Behind Coke’s move to boost sparkling water sales with new Aha brand

Coca-Cola Co., which has lost ground in the sparkling water race to PepsiCo, is trying to stage a comeback with its biggest North American brand launch in 13 years. The new offering, called Aha, will hit stores in March and be backed with significant marketing spending. It comes in eight flavors, including two—Citrus and Green Tea; and Black Cherry and Coffee—that include 30 mg of added caffeine, which is slightly below the amount in a regular Coke (34 mg). The added boost marks a departure for the sparkling water category, in which most major brands do not include caffeine.