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I always wondered what is the reason Kofola didn't gain market share all over the world. It is noticeably less sweet and much more refreshing than Coke. Maybe m

I always wondered what is the reason Kofola didn't gain market share all over the world. It is noticeably less sweet and much more refreshing than Coke. Maybe marketing a new soft drink worldwide is a hill too steep for whoever owns the brand now. Or maybe it is not as good and we are all just used to it.

tomashertus 8y ago
- Communism and its central planning of the production - Iron curtain - Inability of Czechoslovakian business to access Western markets - Consequence of 30 years of communism in the Czechoslovakia - Trademark issues - Foreign competition (Kofola vs Coke vs Pepsi)
- smcl 8y ago
  The funny thing about the last part is that some soft drinks do manage to compete with (but maybe not topple) Coke + Pepsi outside of their home country (see Irn Bru).
52-6F-62 8y ago
The description actually reminds me a lot of Brio which is sold here in Canada pretty regularly—though it's a Chinotto. https://drinkbriosoda.ca/ https://drinkbriosoda.ca/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brio_(soft_drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brio_(soft_drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinotto_(drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinotto_(drink)
mateuszf 8y ago
Talking from my experience - I tried it but I just didn't like the taste. Obviously that's subjective, but maybe that's how most people perceive it.
psynapse 8y ago
Australian living in Slovakia here. Definitely agree on the sweetness factor. It is also the same with Vinea, which others have mentioned here. I am not a soft-drink person really, but it is more refreshing by virtue of not having such a sweet syrupy vibe. My kids like Vinea and I feel better about giving it to them now and then, than I would with Coke, which to me is mouth-puckeringly sweet. I liken Kofola to a mix between sarsaparilla and cola.
honzzz 8y ago
I think the "when we were young" nostalgia might be an important part of the appeal - I rarely drink it now but when I do, it immediately brings back memories of those times when I was 12 and my grandmother managed to buy me smuggled "digitálky" on the black market - people from Western world can hardly imagine how cool that was, being a proud owner of a digital watch with 7 alarm melodies.
qwerty456127 8y ago
> It is noticeably less sweet and much more refreshing than Coke BTW I like the taste of sugar-free stevia-sweeteed Kofola even better than ordinary Kofola with sugar. I don't really care about sugar in it as I'm very slim and don't drink it often anyway yet I still prefer to buy the diet version just because of the taste.

tomashertus 8y ago

- Communism and its central planning of the production - Iron curtain - Inability of Czechoslovakian business to access Western markets - Consequence of 30 years of communism in the Czechoslovakia - Trademark issues - Foreign competition (Kofola vs Coke vs Pepsi)

smcl 8y ago
The funny thing about the last part is that some soft drinks do manage to compete with (but maybe not topple) Coke + Pepsi outside of their home country (see Irn Bru).

52-6F-62 8y ago

The description actually reminds me a lot of Brio which is sold here in Canada pretty regularly—though it's a Chinotto. https://drinkbriosoda.ca/ https://drinkbriosoda.ca/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brio_(soft_drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brio_(soft_drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinotto_(drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinotto_(drink)

mateuszf 8y ago

Talking from my experience - I tried it but I just didn't like the taste. Obviously that's subjective, but maybe that's how most people perceive it.

psynapse 8y ago

Australian living in Slovakia here. Definitely agree on the sweetness factor. It is also the same with Vinea, which others have mentioned here. I am not a soft-drink person really, but it is more refreshing by virtue of not having such a sweet syrupy vibe. My kids like Vinea and I feel better about giving it to them now and then, than I would with Coke, which to me is mouth-puckeringly sweet. I liken Kofola to a mix between sarsaparilla and cola.

honzzz 8y ago

I think the "when we were young" nostalgia might be an important part of the appeal - I rarely drink it now but when I do, it immediately brings back memories of those times when I was 12 and my grandmother managed to buy me smuggled "digitálky" on the black market - people from Western world can hardly imagine how cool that was, being a proud owner of a digital watch with 7 alarm melodies.

qwerty456127 8y ago

> It is noticeably less sweet and much more refreshing than Coke BTW I like the taste of sugar-free stevia-sweeteed Kofola even better than ordinary Kofola with sugar. I don't really care about sugar in it as I'm very slim and don't drink it often anyway yet I still prefer to buy the diet version just because of the taste.