Farewell to Lilt as fizzy drink brand is axed by owner Coca-Cola nearly 50 years after it first hit shelves
Lilt #Lilt
Soft drink Lilt is being scrapped as brand after nearly 50 years on our shelves, it has been revealed.
The refreshing soft drink has been a staple in British supermarkets for decades.
But its owner Coca-Cola has announced plans to relabel the drink under its Fanta brand, The Grocer reports.
‘Keen Lilt fans may have spotted a gradual transition as the drink has made its way into the Fanta family over the past few months, with changes to its packaging and logo,’ said Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
‘Some have even hypothesised on social media that Lilt may be becoming part of the Fanta brand, and one even went as far as producing their own news broadcast-style video.’
Soft drink Lilt is being scrapped as a brand after nearly 50 years on our shelves, it has been revealed
In 1998, two British Jamaican women – Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer – became known as the ‘Lilt ladies’ and starred in its adverts
Going forward, the drink will be known as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit – joining its other strawberry, grape, orange and lemon flavours.
Coca’s Cola’s vice president of commercial development, Martin Attock, told media: ‘Our main priority with this announcement is to reassure Lilt’s loyal fanbase that absolutely nothing has changed when it comes to the iconic taste of the drink they know and love.’
The relabelled drink will hit shops tomorrow and can be purchased in 330ml cans, 500ml bottles and two-litre bottles.
Lilt was unveiled to the public in 1975, accompanied by the tagline ‘The totally tropical Taste’.
In the 1980s, its adverts famously depicted the ‘Lilt man’ delivering the drinks to sunbathers on the beach. In 1998, two British Jamaican women – Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer – became known as the ‘Lilt ladies’ and starred in its adverts.
Fanta was valued at £281million towards the end of 2022, more than 17 times that of Lilt – which managed sales of £15.6million over the same period.
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