Coca-Cola is promising the same taste as regular Coke, as it officially launches a replacement for Coca-Cola Zero with its innovative “better-tasting” recipe in the US, which will now be called Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.

The new package design is due to hit store shelves around the US in August.

Coca-Cola says it has carried out in-house innovation and extensive market testing to give its new product a new name, new look and an “even more delicious taste.”

Since being introduced in 2005, the Coca-Cola Zero brand is sold in nearly 160 countries around the world and was originally championed as an alternative to regular Coke.

“More than 10 years ago, we launched Coca-Cola Zero with a revolutionary recipe that gave fans real Coca-Cola taste, without the sugar and calories. The brand grew strongly after its launch and gained millions of loyal fans over time, but we recognized an opportunity to give the brand another boost and to encourage more Coca-Cola fans to try a great-tasting zero-sugar product,” said Stuart Kronauge, business unit president, USA Operations and senior vice president, Marketing, Coca-Cola North America.

“We’ve used our in-house innovation capabilities to make the great taste of Coke Zero even better and a lot like a Coke. To achieve this, we optimized the unique blend of flavors that gave Coke Zero its real Coca-Cola taste in the new and improved Coca-Cola Zero Sugar recipe. It’s delicious, refreshing and our best-tasting zero-sugar Coca-Cola yet,” Kronauge continued.

As the company continues to create new beverages and evolve its recipes, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar represents the company’s latest zero-sugar product innovation. It joins a roster of nearly 250 other no- and low-calorie beverages offered in the US.

“We’re confident our new and improved Coke Zero Sugar recipe delivers a great taste that Coke Zero fans in the US will love. We also hope that people who love the unforgettable taste of Coca-Cola, but want less sugar, will try it and enjoy,” Kronauge added.

Along with the improved recipe and taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar will have a new design that looks more like Coca-Cola. The updated package design will feature the iconic red Coca-Cola disc against the familiar black background. In addition, the design prominently features “zero sugar” text to emphasize the drink does not contain sugar.

These packaging changes support the company’s “One Brand” strategy to bring its Coca-Cola portfolio of beverages together as a single trademark brand to show fans we have a Coca-Cola for everyone. The changes also support the company’s continued efforts to increase promotion of no-and low-sugar Coca-Cola options to help people looking to reduce their consumption of added sugars.

“Introducing a new and improved recipe for one of our most popular no-calorie brands represents one of the biggest investments we’ve made since the 2005 Coke Zero launch to increase trial and awareness of a zero-sugar Coca-Cola option in the US,” adds Kronauge.

The US launch follows the success and popularity of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar already seen in the UK, Mexico and more than 25 other markets around the world. According to Coca-Cola, volume sales of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar have grown by double digits globally year-to-date, with the strongest growth in Europe and Latin America, regions with the broadest availability of the new recipe.