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Atlanta, Georgia—2006
Johnrod Jones paced back and forth in the Coca-Cola headquarters, waiting impatiently for the verdict.
As Chief Marketing Officer, he had pitched the executives on a new ready-to-drink tea line.
He knew tea was surging in popularity, especially down South, where sweet tea flowed like water.
Jones was convinced Coca-Cola needed to tap into this market.
After what felt like an eternity, the CEO strode into the conference room, grinning.
“Johnson, we loved your presentation! Tea is the future—we’re giving you the green light to develop your tea.”
Relief washed over Jones.
Finally, Coca-Cola could bring real competition to Nestea and Lipton!
After months of tinkering and testing, Coca-Cola’s scientists perfected a smooth, balanced sweet tea recipe.
But one critical task remained—the name.
During a brainstorming hike, inspiration struck Jones at the summit overlooking Alabama’s Talladega National Forest.
The craggy golden cliffs shimmered in the afternoon sun.
Jones declared, “That’s it - Gold Peak!”
In early 2007, sleek bottles of Gold Peak Tea rolled off the line.
Gold Peak Tea’s history started on that day.
Gold Peak Tea was allegedly named after Gold Peak Mountain, a 2,200-foot mountain with golden cliffs located in Alabama’s Talladega National Forest.
When launching the tea in 2006, the brand’s creators chose this name to evoke the mountain’s natural beauty.
Gold Peak Tea was launched in 2006 using standard tea concentrate production methods.
In 2018, Coca-Cola switched its formula to premium leaves from Kenya’s Rift Valley.
In its early years, the brand used the “Real-Brewed Difference” slogan in its marketing, emphasizing the traditional steeping of whole tea leaves.
In 2009, Gold Peak Tea earned the ChefsBest Award for best taste, for its exceptional flavor via blind testing by certified experts—evaluating metrics like aroma, texture, balance, and aftertaste.
The award became a badge of honor that Gold Peak proudly featured in its marketing.
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When Gold Peak Tea launched, it only had two options: sweetened and unsweetened black tea.
Starting in 2009, The Coca-Cola Company has launched a diet version, lemon-flavored blends in 2011, and green teas in 2014.
In 2009, Coca-Cola introduced a pre-chilled line that could be sold in refrigerated cases and enjoyed immediately without preparation.
It was a hit for on-the-go consumers.
The innovative “born cold” formulation was developed to keep its flavor in cold temperatures.
In 2019, Coca-Cola transitioned Gold Peak Tea from its glass bottle packaging to plastic.
The new plastic bottles kept the brand’s signature silhouette and helped with portability.
The shift was not a great announcement for consumers who preferred glass, but it brought functional improvements, including lighter weight, durability, and flavor protection.
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When entering the competitive ready-to-drink tea market, Gold Peak Tea launched multimedia campaigns that emphasized premium ingredients and culinary sophistication.
However, in recent years, the brand has shifted its marketing to an outdoorsy, wellness-focused aesthetic.
Gold Peak has continued to have consistent messaging around quality, natural ingredients, and wellbeing across platforms—from traditional advertising to social media influencer partnerships.
Gold Peak Tea transformed has become a category leader through its emphasis on quality ingredients and its authentic brewing processes.
The brand’s success was accelerated by Coca-Cola’s distribution network, product excellence, and ability to innovate.
Gold Peak Tea has become a trusted choice for both casual and dedicated tea drinkers.
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