Will you miss the “Totally Tropical Taste”?

Coca-Cola axes Lilt after nearly 50 years and replaces it with new Fanta

Soft drink Lilt has been pulled from UK shelves after 48 years and will be replaced by a new type of Fanta.

The tangy drink began in 1975 with the strapline “The Totally Tropical Taste” and was only sold in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar and the Seychelles.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) confirmed the change in a statement, noting that the drink’s packaging and logo are being changed and it will now be known as Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit.

The firm’s GB vice-president of commercial development insisted the drink is the same, and simply has a new name.

Martin Attock said: “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 became a feature of popular culture with its Lilt Man parody adverts in the late 1980s, while a decade later it was promoted by two Jamaican women known as the Lilt Ladies.

It remains to be seen if the new Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit tastes the same as the old Lilt but one thing’s for sure – the new name is a bit of a mouthful! I for one will miss the iconic brand.

Were you a fan of Lilt? When did you last buy some? Do you still drink fizzy drinks? Will you be trying the new Fanta?