In 2024, we bid farewell to several beloved food and beverage items, including Panera's Charged Lemonade and Fruit Stripe.
In 2024, we bid farewell to several beloved food and beverage items, including Panera's Charged Lemonade and Fruit Stripe.
This year saw the departure of numerous food and drink items, with Panera's controversial Charged Lemonade leading the pack. We also bid farewell to Coca-Cola's fizzled out launch, a popular gum that was a staple for many kids, and a soft drink from the cola giant.
The food industry is always evolving, and it's not unexpected that these items are no longer on the market. However, the loss might not be any easier for their devoted fans.
Below is a list of the deprecated culinary creations, arranged alphabetically.
Coca-Cola Spiced
Coca-Cola officially declared in September that they were discontinuing their recently introduced Spiced flavor. This was about six months after the company announced the "permanent" addition in a grand launch event. The company didn't provide a specific reason, but confusion over the flavor (it wasn't actually spicy) likely contributed to lackluster sales. Coca-Cola is planning to launch a "thrilling new flavor" in 2025.
Fruit Stripe gum
This gum, known for its fruit-inspired flavors and distinctive zebra-print packaging, was discontinued in January after approximately six decades. Ferrara, the company that owns the brand (they also produce Nerds, Fun Dip, and other candies), announced the decision as a "tough call". They attributed the gum's demise to several factors, including shifting purchasing patterns and changing consumer preferences.
Knott’s Berry Farm jam
The popular preserves and jams, which had been in production for nearly a century, were discontinued in January. J.M. Smucker Co., the company's parent, stated in a press release that the change was part of their strategy to "continuously evaluate our portfolio" and focus on their recently acquired Hostess products.
Oreo O’s cereal
Post Consumer Brands announced in December that Oreo O’s rings would be replaced with puffs after nearly three decades. A company representative told the Food Network, which is also owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, that "Oreo Puffs is a permanent addition to store shelves that will replace Oreo O’s in the cereal aisle".
Panera’s Charged Lemonade
Panera Bread removed Charged Lemonade, the caffeinated beverage that sparked several lawsuits and caused a PR disaster for the company, from its menu in May. Apart from the controversial lemonade, Panera also eliminated numerous items, such as flatbreads, several sweet treats, and chili, in what was described as the "largest transformation ever" for its menu.
Starbucks Oleato
It appears that olive-oil infused drinks weren't a hit with Starbucks' customers. The company discontinued the drinks in October, just about a year after their nationwide debut. Oleato was the brainchild of former CEO Howard Schultz but met with predominantly negative responses from both media and consumers. Starbucks also removed its lineup of iced energy drinks just a few months after their June debut.
The business decision to discontinue Coca-Cola's Spiced flavor was met with confusion due to its non-spicy nature, leading to less-than-stellar sales. Many fans of Fruit Stripe gum, known for its fruit-inspired flavors, were saddened by its departure after over six decades.