Red Bull Simply Cola

Red Bull Simply Cola is a carbonated cola beverage introduced by Red Bull GmbH in 2008. It extended the Red Bull portfolio beyond the company’s core energy-drink business into the established cola category. The product was initially marketed under the Red Bull Cola name in several markets and is also associated with the ORGANICS by Red Bull range, where it is branded ORGANICS Simply Cola. The drink is formulated with cane sugar, caramel colour, lemon juice concentrate, plant extracts and caffeine derived from coffee beans. The botanical ingredients cited in descriptions of the product include kola nut, coca leaf, cinnamon and vanilla. Red Bull describes the flavour as a combination of citrus, spice and herbal notes rather than as a direct imitation of the leading American cola formulas. Unlike some mainstream colas, the product is described as not using phosphoric acid or high-fructose corn syrup. It is carbonated and has been sold in 250 ml and 355 ml cans, with the larger format also offered in four-packs. A 355 ml can contains approximately 45 milligrams of caffeine. That level is higher than the commonly cited caffeine content of standard Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola servings, but lower than the caffeine levels associated with Diet Coke and Mountain Dew in comparable serving references. It is substantially below the caffeine content of Red Bull’s flagship energy drink when the different serving sizes are taken into account. The product nevertheless attracted attention because of its caffeine level and because its use of coca-leaf extract became the subject of regulatory scrutiny. At launch, Red Bull Simply Cola was distributed across a broad group of European, Asian, Middle Eastern, North American and Oceanian markets. The United States distribution was discontinued in late July 2011 as Red Bull concentrated on core markets, particularly Austria and Germany. The brand continued to appear in other markets and was incorporated into Red Bull’s ORGANICS line when that range was introduced in 2019. It debuted in Turkey in June 2021. The product also became visible through Red Bull’s motorsport sponsorship system. Its branding appeared on the rear wings of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One cars from 2008 to 2011. Toro Rosso resumed the association in 2016, and Red Bull Racing brought the branding back in 2018. After Toro Rosso became AlphaTauri in 2020, the earlier Toro Rosso arrangement ended in its original form. As of the cited reference period, Simply Cola branding remained inside the side area of the Red Bull Racing rear wing. Red Bull Simply Cola’s history illustrates an effort by Red Bull to use its distinctive brand identity, ingredient story and sports-marketing infrastructure in a non-energy cola category. Its market position is therefore based less on being a mass-market standard cola and more on its association with Red Bull, a botanical formulation and an alternative product narrative. Availability has varied by country and over time.

Red Bull Simply Cola was introduced by Red Bull GmbH in 2008 as the company’s entry into the cola soft-drink category. Red Bull had built its international identity around an energy drink, but Simply Cola used the same broader brand platform to offer a conventional carbonated beverage with a distinct ingredient and flavour profile. The drink was made with cane sugar, caramel colour, lemon juice concentrate, plant extracts and caffeine sourced from coffee beans. Descriptions of the formulation identify botanical components such as kola nut, coca leaf, cinnamon and vanilla. Red Bull presented the resulting flavour as a balance of citrus, spice and herbal notes. The initial rollout covered numerous markets in Europe, as well as countries in Asia, the Middle East, North America and Oceania. The product was packaged in 250 ml and 355 ml cans, with the larger can also available in four-packs. A 355 ml serving contained about 45 milligrams of caffeine. This placed it above the cited caffeine levels of standard Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola servings, but below Diet Coke and Mountain Dew in the comparative figures reported for the product. It was far less caffeinated than Red Bull’s flagship energy drink when serving sizes were considered. Simply Cola attracted regulatory attention in Germany in May 2009. Food regulators reported trace amounts of cocaine linked to coca-leaf extracts in Red Bull Cola and certain other cola products. Red Bull stated that its product used coca-leaf extracts from which cocaine had been removed. Several German states ordered the drink off shelves temporarily. A subsequent assessment by the German Institute for Risk Assessment concluded that the product was safe, and it returned to sale on 24 August 2009. The episode also prompted Taiwan to confiscate Red Bull products, an action later acknowledged as mistaken. Red Bull discontinued distribution in the United States in late July 2011, citing a decision to focus on core markets such as Austria and Germany. The product continued to be available in other countries. In 2019, Red Bull incorporated a new version into its ORGANICS line, where it was branded ORGANICS Simply Cola. This created a clearer connection between the drink and Red Bull’s stated emphasis on ingredients of natural origin while preserving the cola format. The product reached Turkey in June 2021. Marketing was closely connected to Red Bull’s Formula One sponsorships. Simply Cola branding appeared on the rear wings of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso cars from 2008 through 2011. The association with Toro Rosso returned in 2016 and continued until the team was reconstituted as AlphaTauri in 2020. Red Bull Racing restored Simply Cola branding in 2018, placing the logo inside the side portion of the rear wing rather than in the earlier prominent position. The cited reference indicates that this placement remained in use as of 2025. The brand’s development therefore combined portfolio expansion, selective international distribution, ingredient-based differentiation and Red Bull’s established sports-marketing model. It has not replaced the company’s energy drink as its central product, but it represents a continuing cola proposition that has been adapted into the ORGANICS range and distributed unevenly across markets.

