Sprite gets fruity with limited-time flavours

Two limited-time Sprite flavours are hitting store shelves: Sprite Cranberry and Sprite Cherry.

Back for the third year, Sprite Cranberry offers pop drinkers a popular holiday flavour. “Cranberry is something that’s synonymous with the holidays—Thanksgiving and Christmas—and we thought it would be a great flavour profile to pair with Sprite and bring to Canadians during that season,” says Melanie Isaac, senior brand manager, Coca-Cola.

With Nielsen data showing that cranberry is the fastest-growing carbonated beverage flavour in Canada, increasing 34% in the past year, “it’s just a flavour that Canadians love,” says Isaac.

Cherry is also a fan favourite in Canada. Coca-Cola analyzed data from Coca-Cola Freestyle, the company’s self-serve machine at fast-food outlets that lets customers try different flavour combinations. Cherry is the number-one “added flavour” in Canada for sparkling soft drinks served on Freestyle machines. Cherry is also a top Freestyle flavour in the U.S., where Coca-Cola launched Cherry Sprite earlier this year.

“We thought what a great way to give consumers what they already love, and give them the opportunity to have that in a packaged format,” says Isaac.

Sprite Cherry and Sprite Cranberry are available in 500mL bottles and 2L bottles. Sprite Cranberry is also offered in 355mL can 12 packs. The products will be available until the end of the year, or until supplies last.

The new flavours are being promoted in Canadian stores with case stacker display units, cooler clings and tent cards. Sprite is also continuing to run a North America-wide integrated marketing campaign, “Wanna Sprite,” featuring basketball star LeBron James. (Watch the ad below.)

“That is our overarching equity campaign that is running throughout the year, driving awareness of the Sprite brand,” says Isaac. “And when they go into store, they get hit with the messaging around these great new flavours for them to try.”