What was Coca-Cola’s market share, say, three years before the introduction of New Coke versus three years after the “return” of Classic Coke (now in HFCS)?
To expand–Snopes here disputes the idea that the maneuver was planned in any way, either for market share or foisting the sweetener switch, though I notice there’s very little actual evidence. Basically they say people find it “unthinkable” that New Coke could be anything but marketing blunder, so conspiracies must be invented. In other words, they find cynical corporate intent dismissible here. I’m not sure why either assumption (cynicism or incompetence) can’t reasonably be imagined. As far as I can tell, the sweetener switch did happen in conjunction with the branding switches.
But what I’m actually asking is if, intended or not, the entire episode had the effect of boosting Coca-Cola as a brand? I can’t recall seeing data.