Vanilla Coke

by Coca-Cola

2002 – 2005 IT CAME BACK

Back. Gone from US shelves at the end of 2005, returned in May 2007 rebranded Coca-Cola Vanilla (with a Zero sibling), and still sold today — the company's own FAQ now answers the question directly: no, it is not discontinued.

Last verified Nov 6, 2026

Coca-Cola's biggest launch since Diet Coke, two decades earlier: plain Coke with a soft vanilla finish, introduced in May 2002. America bought it furiously, then forgot about it almost as fast.

🧾 One more thingIn its first four weeks it was the best-selling 20-ounce soft drink in US supermarkets and drug chains — and by 2004 annual sales had fallen from 90 million unit cases to 35 million. Its replacement, Black Cherry Vanilla Coke, lasted about 18 months.

Filed under: Drinks & Sodas · the ’00s & later

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📅 Timeline

2002Announced April 15 and in stores nationwide May 15 — Coca-Cola's first new flavor since Cherry Coke in 1985, and its biggest launch since Diet Coke two decades earlier.
2002Within four weeks it was the best-selling 20-ounce soft drink in US supermarkets and drug chains; Diet Vanilla Coke followed that summer.
2005With annual sales collapsed from 90 million unit cases (2002) to 35 million (2004), Coca-Cola announced in November it would phase out Vanilla Coke by the end of the year.
2006Black Cherry Vanilla Coke took its slot in January — and lasted about 18 months.
2007Vanilla Coke returned to the US in May, rebranded Coca-Cola Vanilla and joined by Vanilla Coke Zero; New Zealand had gotten it back three months earlier.
2026Still sold; Coca-Cola's own FAQ answers the perennial question directly: no, it is not discontinued.

❓ People also ask

Is Vanilla Coke discontinued?

No. It has been continuously available in the US since the May 2007 relaunch as Coca-Cola Vanilla, in regular and Zero Sugar versions, and the company's own FAQ says so outright.

Why was Vanilla Coke discontinued in 2005?

Sales fell off a cliff: from 90 million unit cases in 2002 to 35 million in 2004. Coca-Cola phased it out at the end of 2005 along with Diet Vanilla Coke and Diet Coke with Lemon, replacing it with Black Cherry Vanilla Coke.

When did Vanilla Coke come back?

May 2007 in the US, with a relaunch event at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta — three months after New Zealand got it back in February 2007.

🧾 Sources

FoodNavigator, Coke with a twist: new roll-out (2002)
China Daily (agency report), Coca-Cola to phase out Vanilla Coke in the US (2005)
Marketing Week, Coke pulls plug on Vanilla as it plans Diet Cherry launch (2005)
just-drinks, US: Coca-Cola reintroduces Vanilla line (2007)
MediaPost, Coke Relaunches Vanilla Coke Amid Great Fanfare (2007)

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