Beverages: How Sprite tapped into a viral TikTok trend for Sprite + Tea launch

Why it is the topic trending:

• Viral Social Media Inspiration: The fact that a major brand like Sprite developed a new product based on a popular TikTok trend highlights the growing influence of social media on product innovation.

• Real-time Consumer Insight Utilization: This launch showcases how companies are actively listening to and acting upon consumer-generated trends and behaviors observed on social platforms.

• Innovation Strategy of a Major Brand: The article provides insights into Coca-Cola's innovation strategy for Sprite, especially after recently surpassing Pepsi to become the No. 3 carbonated soft drink in the U.S.

• Leveraging Existing Brand Identity: The campaign for Sprite + Tea collaborates with Eastside Golf, aligning with Sprite's history of connecting with hip-hop and basketball culture.

• Building on Recent Success: The launch follows the successful introduction of Sprite Chill, indicating a continued focus on flavor innovation within the brand.

Overview:

Sprite, now the third-largest carbonated soft drink brand in the U.S., has launched its new flavor, Sprite + Tea, available in regular and zero-sugar versions for a limited time. This innovation was directly inspired by a viral TikTok trend where consumers were adding tea bags to Sprite. Recognizing the millions of views this trend garnered, Coca-Cola North America’s R&D team quickly developed Sprite + Tea, showcasing the brand's ability to leverage social listening for product innovation. The creative campaign for the launch includes a collaboration with Eastside Golf, a fashion and lifestyle brand that aligns with Sprite’s established marketing themes of hip-hop and basketball. This initiative builds on Sprite’s recent successful flavor innovations, such as Sprite Chill, and demonstrates the brand's ongoing strategy of engaging with consumer trends and passions.

Detailed Findings:

• Sprite launched Sprite + Tea, inspired by a TikTok trend of consumers adding tea bags to Sprite.

• The product is available in regular and zero-sugar varieties until October in the U.S. and Canada.

• The TikTok trend garnered millions of views, prompting Coca-Cola's R&D team to develop the product.

• Sprite North America brand director Kate Schaufelberger emphasized the "organic, consumer-first insight" behind the innovation.

• The accelerated development process was due to the significant online discussion and consumer-driven sensorial experience.

• The creative campaign for Sprite + Tea includes a collaboration with Eastside Golf, a fashion and lifestyle brand bridging hip-hop and basketball culture with golf.

• A 30-second ad, "The Fix," features Eastside Golf co-founders offering Sprite + Tea to an amateur golfer, highlighting its refreshing qualities.

• The campaign also includes a 15-second product-focused spot and outdoor, social, and digital creative, positioning it as a fresh take on sweet tea.

• Sprite recently became the No. 3 carbonated soft drink in the U.S., surpassing Pepsi.

• The launch follows the success of Sprite Chill, which became a permanent portfolio item after strong initial performance.

• Sprite's innovation strategy aims to recruit new consumers and reinforce the brand's existing identity.

Key Takeaway:

Sprite's launch of Sprite + Tea, directly inspired by a viral TikTok trend, exemplifies how major brands are increasingly leveraging social listening to identify consumer-driven innovation opportunities and rapidly bring them to market, while also aligning with their established brand identity and building on recent successes in flavor innovation.

Main Trend:

• Trend Name: Socially Sourced Product Innovation

Description of the trend:

Socially Sourced Product Innovation describes the growing trend where companies actively monitor social media platforms and online discussions to identify consumer-generated ideas, behaviors, and unmet needs, which then serve as direct inspiration for the development of new products or the enhancement of existing ones. Sprite + Tea, born from a popular TikTok trend, perfectly illustrates this approach.

What is consumer motivation:

• Desire for Influence and Recognition: Consumers who originate or participate in online trends may feel a sense of influence and recognition when major brands acknowledge and act upon their ideas.

• Seeking Products Tailored to Their Preferences: When consumers create their own product combinations or hacks, it often reflects a desire for specific taste profiles or experiences that may not be readily available in the market.

• Community and Shared Experience: Participating in viral trends can be a way for consumers to connect with others and share experiences within online communities.

• Curiosity and Experimentation: The initial TikTok trend of adding tea to Sprite likely stemmed from consumer curiosity and a desire to experiment with flavors.

• Convenience and Accessibility: When a brand takes a consumer-driven trend and makes it commercially available, it offers a convenient and accessible way for others to enjoy the concept without having to create it themselves.

What is driving trend (detailed description):

• Power of Social Media: Platforms like TikTok provide unprecedented real-time insights into consumer behaviors and preferences on a massive scale.

• Brands' Need for Relevance and Engagement: Companies are constantly seeking ways to stay relevant, connect with consumers authentically, and foster engagement.

• Speed and Agility in Product Development: The ability to quickly identify and act on trends can give brands a competitive advantage.

