September 28/Atlanta/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- A small team inside Coca-Cola Co. charged with finding and marketing niche products has its newest weapon -- a blended tea from Japan.
Sokenbicha ("SO-can-BEE-cha") will be imported into the U.S. and sold initially in Whole Foods Market, which has been a test kitchen of sorts for Coca-Cola in the past. The Austin, Texas-based retailer has agreed to stock other unusual drinks from Coca-Cola's Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) unit, such as a dark Russian soda fermented with rye and barley.