It’s pretty obvious many well known brands, things like Oreo and Triscuits, put out many variations that take up a lot of supermarket shelf space (which they probably pay for) and presumably have niche customers. These companies make money and l’m sure they know what they are doing.
It is quite common to go to the store and see they are sold out of original triscuits but have large quantities of ones flavoured with rosemary, asiago cheese, sun dried tomato, “minis”, “chips” or whatever. I’m not putting together a charcuterie board. I just want the plain ones 99% of the time.
I went to Costco looking for Reese’s and they had no big bags of the plain ones which are America’s favourite candy. They did have ones which were strawberry and caramel. On sale, they did not seem to have sold many. Who asked for this, anyway?
From time to time, soda companies replace plain cans with ones marked Friend/Ami, Bro/Frère, etc. to personalize your pop guzzling experience. I was surprised to see a few square metres in WalMart with personalized cereal - providing you were “lucky” enough to be named Jenny, Scott or Bort.
Of course novel chip flavours are common, but in that case the beloved original may be less popular. I’ve never heard anyone asking to bring back “Coney Island Hot Dog and Mustard” chips though.
Who asks for this stuff?
Do you prefer novel flavours to popular originals?
Do you prefer cheesy “personalized” products, or do they make you think of soylent green?
Any other examples or stories?
What are the best and worst “brand extensions”?
Novelty has always outsold quality. There are more people who are willing to at least try a new flavor than there are people who still habitually eat the original. High short term sales are almost assured for a new flavor so R&D and production costs are quickly recouped even if the new flavor ultimately fails. But occasionally, you’ll hit upon the next Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos… CA-CHING!
I remember drinking the original Gatorade in the 1980s. I still remember the taste, and it was quite good. Now, when I go to the store, it’s all flavored Gatorade. I can’t recall the last time I saw the original flavor. Is it even made anymore?
I only can add that I too prefer the plain triscuits, and there is always a shortage, except for the odd flavors. It probably has to do with keeping up with trendy flavors, and attracting more buyers.
And I do not like the “sea salt” original flavor change— I find them a little too salty.
On top of making their brand visible, shelf space they occupy is shelf space their competitors cannot occupy. This is a battle royale in the retail market.
I agree–the regular green Gatorade is a rare breed. If you really like old-school Gatorade, buy a can of the powdered version from Amazon: it costs far less per quart, and tastes exactly the same.
Now Gatorade gum? I wish that hadn’t disappeared. That was yummy stuff!
If you mean the green lime-like flavor, I always see it, but never buy it! It’s a U of FL derived product? So one would think they have a “blue” flavor (?) and an orange originally.
I still dont know why blue is associated with raspberry in food flavors. I guess cherry red was first and it stuck.
If you mean the chartreuse-hued Lemon-Lime Gatorade, it’s still made. It’s readily found at our local groceries, plus WalMart & Target. It’s what I go for when battling an illness. Sometimes a grab a bottle or two when the mood strikes.
AFAIK, Orange is also a very old-line Gatorade flavor (definitely around in the 1970s) – that’s still available, as well.
Dr. Pepper Cherry. There are a lot of cola drinkers out there who think Dr. Pepper is just cherry cola. And even if you like Dr. Pepper, one of the flavors in it is cherry, anyway. It’s like making “orange juice, now with more orange.”
I really, really like Orange Vanilla Coca-Cola. I get the diet version, and other than regular Coca-Cola, it’s my favorite cola. I do like some of the flavors for Triscuits, the rosemary is nice, but I don’t care for the garlic very much. Sometimes the flavor combinations are an abomination, most of the alternative Oreo flavors aren’t very good, but it’s nice to try something new once in a while. I wouldn’t say I generally prefer the novel flavors but I’m happy to give some of them a try.
It can be a matter of playing with the balance of a fantasia flavor like cola, which is a mix of citrus**, vanilla, and one of cassia or cinnamon. The Orange-Vanilla Coca Cola @Odesio mentions above kind of turns up the dial on the citrus and vanilla flavors versus the original drink.
I’ve always found extra citrus in cola to be an upgrade. Plenty of folks are in agreement.
** Coca Cola uses (used?) orange as their citrus dimension, Pepsi Cola uses (used?) lemon. Probably not current information, but that was once the main distinguishing factor in their respective flavors. Source is one of William Poundstone’s Big Secrets books.
They came out with “hot mustard” flavored Doritos a while back. I assume they weren’t popular since they disappeared. Still I wish they’d bring them back. Fritos “Street Corn” Brand was really good too.
