“Guilty Carbonated NOPE,” launched by Suntory Beverage & Food (formerly Suntory Foods International) on March 24, has made a strong start.
On April 3, the company announced that shipments had reached 20 million bottles within one week of launch. It said reaching 20 million bottles was the fastest ever for a Suntory carbonated beverage launched since the start of the Reiwa era.
The company attributes the strong performance to consumer support for its complex flavor and to its compatibility with so-called “guilty foods,” such as rich ramen and pizza.
The product combines more than 99 flavors, including fully ripened fruits and spices, to create multi-layered aromas and flavors. In the finishing process, it uses the company’s proprietary blend of “Guilty Aroma Oil” so that consumers can enjoy a lingering aromatic aftertaste.
According to the company, it has received comments expressing surprise at the complex flavor, as well as interest in trying it, including: “I can’t describe it in one word, but it’s delicious”; “It’s sweet, but before I knew it, I had finished an entire bottle”; and “The fruit and spice flavors are addictive.”
