d Merchandise 7X, will stay locked in the Trust Company of Georgia bank vault in Atlanta, never to be used again"(Demott et. al 55). This is what many Coke officials said, "This is the most significant soft drink development in the company's history"(Demott et. al 54). The change back to the old Coke was known as the Second Coming. Roberto Goizueta said, "Today, we have two messages to deliver to the American consumer, first, to those of you who are drinking Coca-Cola with its great new taste, our thanks...But there is a second group of consumers to whom we want to speak to today and our message to this group is simple: We have heard you"(Oliver 178). On July 10, 1985, eighty-seven days after the new Coke was introduced, the old Coke was brought back in addition to the new one. This was greatly due to dropping market share and consumer protest. The market share fell from a high of 15 percent to a low of 1.4 percent(Miller 38). Roberto Goizueta and Donald Keough took full blame for this failed product launch. Don Keough, Coca-Cola president, said in response to the comeback, "The truth is we are not dumb and we are not that smart"(New bottle 18). Roberto Goizueta's response when the change about, "We have heard you"(Moore 8). This was said to be a classic marketing retreat. Coca-Cola executives admitted that they had goofed by taking the old Coke off the market. One old Coke loyalist said, "The company had spoiled the taste of its ninety nine year old soft drink and betrayed a national trust"(Moore 8). Ike Herbert, a Coke marketer said, "You would have thought we had invented a cure for cancer"(Pendergrast 366). The Coca- Cola company's eight hundred number received eighteen thousand calls of gratitude. One caller said they felt like a lost friend had returned home. The comeback of old Coke drove stock prices to the highest level in twelve years. This was said to be the only way to regain the lead on the cola wars(Classic comeback of an ...
