Coca-Cola Just Brought Back a Fan-Favorite Soda After 5 Years

As a Diet Pepsi girlie, my allegiance switches to Coca-Cola when it comes to one specific flavor. However, that beloved can has been missing from grocery store shelves for five long years. Now, it’s back with a surprising, nostalgic change that almost makes up for all those years lost.

But it’s not back forever. And only select lucky grocery store brands get it. We’re on borrowed time, y’all. Here’s what we know.

Diet Cherry Coke Returns To Select Grocery Stores

In a statement to Allrecipes, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola confirmed that, yes, this is really (finally) happening: Diet Cherry Coke is returning to soda shelves.

Technically, Coca-Cola Freestyle machines never abandoned the flavor, and fans in the know have been able to get their fix amid the disappearance of cans. But there’s nothing like on-demand Diet Cherry Coke from the fridge or cooler.

Initially released in 1986, Diet Cherry Coke disappeared from soda shelves about three decades later. And while there is a current Coke Zero cherry flavor, I’m here to tell you the two are not the same. Perhaps to differentiate itself from its Coke Zero sister, Diet Cherry Coke returns as Retro Diet Cherry Coke, featuring the original ’80s can design.

What makes this Diet Coke flavor so superior is that proprietary Coca-Cola cherry flavor. Yes, Pepsi has its Wild Cherry empire, and Slice Cherry Cola has returned to the soda game. Olipop has a pretty tasty cherry cola, too. But, in my opinion, Coke does cherry better. And for folks who have never been able to get on board with that very distinct Diet Coke aftertaste: It’s not there with Diet Cherry Coke.

Fans, such as @rememberera on TikTok, have already spotted the retro release in specific grocery stores, and now we know why. A spokesperson for the brand confirmed with Allrecipes that Diet Cherry Coke will only be available at Kroger.

But that does include the Kroger family of brands. So if you don’t have a Kroger nearby, chances are you have a QFC or Fred Meyer. Whichever Kroger brand you choose, you’ll want to stock up ASAP. Sadly, Diet Cherry Coke is only back for the summer, so snag this limited-time can while you can.