A video posted to TikTok claims that ice tea drink Nestea is being discontinued in Canada. The claim is misleading. Keurig Dr Pepper Canada acquired the licensing rights previously held by Coca-Cola Co. and will oversee its manufacture and sale in Canada beginning Jan. 1.
"Just found out Nestea is discontinuing in Canada," reads the caption on a TikTok on Dec. 12.
The video, which received more than two million plays and 90,000 shares, gave the impression the ice tea drink would soon disappear from store shelves.
Similar claims about the product's discontinuation appeared on and .
Rating: Misleading
Nestea is in fact remaining in Canada under beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper Canada (KDP Canada), based in Mississauga, Ont., and its subsidiary Canada Dry Mott's Inc.
KDP Canada with Nestle Canada, making it responsible for the "manufacturing, marketing, sales, distribution and merchandizing" of Nestea's ready-to-drink products, according to a Dec. 10 press release.
Before the agreement, Coca-Cola Co. produced and bottled Nestea in Canada under the Nestle-owned trademark.
The new agreement takes effect on the first day of January.
Coca-Cola Co. says it retains rights to Nestea formula
KDP Canada says it is taking over the distribution of Nestea and there are no plans to discontinue the drink.
The company will manage Nestea in its ready-to-drink forms including cans and juice boxes, while Nestle will manage the powdered mix.
"During the transition with the previous distributor, there may be a period of limited availability as we ramp up production, but this will be temporary," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ could not confirm what formula KDP Canada will use for its Nestea branded drink.
Coca-Cola Co. says it retains the sole rights for the Nestea formula.
The company introduced a new ice tea brand to Canada this month, called Fuze, which it says has the same ingredients as Nestea.
"FUZE Iced Tea is the exact same recipe, same ingredients, even sourced from the same suppliers, made at the same facilities here in Canada," a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Sources
Claim posted on on Dec. 12, 2024 ()
Claim can also be found on , from Dec. 17, 2024 (, ) and , from Dec. 13, 2024 ()
Keurig Dr Pepper Canada from Dec. 10, 2024 ()
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