Surge Comes Back; Where to Buy '90s Coca Cola Drink
2001 was not a very good time for those who drank Surge--the year when it disappeared from the market. The promising competitor of Mountain Dew, the carb-packed soda was a liquid blend of classic (now nostalgic) citrus flavor.
The unforgettable taste lingered for over a decade since its absence. Today, the popular soda from the '90s makes a thirst-quenching comeback--not in your local grocery, but on Amazon.
The revival resulted from social media pressure which pushed Coca-Cola to revive the sought-after drink. The Facebook campaign, dubbed "Surge Movement", was well-established. The page reads:
"The SURGE Movement is a centralized community of SURGE fans credited for the return of SURGE Soda and is now dedicated to making SURGE a sustainable brand."
As of now, the Facebook page has over 140,000 likes and excitement continues to build up.
The group's efforts, which finally paid off, included the big things and the little things. Last year, they were able to raise $4,000 to purchase a billboard close to Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters. The banner humored, "Dear Coke, we couldn't buy Surge, so we bought this billboard instead." On top of that gigantic wish, the campaign also sold campaign shirts.
Certainly, the beloved soda is coming back but the big question is, will it be the same?
The original formulation will be adopted, as well as the packaging design. Included in the soda's mix are high-fructose corn syrup, blue #1 and concentrated orange juice, as reported by CNET. Other components included are carbonated water, maltodextrin, citric acid, caffeine, yellow #5, yellow #6 and carob bean gum. Both potassium benzoate and calcium disodium EDTA protect taste.
So, is Surge staying forever?
Wendy Clark, Coca-Cola President of North America Sparkling & Strategic Marketing shared via USA Today that Surge's comeback is a great learning experience for the company. She also said that it is a refreshing opportunity for fans.
However, consumers will have to keep their loyalty. "Future plans for the brand will depend on the level of excitement exhibited by fans across the country," she revealed.
According to Bloomberg, 12-packs of 16-ounce cans sell for $14 in Amazon. This is the pilot Coca-Cola drink sold through an online retailer. Amazon requires buyers to sign up before purchasing.
Currently, the drink is unavailable. Still, a reviewer was enthusiastic, "Can it get any better!?!?! I'm not even mad it's sold out. Expect more to come!"
Surge is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars as of the moment.