Coca Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) better look out. Red Bull GmbH, the Austrian company behind bestselling energy drink and household name Red Bull, wants to try its hand at selling cola. The new drink, shown at right, will launch in seven countries over the next several months, with the US launch slated for June, according [subscription required] to the Wall Street Journal.According to BrandWeek, "Unlike Coca-Cola and Pepsi, Red Bull Cola will be 100% natural and command a premium price. Its formula will consist of kola nut and coca leaf."
The all-natural formula could be a big advantage for Red Bull,wcreating the perception of a more healthy beverage in the same way that vitaminwater became a big hit among people looking to drink healthier, in spite of being pretty high in calories.
Will Red Bull have success? That's hard to say without knowing what it tastes like, but with a strong brand and rapid growth, Red Bull could present the most serious challenge to the cola leadership of Coke and Pepsi in a long time -- possibly ever.
With Coke and Pepsi both experiencing significant declines in sales last year, this could be the perfect time to kick them while they're down.
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
4-08-2008 @ 12:54PM
rose said...
I'll try it to see if it's good.
4-08-2008 @ 3:07PM
oscarbound said...
Let me get this straight:
Mike G. above is calling Red Bull marketing people "dopes" because their can is not vendable in machines. He says they could "quadrupal" (sic) their sales.
LMFAO!!!!
A man who spells "quadruple" wrong is calling other people "dopes."
I love it.
I wonder sometimes how people exist being as stupid as Mike G.
4-08-2008 @ 1:23PM
Al said...
I'll definitely try Red Bull Cola. Price won't matter if it's a superior product.
4-08-2008 @ 1:42PM
Kay Bullard said...
I used to be a Pepsi drinker, but I switched to Coke when I got remarried (some 35 years ago) and I will drink Coke ALWAYS
Kay
4-08-2008 @ 1:44PM
Kay Bullard said...
Dr. Pepper is prune juice. It's what it tastes like to me. YUK!
4-08-2008 @ 2:29PM
eddy said...
RED BULL IS NOTHING BUT COLA WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CAFFINE IN IT....SHOULDN'T COLA BE FOR THIRST AND NOT FOR GETTING A HIGH ???
4-08-2008 @ 3:05PM
Gene said...
I will stick to water and Ice tea.
4-08-2008 @ 3:09PM
Wendy said...
If it's got a premium price tag, then it's competition is the gourmet colas (like Sprecher), not the mass colas (Coke, Pepsi, RC, store labels)
4-08-2008 @ 3:27PM
danm1701 said...
Skip all that crap and drink water and juice.
4-08-2008 @ 3:15PM
heidi said...
people should avoid drinking soda it is unhealthy and loaded with sugar water is the best thing for anyone to drink
4-08-2008 @ 3:29PM
Ed said...
Did I read this correctly ? This "new" cola is being presented as a healtheir cola, but yet has a higher calorie rate then the others...I think this is exactly what people need...A "new" cola that claims to be better for you while costing you more and destroying you probably already poor diet. I thin I will just stick with my Pepsi One. Yes, it only has one calorie per serving and is more healthier then diet sodas because it doesn't contain the aspartamine instead it uses splenda as a sweetener. Splenda has been around along time and is commonly used by people that are avoiding high doses of sugar or are on a sugar-free style diet. Again, I think I will just stick with Pepsi One...
4-08-2008 @ 4:10PM
Joe said...
LET'S ALL JUST DRINK MILLER LITE BEER AND FORGET ABOUT COKE AND PEPSI! LOL
4-08-2008 @ 6:08PM
Davetheshopper said...
Red Bull is a copy cat but can not compare to the taste and natural affects the A/S energy drinks give.
X/S had had Cola for over a year, and a lot of other flavors for many years. X/S tastes better than the "cough medicine" taste of Red Bull and if you read the can (which must be accurate or A/S will be in big trouble with "big brother"), The X/S is MUCH better for you to drink and it does not require you to work off the extra pounds Red Bull can add (again, read the labels.)
4-08-2008 @ 10:59PM
GORDON said...
HOW FAT ARE ALL YOU COKE DRINKER THINK ABOUT IT FAT-SOOOOOOOS
4-15-2008 @ 2:35PM
Ron D said...
Ok, regardless of semantics, soda is inherently bad for you. It needs to be manufactured, and is designed specifically to get you to drink more of it. Certain additions essentially addict you to the product, and through marketing and other ideas, you continue to buy the product, for whatever reason. That's your own fault.
As for the coca leaf, you are just plain ignorant if you believe the dea needs to be involved. Coca leaf in and of itself is NOT a narcotic. It contains a mild stimulant, which is used by the peoples of its native regions to combat problems due to their elevation, in a manner VERY much the same as we use caffeine. It is only through a long, tedious manufacturing process that coca leaf can become cocaine, and until that process is performed, coca is no more narcotic to you than Listerine.
4-19-2008 @ 5:31PM
rinlv said...
Everyone one this site really needs to go online do your research and know what your talking about before you pop off. Yes it is 100% made from all natural products and has no phosphoric acids it gets its acidity from lemon juice. If you read and understand it is not coke and pepsi or an energy drink it actually goes down much smoother and has no bitter aftertaste. I actually liked it and from what I understand is doing extremely well in Europre. Go in with an open mind and when you try it youll like it I did!