Fresca

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007)

Fresca

Type	Citrus soft drink
Manufacturer	The Coca-Cola Company
Country of origin	USA
Introduced	1963
Related products	Fanta

Fresca is a brand of citrus soft drink made by The Coca-Cola Company. First introduced in the United States in 1963, the drink is now sold throughout the world, although not widely available outside of North America. It is, as well, a distinct rarity in Coke products, in that it does not have a Pepsi equivalent (although in many markets, Pepsico licenses, produces and distributes "Diet Squirt," a very similar beverage owned by Dr Pepper & Seven-Up, Inc.).

1 History
2 In popular culture
3 Flavors of Fresca
4 Ingredients
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Since its inception, Fresca has been marketed in the United States as a calorie-free, grapefruit-flavored soft drink, ostensibly catering to discriminating adult tastes. Fresca underwent its major ingredient change in 1985, when its non-caloric sweetener saccharin was replaced by aspartame.

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote that Fresca was the favorite drink of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had a button installed on the desk in the White House's Oval Office which would summon his military aide to bring the drink. In addition, Fresca was the favorite drink of the expansion teams in the NHL during the 1967 season; therefore, Fresca was originally slated to be the sponsor to the NHL the following year. However, the NHL board of governors rejected the proposed sponsorship; this may have played a role in Fresca's failure to break through to the mainstream.

In Latin America, Coca-Cola markets an entirely different soft drink under the Fresca brand name. This drink is grapefruit-flavored, but contains sugar. It is similar to the Squirt soft drink marketed in the United States by Dr Pepper & Seven-Up, Inc. In 1997 Coca-Cola launched the soft drink throughout the U.S. as Citra. However this was not successful as a separate product line, and that drink is now sold as the Citrus flavor in the Fanta line. The name may have been confusing for Latin American consumers, as "agua fresca".

2006 Mexican glass Fresca bottle (355 ml)

For years, Fresca maintained somewhat of a cult following, similar to Tab, consisting of people who had grown up with the drink, yet it didn't obtain major market appeal. Around the turn of the century (2000), however, Fresca grew in popularity somewhat organically, enough so that it was sufficiently popular for Coca-Cola to take notice.

In 2005, Coca-Cola gave Fresca a more contemporary look, Fresca's first makeover since 1995. Fresca advertising continues to emphasize sophistication.

During this redesign, two new flavors were introduced (Sparkling Peach Citrus and Sparkling Black Cherry Citrus) and the original grapefruit flavor was renamed Sparkling Citrus. Subsequently, "Sparkling" was dropped from the name of the first two flavours and the original flavour renamed Original Citrus.

Fresca means "fresh" in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.

[edit] In popular culture

When former CIA director George Tenet appeared on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart offered him a "cool can of Fresca," as a way of consoling him after Tenet came under fire for his book regarding the Iraq war.
In The West Wing, White House Counselor Ainsley Hayes is shocked by the lack of Fresca in the building. She goes as far as telling Chief of Staff Leo McGarry that "they really should have Fresca".
Fresca has been in three episodes of The Simpsons. In one episode, Bart and Homer are told by an Indian Chief that they're drinking bear urine, to which they have no reaction; when the Indian Chief admits he's just kidding and that it's Fresca, the two spit out the Fresca in disgust. In another, Homer is ripped off by a soda machine and he tries to grab his can of soda alongside a dusty skeletal hand which presumably got stuck years ago ^[1]. In the episode "A Fish Called Selma" washed-up actor Troy McClure refers to his sham marriage by telling his new wife Selma that he loves her "...like I love Fresca, isn't that enough?".
Throughout the film Let's Go To Prison, the lead character, Nelson, repeatedly requests cans of Fresca, at one point demanding that it be Fresca and not Sprite or Fanta. Fresca is also used to drug the lead character while in prison.
In the film Caddyshack, after Judge Smails (Ted Knight) asks Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe), "Are you my pal . . . Mr. Scholarship Winner?" and Danny responds, "Yes sir, I'm your pal," Smails ruffles his hair and asks, "How 'bout a Fresca?"
In an episode of South Park, "Guitar Queer-o", Kyle Broflovski asked the bartender at a bowling alley for a Fresca.
Fresca has a group of over 150 members on Facebook called "I don't care what you say; Fresca is the best soda ever".
In Loaded Weapon 1 (A National Lampoons film) Dr. Harold Leacher, (a Hannibal Lecter parody) when informed of General Curtis Mortars plans, expresses his desire to "Eat his cookies with some fava beans and a nice chilled Fresca"

2005 Fresca Sparkling Black Cherry Citrus Flavor Soda in 20oz PET Bottles (USA)

In the closing moments of TSN's Sportscentre on April 17, 2008, sportscasters Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole profess their liking of Fresca to Canadian sports fans, stating it is "refreshing."

[edit] Flavors of Fresca

Apple
Cherry
Iced Tea
Cola
Fruit Punch
Grapefruit (the original)
Lemon Lime
Orange
Peach
Pear
Sparkling Black Cherry (new with product redesign in 2005, "Sparkling" later dropped from name)
Sparkling Peach Citrus (new with product redesign in 2005, "Sparkling" later dropped from name)
Sparkling Citrus (new name for original grapefruit flavor with product redesign in 2005, later renamed Original Citrus)
Strawberry
Cherry Citrus
Lime Citrus
Pink Grapefruit (Mexico)
Red Grapefruit (Mexico) -discontinued-
Lado B (Mexico) -Sour grapefruit-
Zero (Mexico) -diet/light-