• Cost-Effective Market Research: Social listening can serve as a form of free and organic market research, directly revealing consumer interests.

• Authenticity and Consumer Connection: Products inspired by genuine consumer behavior can resonate more deeply with target audiences.

What is motivation beyond the trend:

• Enjoying Novelty and New Experiences: Consumers are often eager to try new and interesting products in the market.

• Seeking Refreshment and Taste Satisfaction: Ultimately, the goal is often to find a beverage that is enjoyable and satisfies their thirst or taste preferences.

• Following Peer Recommendations: Observing others participate in a trend can motivate individuals to try it themselves or the resulting product.

Description of consumers article is referring to (what is their age?, what is their gender? What is their income? What is their lifestyle):

The article primarily refers to consumers active on TikTok who initiated the trend of adding tea bags to Sprite. This demographic is likely to skew towards:

• Age: Predominantly teens and young adults, as TikTok is most popular among these age groups.

• Gender: Likely a mix of both male and female users, as food and beverage trends often appeal broadly.

• Income: Probably a wide range, as TikTok has a diverse user base across various income levels.

• Lifestyle: These consumers are likely digitally engaged, active on social media, and interested in sharing and participating in online trends. They might be experimental with food and beverages and open to trying unconventional combinations.

The article also refers to the broader Sprite consumer base, which includes a wider age range and demographic, particularly those who have contributed to Sprite becoming the No. 3 carbonated soft drink in the U.S. and those who are the target audience for the Sprite + Tea launch. This broader group likely includes individuals who enjoy soft drinks and are potentially drawn to new flavor innovations from familiar brands.

Conclusions:

Sprite's proactive response to a viral TikTok trend with the launch of Sprite + Tea highlights the growing importance of Socially Sourced Product Innovation, where brands listen to and leverage consumer-generated content to develop new products that resonate with their audience, demonstrating agility and a consumer-first approach.

Implications for brands:

• Actively monitor social media: Brands should invest in social listening tools and strategies to identify emerging consumer trends relevant to their products.

• Be agile in product development: Companies need to be able to quickly adapt and develop products inspired by social trends.

• Engage with online communities: Brands can foster stronger connections with consumers by acknowledging and acting on their ideas.

Implication for society:

• Increased Consumer Influence: Social media is empowering consumers to have a more direct impact on product development.

• Faster Trend Cycles: Social media can accelerate the lifecycle of food and beverage trends.

Implications for consumers:

• Products More Aligned with Preferences: Socially sourced innovation can lead to products that better meet consumer desires.

• Sense of Ownership and Connection: Consumers might feel a greater sense of ownership and connection to brands that listen to them.

Implication for Future:

• More Brands Leveraging Social Listening: Expect to see more companies using social media as a key source of product innovation.

• Potential for Co-Creation: Brands might increasingly involve consumers directly in the product development process based on social insights.

Consumer Trend (name, detailed description): The User-Generated Flavor Wave - Consumers are increasingly influencing flavor innovation in the food and beverage industry through online trends, social media challenges, and user-created content.

Consumer Sub Trend (name, detailed description): The TikTok-Driven Taste Test - TikTok has become a significant platform for the emergence and rapid spread of viral food and beverage trends, influencing consumer behavior and product development.

Big Social Trend (name, detailed description): The Democratization of Innovation - Social media is democratizing innovation by providing a direct channel for consumer ideas to reach major brands.

Worldwide Social Trend (name, detailed description): The Global Reach of Social Media Trends - Online trends can quickly spread across the globe, creating opportunities for international product adaptations and launches.

Social Drive (name, detailed description): Seeking Recognition, Convenience, and Products Tailored to Expressed Preferences - Consumers are driven by the desire to have their ideas recognized, to access convenient versions of self-created trends, and to find products that align with their specific tastes.

Learnings for brands to use in 2025 (bullets, detailed description):

• TikTok is a powerful platform for identifying emerging food and beverage trends.

• Acting quickly on viral consumer-driven trends can lead to successful product innovation.

• Collaboration with popular social media platforms and creators can amplify the impact of such launches.

Strategy Recommendations for brands to follow in 2025 (bullets, detail description):

• Implement robust social listening strategies to monitor platforms like TikTok for relevant trends and consumer insights.

• Develop agile product development processes that allow for rapid iteration and launch of products inspired by social media.

• Consider collaborations with popular TikTok creators or influencers to promote socially inspired product innovations.

Final sentence (key concept) describing main trend from article (which is a summary of all trends specified): Sprite's launch of Sprite + Tea demonstrates Socially Sourced Product Innovation, where a major brand effectively tapped into a viral TikTok trend to create a new offering that resonates with consumer preferences.

