Urge (drink)

Last updated

Urge
Urge.jpg
TypeCitrus soda
Manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company
DistributorCoca-Cola Norway
Country of origin  Norway
IntroducedApril 1996;28 years ago (1996-04) [1]
Color Carotene E160a
Variants Surge, Urge Uten Sukker (Diet)
Related products Vault
Website Urge

Urge is a citrus-flavored soft drink produced by Coca-Cola Norway that was first introduced in the country in 1996, and later on was released in Denmark and Sweden. [2] [3] It is the predecessor of the American soft drink Surge, which was introduced in the US in 1997. [4] Urge was discontinued in Denmark and Sweden in 2001. [5] In Norway, Urge sales increased greatly over the years reaching a market share near 10% [6] despite receiving no marketing since its initial launch.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Launch

The product was first released on 22 April 1996 as a test product. [7] Originally bottled by Ringnes along with other Coca-Cola products, it was a competitor to Ringnes' orange soda, Solo. [8] [9] The Norwegian market was chosen as a test market due to high consumption of carbonated beverages – then fifth worldwide – and its small population, making it easy to get feedback quickly. [7] [10]

The label's color was described as "grungy green and orange", which were noted as being fashionable at the time. [7]

The product sold well, particularly among the 12–19 age group, leading to its worldwide release. By the end of January 1997, the product had reached 2.2% market share in Norway. [10]

Sizes

Urge was available in Norway in 0.5 L and 1.5 L bottles, and later also in 0.33 L cans, but in Q1 of 1999 the 1.5 L bottles were taken off the market due to unsatisfactory sales. [11] The cans also vanished from the market a few years later, leaving only the 0.5 L bottles.

A massive campaign by the consumers on Facebook led to the relaunch of the 1.5 L bottle size on 1 September 2008. [11] It has a sugar content of 68 grams per 0.5 L bottle. [12]

In February 2017, due to fan demand, the 0.33 L cans were reintroduced in a multipack of four. [13]

Urge Intense: Energy drink variant Urge Intense small.JPG
Urge Intense: Energy drink variant

Varieties

Urge Intense

Urge Intense was an energy drink variant of Urge. It was launched in 2009 in association with the Facebook group that pressured Coca-Cola to relaunch the 1.5L bottles. Much like with many other energy drinks like Burn and Monster Energy, Urge Intense Triple Rush came in 0.5L cans and has a high caffeine content of 32 mg per 100 mL.

The Urge Intense range was discontinued in 2016. [14] [ user-generated source ]

NameLaunchedDiscontinuedNotes
Urge Intense Triple Rush20092016The original variety.
Urge Intense Red Sting20102012A raspberry-flavored variety.
Urge Intense Inferno20122014An orange-flavored variety. [15]
Urge Intense Wild Mango20132016A mango-flavored variety. [16]

Urge Uten Sukker

In September 2017, a zero-sugar version was launched known as Urge Uten Sukker ('Urge Without Sugar'), which, like its regular counterpart, was made especially for Norway. [17] This sugar-free variant came in orange-tinted bottles, before switching to the clear ones regular Urge uses.

NameLaunchedDiscontinuedNotes
Urge Uten Sukker2017N/ASugar-free version of Urge.
Urge Chill Guarana20182019A guarana-flavored variant. [18]
Urge Smooth Mango2020N/AA mango-flavored variant. [19]
Urge Holiday Flavor Fruity Flavor20212022A julebrus -flavored variant, sold for the 2021 holiday season.

Nutritional information

Nutritional facts
Per 100 mL: [4]
Energy 238 kJ / 56 kcal
Protein 0 g
Carbohydrates 13.5 g
Fat 0 g

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola</span> Cola soft drink

Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings each day. Coca-Cola ranked No. 94 in the 2024 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by revenue. Based on Interbrand's "best global brand" study of 2023, Coca-Cola was the world's sixth most valuable brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepsi</span> Soft drink by PepsiCo

Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink with a cola flavor, manufactured by PepsiCo. As of 2023, Pepsi is the second most valuable soft drink brand worldwide behind Coca-Cola; the two share a long-standing rivalry in what has been called the "cola wars".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola formula</span> Coca-Cola Companys recipe for Coca-Cola syrup

The Coca-Cola Company's formula for Coca-Cola syrup, which bottlers combine with carbonated water to create the company's flagship cola soft drink, is a closely guarded trade secret. Company founder Asa Candler initiated the veil of secrecy that surrounds the formula in 1891 as a publicity, marketing, and intellectual property protection strategy. While several recipes, each purporting to be the authentic formula, have been published, the company maintains that the actual formula remains a secret, known only to a very few select, and anonymous, employees. The claim that the recipe is only known to two people and that they cannot fly on the same plane due to the chance they may die, and the recipe will become unknown, is a myth and has been fact-checked multiple times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola Vanilla</span> Vanilla-flavored cola

