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Diet Coke has relaunched two previous favourite products in the UK and US markets, as the ongoing nostalgia trend continues to drive innovation across the food and beverage industry.

In the UK, Diet Coke has announced the comeback of its Diet Cherry Coke, first launched in the 1980s. The fan-favourite flavour has now returned to British supermarket shelves, featuring packaging inspired by its original retro look.

With cherry reported as the flavour of the year, Diet Cherry Coke offers the familiar taste of Diet Coke with a hint of the trendy drupe. It marks the first new flavour launch from Diet Coke in the UK in seven years.

Rob Yeomans, vice president of commercial development at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said Diet Coke has a loyal customer base in the UK, pointing to Kantar data showing that 32% of its drinkers are “not only brand-exclusive, but would drop out of cola if Diet Coke wasn’t available”.

“Combine this with the fact that cherry flavours have delivered 55% of value sales growth across total colas over the past year, and it’s clear that the return of Diet Cherry Coke gives us a great opportunity to excite shoppers and drive further growth,” he added.

For a limited time, Diet Cherry Coke is available at Tesco stores nationwide in 24 x 300ml multipack cans, 500ml bottles and 2L bottles.

Elsewhere, in the US, Diet Coke has brought back its Retro Diet Coke Lime product, returning to shelves on 6 October. This builds on the successful relaunch of Retro Diet Cherry Coke in the US earlier this year.

The drink features a zesty lime-flavoured twist on classic Diet Coke, described as a ‘breakout favourite’ when it first launched. Like the cherry variant, Retro Diet Coke Lime launches in nostalgia-inspired, neon lime packaging. Giving a nod to the past, it is designed to spark excitement among ‘longtime loyalists’ while introducing younger shoppers to the drink.

The launch is available for a limited time only, hitting the shelves in 12-pack cans and single 20oz bottles across the US while supplies last.