Sprite Gives Kroger an Exclusive Holiday Flavor

Coca-Cola Co.’s Sprite launched a Vanilla Frost flavor exclusively at Kroger in November.

Bottles and 12-packs of the limited-edition vanilla spice-flavored soft drink were stocked on a floorstand touting their exclusive status. Kroger used Facebook posts to promote the drink as “giving new tradition.”

Sprite also received secondary display space alongside seasonal packages of Coca-Cola and Diet Coke in spectaculars using Coca-Cola’s “Share Holiday Magic” theme.

Vanilla Frost launched in Coca-Cola Freestyle machines in 2019, but this was the first time the flavor was packaged for retail sale. Sprite has been leaning heavily on limited-edition seasonal flavors to boost sales. The Vanilla Frost launch coincided with the seasonal release of Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry, which was promoted with an ad campaign starring Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards as Anta Claus.

The brand released a limited-edition Sprite Chill in April that featured a cherry lime flavor and used proprietary technique to produce a cooling sensation. Sprite released a custom “Chill Cam” Snapchat filter, using selfies shared with it on digital billboards in Atlanta, Detroit, New York and Los Angeles. The launch campaign also featured a digital film starring Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young.

“When people think about Sprite, they think about cut-through refreshment,” Kate Schaufelberger, Sprite brand director, said in a statement. “With Sprite Chill, we’re doubling down on these signature intrinsics while continuing our legacy of strategic flavor innovation and quenching fans’ thirst for variety and the exclusive badge value associated with trying and sharing limited-time-only beverages and experiences.”