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New Soda Sizes Aim to Cap Fizzling Sales

Coke, Pepsi try out alternatives to 20-ounce bottle

By Laurel Jorgensen,  Newser Staff

Posted May 2, 2008 3:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – Coke and Pepsi are testing new bottle sizes in an effort to boost deflating soda sales, reports the Wall Street Journal. Coke pulled 20-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke and other drinks from Virginia convenience store shelves this week and re-stocked them with 16-ounce and 24-ounce bottles. Pepsi plans to try out 12-ounce and 16-ounce bottles.

First-quarter sales of soda dropped 4.2% in convenience stores, where most drinks come in 20-ounce bottles. The companies hope the alternate sizes will appeal to customers avoiding large sodas or wanting more bang for their buck. Coke’s 16-ounce bottle generally costs 99 cents, while the 24-ounce drink costs up to $1.49, only 20 cents more than the 20-ounce bottle.

A Coke bottler says the company would like to offer customers more packaging choices in convenience stores, like they see in grocery stores.
A Coke bottler says the company would like to offer customers more packaging choices in convenience stores, like they see in grocery stores.   (Getty Images)
Pepsi will try selling 12-ounce and 16-ounce individual bottles along with the standard 20-ounce size.
Pepsi will try selling 12-ounce and 16-ounce individual bottles along with the standard 20-ounce size.   (Getty Images)
Soda sales dropped 4.2% in convenience stores in the first quarter -- a steeper drop than the overall 3.5% decline.
Soda sales dropped 4.2% in convenience stores in the first quarter -- a steeper drop than the overall 3.5% decline.   (AP Photo/Phil Coale)
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