The Coca-Cola company has confirmed its plans to introduce a new drink as a replacement in the future. Taking to social media, the company introduced its new product, Coca-Cola No Sugar No Caffeine. While the production of TaB will cease at the end of the year, consumers will still be able to purchase TaB based on its stock availability. The departure of TaB has been known by the market for some time, with the company announcing its plan to retire it along with other select products in various markets around the world in 2020. But, nonetheless, TaB, which is  synonymous with the growth of the fitness industry in the 1980s that saw people pouring themselves the diet drink while getting into shape in aerobics classes and gyms around SA, will be sorely missed.

Coca-Cola said the move to retire TaB and certain other products was "part of a global portfolio refresh, prioritising category-leading brands with the greatest potential for scale". "This portfolio refresh will allow the company to invest in scaling brands and creating a portfolio of drinks that are positioned to capture growth in a fast-changing marketplace", it said. It added that TaB was first introduced in 1963 as Coca-Cola’s "first-ever diet soft drink", also confirming that it "became a cultural icon in the 1980s and maintained a small but loyal following over the last few decades, primarily among fans who grew up with the beloved brand". "For those consumers who prefer low-calorie/low-kilojoule, caffeine-free beverages, we continue to offer Coca-Cola No Sugar No Caffeine in South Africa."