Lilt axed after almost 50 years ahead of Fanta relaunch under new name

[6Foot2]

Link: Lilt axed after almost 50 years ahead of Fanta relaunch under new name - Hull Live

 

Much-loved soft drink Lilt is being axed after almost 50 years on our shelves. The "totally tropical" drink is being relaunched with a new name by maker Coca-Cola.

 

It will become part of the Fanta brand as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit, reflecting its two main flavours. The new drink will be available officially from Tuesday (February 14). It will be available in 330ml cans, 500ml bottles and 2 litre bottles. A zero sugar version will reportedly only be available in 2 litre bottles.

 

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners said of the change: "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. 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.”

 

CCEP GB VP of commercial development Martin Attock told The Grocer : “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. It’s still bursting with tangy tropical flavours. It’s just got itself a new name."

 

Lilt made its UK debut in 1975 with the advertising slogan: ‘the Totally Tropical Taste’. It later hired actors Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer to star in the TV ads and they became known as the ‘Lilt ladies’.

[Garacesh]

I read that as Hull Live was its new name and thought that was a bit of a rubbish name for a soft drink..

[6Foot2]

I read that as Hull Live was its new name and thought that was a bit of a rubbish name for a soft drink..

 

Even so, perhaps that might have been a "better fate" than being subsumed into the fold of another name.

 

[hardtailstar]

Glad it's not being axed completely because I need that totally tropical taste....

[Arthur]

The previous rebranding kind of made it obvious they were going to do something Fanta related.

 

 

Glad it's not being axed completely because I need that totally tropical taste....

Aldi's Vive Tropical Blast is a really good copy of Lilt and much cheaper too.

[localzuk]

Honestly, I don't really get this. Why make the brand more difficult to advertise? An advert for Lilt can be easily targeted. An advert for Fanta? Do they mean the orange one, the lemon one? The lilty one now? It muddies the brand. Odd choice.

[Fazza]

Shame that they're stopping Lilt as I really like that drink. Cant wait to try the new Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit it sounds great!

[Dos_Box]

I've been looking for Lilt for a while (not had a can in about 20 years) as I always found it to be one of the better tasting canned fruit drinks out there. Edited February 15, 2023 by Dos_Box

[cheekycharly]

Its a great drink but second to the original Orangina in the glass bottle with the orange bits in it. Edited February 15, 2023 by cheekycharly

[6Foot2]

Its a great drink but second to the original Oringina in the glass bottle with the orange bits in it.

 

Ah, yes:

 

[6Foot2]

Honestly, I don't really get this. Why make the brand more difficult to advertise? An advert for Lilt can be easily targeted. An advert for Fanta? Do they mean the orange one...

 

How they advertised "the Orange one" (some here may not remember, nor that the advert was banned)

 

[DalekSec]

Obligatory Alan Partridge quote

 

[mikes]

Well, they ruined Sprite, by making it half diet. There was already diet sprite if you needed it, now "full sprite" has that horrible chemical diet taste too. Just waiting for the rest of them to be ruined