[Japan]] prior to its release in [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Linnane |first=Ciara |title=Coca-Cola to launch C2 drink in Japan, U.S. this summer |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/coca-cola-to-launch-c2-drink-in-japan-us-this-summer |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}</ref>

The drink launched in Japan on June 7, 2004, with an advertising campaign featuring Japanese footballer [[Hidetoshi Nakata]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2004-05-19 |title=Japan to get first taste of new Coke |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2004/05/19/business/japan-to-get-first-taste-of-new-coke/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=The Japan Times |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318203545/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2004/05/19/business/japan-to-get-first-taste-of-new-coke/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The drink's launch in the United States at the end of the month was promoted on [[radio]] and [[television]], and [[movie theaters]] initially using [[The Rolling Stones]]' "[[You Can't Always Get What You Want]]" and later [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "[[I Want to Break Free]]". Eight different [[NASCAR Cup Series]] drivers (except Bobby Labonte and Elliott Sadler) ran paint schemes in the [[2004 Pepsi 400]] race to promote the new drink. The drink was released in Canada shortly afterwards. A planned launch for C2 in the [[United Kingdom]] was aborted in December 2004 after research had shown fears that the drink would overtake [[Diet Coke]] in sales.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2004-12-01 |title=Coke aborts 'mid-carb' UK launch |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/coke-aborts-mid-carb-uk-launch/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Marketing Week |language=en}}</ref>

American sales did not live up to early expectations mainly due to customer disinterest in a mid-calorie soda; however, Coca-Cola said the brand would remain in its lineup, even while Pepsi discontinued its equivalent product, [[List of Pepsi variations#Other Low-Calorie Varieties|Pepsi Edge]],<ref>[https://www.bevnet.com/news/2004/06-14-2004-pepsi_edge_vs_coke_c2.asp Coca-Cola C2 vs Pepsi Edge: A Head-to-Head Comparison]. BevNET.com Staff Jun. 14, 2004</ref> in late 2005, just one year after its introduction.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2005/jan/07/1 Coke shaken by low-carb failure], ''The Guardian'', 7 Jan 2005</ref>

By 2005, many store shelves completely replaced the product with Coca-Cola Zero due to display, shelving and storage limitations. The drink was silently discontinued in Japan in 2006 for similar reasons as in the United States, and by 2007 the drink had disappeared from all store shelves where it had previously remained in favor of [[Coca-Cola Cherry|Coca-Cola Cherry Zero]].

In 2013, The Coca-Cola Company introduced a similar product - [[Coca-Cola Life]], another mid-calorie variant of Coca-Cola which used [[Stevia]] leaf extract in addition to sugar or corn syrup. Coca-Cola Life, while having had a larger availability rate than C2, shared similar low sales and was entirely discontinued by 2020.

==See also==
* [[New Coke]]
* [[List of defunct consumer brands]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Varieties of Coca-Cola}}
{{Coca-Cola brands}}
{{Diet sodas}}

[[Category:Diet drinks]]
[[Category:Coca-Cola cola brands]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2004]]
[[Category:Discontinued soft drinks]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2007]]