Coca-Cola Vanilla is a vanilla-flavored version of Coca-Cola, introduced in 2002 but subsequently discontinued in North America and the United Kingdom in 2005, though it remained available at certain fountain outlets. It was relaunched in the US in 2007, in Denmark in 2012, the UK in 2013 and Canada in 2016. Vanilla Coke has been available in Australia since its initial introduction in 2002, being produced by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Originally announced as a limited edition in the UK, it became permanent for several years; however, Vanilla Coke was again discontinued in the UK in Summer 2018, though Diet Vanilla Coke and Coke Vanilla Zero remain available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanta</span> Brand of carbonated drinks

Fanta is an American-owned brand of fruit-flavored carbonated soft drinks created by Coca-Cola Deutschland under the leadership of German businessman Max Keith. There are over 200 flavors worldwide. Fanta originated in Germany as a Coca-Cola alternative in 1941 due to the American trade embargo of Nazi Germany which affected the availability of Coca-Cola ingredients. Fanta soon dominated the German market with three million cases sold in 1943. The current formulation of Fanta, with orange flavor, was developed in Italy in 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surge (drink)</span> Brand of citrus-flavored soft drink

Surge is a citrus-flavored soft drink first produced in the 1990s by the Coca-Cola Company to compete with Pepsi's Mountain Dew. Surge was advertised as having a more "hardcore" edge, much like Mountain Dew's advertising at the time, in an attempt to lure customers away from Pepsi. It was originally launched in Norway as Urge in 1996, and was so popular that it was released in the United States as Surge in 1997. Lagging sales caused production to be ended in 2003 for most markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresca</span> Branded diet citrus soft drink

Fresca is a grapefruit-flavored citrus soft drink created by The Coca-Cola Company. Borrowing the word Fresca from Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, it was introduced in the United States in 1966. Originally a bottled sugar-free diet soda, sugar sweetened versions were introduced in some markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepsi Max</span> Sugar-free cola

Pepsi Max is a low-calorie, sugar-free cola, marketed by PepsiCo as an alternative to Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, except for Norway, where it is the main Pepsi flavor. Pepsi Max is available primarily in Asian, European and Australia/New Zealand markets. While Pepsi Max was released in April 1993, it did not become available in the United States until 2007. In the US this different product was renamed Pepsi Zero Sugar in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola with Lime</span> Coca-Cola variant

Coca-Cola with Lime, Diet Coke with Lime, Diet Coke Sublime Lime and Coca-Cola Lime Zero Sugar are variations of the original Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar that contain lime flavoring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola Raspberry</span> Cola soft drink

Coca-Cola Raspberry, Diet Coke Raspberry and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Raspberry were variantations of Coca-Cola drink with a raspberry flavor. The drink was originally produced exclusively for New Zealand, and was later expanded.

Energy Brands, also doing business as Glacéau, is a privately owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company based in Whitestone, Queens, New York, that manufactures and distributes various lines of drinks marketed as enhanced water. Founded in May 1996 by J. Darius Bikoff with an electrolyte enhanced line of water called Smartwater, Energy Brands initially distributed its products to health food stores and independent retailers in the New York area. Adding Fruitwater and Vitaminwater to its line in 1998 and 2000, respectively, the company expanded to nationwide distribution in the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solo (Norwegian soft drink)</span> Orange-flavoured soft drink from Norway

Solo is an orange-flavoured soft drink, owned by the Norwegian companies Ringnes, Oskar Sylte, and Mack. The recipe was originally Spanish, and brought to the CEO of Tønsberg Bryggeri, Theodor W. Holmsen by Torleif Gulliksrud in 1934. Solo quickly became Norway's most popular soft drink, and until the 1960s was bigger than Coca-Cola in Norway. In 1999, Pepsi passed Solo in market share, leaving Solo as third most popular.