What brands & companies should do in 2025 to benefit from trend and how to do it:

In 2025, brands and companies should strategically leverage the Socially Sourced Product Innovation trend by:

• Investing in sophisticated social listening tools and teams to actively monitor platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for emerging consumer trends, behaviors, and unmet needs related to their product categories. This will enable them to identify potential innovation opportunities in real time.

• Developing agile and responsive product development processes that allow them to quickly prototype, test, and bring to market new products directly inspired by consumer-generated trends identified through social listening. This agility is crucial for capitalizing on fleeting viral moments.

• Considering collaborations with the online communities and creators who originate or significantly contribute to these trends. This can involve partnering with TikTok influencers or engaging with relevant subreddits to co-create or promote products, ensuring authenticity and resonance with the target audience.

Final Note:

• Core Trend: Socially Sourced Product Innovation * Detailed Description: Brands are increasingly using social media to identify consumer-driven ideas for new products.

• Core Strategy: Implement Social Listening and Agile Development * Detailed Description: Brands should actively monitor social platforms and have the ability to quickly develop products based on emerging trends.

• Core Industry Trend: The Growing Influence of Social Media on Consumer Behavior and Product Development * Detailed Description: Social media is playing an increasingly significant role in shaping consumer preferences and inspiring product innovation across industries.

• Core Consumer Motivation: Seeking Recognition and Products Aligned with Self-Expressed Preferences * Detailed Description: Consumers are motivated by the potential to see their ideas and behaviors reflected in the products offered by major brands.

• Final Conclusion: Sprite's successful launch of Sprite + Tea exemplifies the power of Socially Sourced Product Innovation in 2025. By paying close attention to consumer-generated trends on platforms like TikTok, brands can unlock valuable insights and create new products that resonate deeply with their target audience, leading to successful market entries and enhanced brand engagement.

Core Trend Detailed (Socially Sourced Product Innovation)

• Description: Socially Sourced Product Innovation describes the increasing trend where companies actively monitor social media platforms and online discussions to identify consumer-generated ideas, behaviors, and unmet needs, which then serve as direct inspiration for the development of new products or the enhancement of existing ones. This approach allows brands to tap into real-time consumer sentiment and create offerings that are inherently aligned with audience preferences and trending behaviors. Sprite's launch of Sprite + Tea, directly inspired by a popular TikTok trend, is a compelling example of this trend in action.

• Key Characteristics of the Trend (summary):

  • Consumer-Driven Insights: New product ideas originate directly from consumer activities and discussions online.

  • Real-Time Responsiveness: Brands react quickly to emerging trends observed on social media.

  • Authenticity and Relevance: Products developed this way often resonate strongly with consumers as they reflect genuine interests.

  • Agile Development Cycles: Requires companies to have the ability to rapidly iterate and launch products based on social signals.

  • Leveraging User-Generated Content: Brands are using consumer-created content as a form of market research and validation.

• Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend (summary):

  • Sprite's launch of Sprite + Tea, directly inspired by a viral TikTok trend.

  • The TikTok trend of adding tea bags to Sprite garnering millions of views, demonstrating significant consumer interest.

  • The success of Sprite Chill, another flavor innovation that resonated with consumers.

  • The increasing popularity and influence of social media platforms like TikTok in shaping consumer trends, especially among younger demographics.

  • Brands actively engaging in social listening to understand consumer preferences and identify opportunities for innovation.

• How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior (summary):

  • Consumers are realizing their potential to influence product development through online activities.

  • There's an increased expectation for brands to be attentive to and responsive to social media trends.

  • Consumers may actively share their own product ideas or hacks online, hoping for brand recognition and potential commercialization.

  • Engagement with brands that participate in this trend can foster a stronger sense of community and co-creation.

  • It can lead to quicker adoption and excitement for new products that feel inherently familiar and consumer-driven.

• Implications Across the Ecosystem (For Brands and CPGs, For Retailers, For Consumers, summary)):

  • For Brands and CPGs: Necessity to invest in social listening tools and develop agile product development processes. Opportunity to create highly relevant products and foster stronger brand loyalty.

  • For Retailers: Need to be prepared to quickly stock and promote products that emerge from social media trends, as they can gain rapid popularity.

  • For Consumers: Potential for more products that align with their specific preferences and emerging interests. A greater sense of connection and influence with the brands they support.

• Strategic Forecast: The trend of Socially Sourced Product Innovation is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. As social media continues to permeate consumer culture and brands become more sophisticated in their social listening capabilities, we will likely see more products being directly inspired by online trends and consumer-generated content. This approach can lead to faster innovation cycles and products that have a higher likelihood of resonating with target audiences.

• Final Thought: The rise of Socially Sourced Product Innovation signifies a shift in the traditional product development model, empowering consumers and enabling brands to create more relevant and engaging offerings by tapping directly into the collective creativity and trending behaviors observed on social media platforms.

Source: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/how-sprite-tapped-into-a-viral-tiktok-trend-for-sprite-tea-launch/748303/