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 is set to be replaced by a new type of Fanta.

The drink was first sold in 1975 with the tagline “The Totally Tropical Taste”, and was only available in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar and the Seychelles.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) confirmed the change in a statement, noting that it will now be known as Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit.

CCEP said: “Keen Lilt fans may have spotted a gradual transition as the drink has made its way into the Fanta family over the past few months, with changes to its packaging and logo.

“Some have even hypothesised on social media that Lilt may be becoming part of the Fanta brand, and one even went as far as producing their own news broadcast-style video.”

The firm’s UK vice-president of commercial development, Martin Attock, has insisted the drink formula is the same, and that it simply has a new name.

“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,” he said.

“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.

Coca-Cola reduced the number of calories, sugar and artificial sweeteners in the drink between 2008 and 2014 as part of efforts to make healthier products in response to the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal.

The new drink will be available from February 14.