Mother is an energy drink that originated in Australia and New Zealand by Coca-Cola. Introduced in late 2006 after Coca-Cola's failed attempt to purchase Red Bull, it competes with the two leading energy drinks on the market, V and Red Bull, in the $151 million industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola Orange</span> Variation of Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla, formerly Coca-Cola Orange and in some markets Coca-Cola with Orange, is a variation of Coca-Cola originally available for a limited time. It was introduced in June 2007, in only Gibraltar, following the success of the previous year's Coca-Cola Lime, for which 40% of the launch sales represented new customers and increased purchasing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepsi Raw</span>

Pepsi Raw was a cola soft drink created by PepsiCo and Britvic exclusively introduced in the United Kingdom in 2008 as a "Sparkling Cola Drink with Natural Plant Extracts". Pepsi Raw contained naturally sourced ingredients that were free from artificial flavouring, colourings, preservatives and sweeteners. Advertising for Pepsi Raw presented the product as a natural alternative to other colas. Pepsi Raw was also marketed in Norway and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepsi-Cola Made with Real Sugar</span> Soft drink brand

Pepsi-Cola Soda Shop Made with Real Sugar, originally named Pepsi Throwback and Pepsi Made with Real Sugar and still branded that way in some international markets, is a soft drink sold by PepsiCo. The drink is flavored with cane sugar and beet sugar instead of the sugar substitute high-fructose corn syrup that has been used in the standard version of Pepsi within North America since the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sprite (drink)</span> Lemon-lime soft drink

Sprite is a clear, lemon-lime flavored soft drink created by the Coca-Cola Company. Sprite comes in additional flavors, including cranberry, cherry, grape, orange, tropical, ginger, and vanilla. Ice, peach, Berryclear remix, and newer versions of the drinks are artificially sweetened. Sprite was created primarily to compete against 7 Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coca-Cola Life</span> Version of Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Life was a reduced-calorie version of Coca-Cola introduced in 2013, using a combination of stevia and sugar as sweeteners. It was first released in Argentina and Chile after five years of research together in these countries. The formulation varied by market location, and in some areas the original formulation had been phased out in favor of a zero-calorie version sweetened with stevia only. The drink was discontinued in 2020 as part of the Coca-Cola Company discontinuing underperforming brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corporación Lindley S.A.</span> Peruvian company

Arca Continental Lindley S.A. is a Peruvian company involved in the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of nonalcoholic beverages and the official bottler and distributor of all Coca-Cola products in Peru. The Lindley Corporation is best known for its creation and marketing of Inca Kola, the number one selling soft drink in Peru. The Lindley Corporation, located in the historic District of Lima, Peru, is also a major promoter of plastic recycling programs in Peru. Its president is Johnny Lindley Suarez.

References

  1. Gleason, Mark (23 December 1996). "Coca-Cola faces uphill scramble with Surge intro". Advertising Age. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  2. Collins, Glenn (16 December 1996). "Coca-Cola, in Direct Attack on Pepsi, to Introduce Challenger to Mountain Dew". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  3. Millman, Nancy (17 December 1996). "Coke Surges into Pepsi's Mountainous Dew Territory". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Urge product page on coca-cola.no" (in Norwegian). The Coca-Cola Company. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  5. Foght, Thomas (16 September 2014). "Coca-Cola giver comeback til kult-sodavand fra 90'erne". Metroexpress (in Danish). Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  6. Urge focus group held by Coca-Cola Company 30 April 2007
  7. 1 2 3 "Lysegrønsj bestselger". Finnmark Dagblad (in Norwegian). No. 170. Hammerfest. 26 July 1996. p. 11. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via National Library of Norway.
  8. "Håper fortsatt på jobb i Ringnes". Øvre Smaalenene (in Norwegian). 26 June 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via National Library of Norway.
  9. "Ringnes svarer med ny drikk". Arbeiderbladet (in Norwegian). Oslo. 20 June 1996. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via National Library of Norway.
  10. 1 2 "Testet ny drikk i Norge". Arbeiderbladet (in Norwegian). 28 January 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 9 August 2024 via National Library of Norway.
  11. 1 2 "Magnus (17) overbeviste Coca-Cola". 2 February 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2009. (Norwegian)
  12. Urge 0.5 L bottle label
  13. "Nyheter fra Coca-Cola, Urge og Monster | Coca-Cola European Partners Norge".
  14. "Har de sluttet å produsere Urge Intense? - Mat og drikke". Diskusjon.no. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  15. "URGE INTENSE INFERNO I BUTIKK!" . Retrieved 25 May 2012. (Norwegian)
  16. "URGE INTENSE Wild Mango!" . Retrieved 17 July 2014. (Norwegian)
  17. "Coca-Cola fortsetter sin sukkerfrie reise - Lanserer kun nyheter uten sukker | Coca-Cola European Partners Norge".
  18. "Nå kommer sukkerfri Coca-Cola med en helt ny smak".
  19. "Coca-Cola fortsetter å lansere sukkerfrie varianter | Coca-Cola European Partners Norge".