Three in a row is what beverage giant Coca Cola is aiming for as it formed another partnership with Molson Coors to offer a new line of ready-to-drink spiked lemonades, under the Simply brand. It has also launched the Topo Chico Hard Seltzer brand with Molson Coors in 2020 and announced Fresca canned cocktails with Constellation Brands, last month.
Shares of Coke fell by 1.7 percent while shares of Molson Coors fell by 1.4 percent, following the announcement.
Coca Cola does not break up results for the Simply brand. It includes juices, lemonades, smoothies and plant-based milks. On Tuesday, the beverage giant said that Simply was its second largest brand by revenue, following its namesake soda which was the largest brand by revenue.
Simply Spiked Lemonade will be out in summer, to add a kick to your ice cool lemony beverage. A variety 12-can pack including popular flavors in its non alcoholic range such as Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade and best seller Signature Lemonade will be the initial spiked offering. The beverage will also be available as 24-ounce stand-alone cans for a few flavors.
In 2020, Coca Cola and Molson Coors had partnered to offer Topo Chico Hard Seltzer. It was launched in nine states across the nation. Robust sales leading to a No. 2 share in the U.S., according to Molson Coors and has led to a proposed an expansion nationwide in 2022. Molson Coors also said that the No. 2 spot was reached, although the alcoholic beverage was launched in only 16 markets.
Soda companies are no longer the only ones who are expanding their markets by including alcohol in their top selling soda brands. A reverse market has also come into the beverage race as AB InBev’s Anheuser-Busch is now offering Bud Light-branded Hard Soda. It is available in four flavors such as classic cola, cherry cola, citrus and orange.
