A Russian beverage maker has disclosed a new range of soft drinks to replace the iconic brands that have left the Russian market in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
In spite of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, Russians will be able to choose from CoolCola, Fancy and Street, Russian drink manufacturers Ochakovo made an announcement on Monday.
Since the Coca-Cola Company suspended business in Russia in March, the three global beverage brands have been largely absent from Russian shelves. While Coca-Cola products can still be found on shelves of shops, but prices have jumped by an overall 200% since the suspension.
Ochakova said, “CoolCola has the iconic taste of cola.”
Meanwhile, the brand’s bottles of orange-flavoured Fancy and lemon-lime Street mimic the colour schemes of Fanta & Sprite.
Started in the Soviet Union in 1978, Ochakovo largely produces traditional Russian beverages such as fermented grain-based kvass and low-alcohol honey drink medovukha.
The firm isn’t the only company to try and capitalize on Coca-Cola’s step back from the Russian market.
In April, a beverage company based in Russia’s Far East, the Slavda Group, launched Grink Cola to try and capture the hearts of Russia’s soda lovers. Meanwhile, in May, in the northern Russian region of Komi, the Syktyvkarpivo factory launched its own brand of soda, Komi Cola.
However, both alternatives received a mixed response, with customers complaining that neither drink was “sweet and sparkling.”