1. 2021Turkey debut

   Simply Cola launched in Turkey in June.

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2. 2019ORGANICS Simply Cola introduced

   A new Simply Cola version became part of Red Bull’s ORGANICS product line.

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3. 2011United States distribution discontinued

   Red Bull ended United States distribution in late July to concentrate on core markets.

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4. 2009German regulatory dispute

   Several German states temporarily removed the product from sale after regulators reported trace cocaine findings associated with coca-leaf extracts. It returned after a German risk assessment found it safe.

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5. 2008Product introduction and international rollout

   Red Bull launched Simply Cola and made it available in a wide range of European, Asian, Middle Eastern, North American and Oceanian markets.

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A premium, botanically formulated cola extension of the Red Bull portfolio, emphasizing cane sugar, plant extracts, coffee-derived caffeine and citrus, spice and herbal flavour notes.

• Red Bull Simply ColaCola soft drink2008

  A carbonated cola made with cane sugar, caramel colour, lemon juice concentrate, plant extracts and coffee-derived caffeine. The ingredient profile is associated with kola nut, coca leaf, cinnamon and vanilla, while Red Bull describes the taste as citrusy, spicy and herbal. It has been packaged in 250 ml and 355 ml cans, with 355 ml cans also sold in four-packs.

• ORGANICS Simply ColaOrganic-line cola soft drink2019

  The ORGANICS-branded version of Simply Cola introduced in 2019 as part of Red Bull’s ORGANICS range. It retains the product’s cola positioning and botanical ingredient narrative while presenting the beverage within Red Bull’s line of drinks described as being made from ingredients of natural origin.

• 2018Red Bull Racing branding return

  Formula One

  Red Bull Racing restored Simply Cola branding, displaying the logo on the inside of the rear wing’s side area.

  Outcome. The cited reference states that the placement remained in use as of 2025.

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• 2016Toro Rosso sponsorship return

  Formula One

  Simply Cola sponsorship returned to Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2016 after an earlier 2008–2011 association.

  Outcome. The association lasted until Toro Rosso was reformed as AlphaTauri in 2020.

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• 2008Formula One rear-wing branding

  International Formula One markets

  Simply Cola branding was placed on the rear wings of Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One cars, linking the new cola product to Red Bull’s established motorsport platform.

  Outcome. The branding continued through 2011 and later returned in modified team arrangements.

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• 2019Integration into the ORGANICS lineOther

  Red Bull expanded its portfolio with the ORGANICS range, which emphasized beverages made from ingredients described as being of natural origin.

  What changed. The company released a new version of Simply Cola under the ORGANICS Simply Cola name.

  Aftermath. Simply Cola gained a defined place within Red Bull’s broader non-energy ORGANICS portfolio.

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• 2011Withdrawal from United States distributionStrategy

  Red Bull reviewed the product’s market coverage and chose to concentrate distribution on core markets, including Austria and Germany.

  What changed. Distribution of Red Bull Simply Cola in the United States was discontinued in late July.

  Aftermath. The product remained available in other international markets and later received a new ORGANICS-branded version.

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• 2009Trace cocaine findings and temporary German sales banControversy

  German food regulators reported approximately 0.13 micrograms of cocaine in a can, attributing the finding to coca-leaf extracts. Red Bull said it used decocainized extract. Several German states temporarily prohibited sale, but the German Institute for Risk Assessment later judged the beverage safe and it returned to shelves on 24 August 2009.

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• 2009Taiwan confiscation following German reportControversy

  Taiwan confiscated around 18,000 cans of Red Bull products after the German controversy and subsequently acknowledged that the action had been a mistake.

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• 2021Simply Cola launches in Turkey

  Red Bull Simply Cola became available in Turkey in June 2021.

  Product launch
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• 2019Red Bull introduces the ORGANICS version of Simply Cola

  Red Bull released its ORGANICS range, which included a new version of Simply Cola under the ORGANICS Simply Cola name.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2011Red Bull ends United States distribution of Simply Cola

  Distribution in the United States ended in late July as Red Bull focused on core markets including Austria and Germany.

  Other
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• 2008Red Bull launches Simply Cola

  Red Bull introduced Simply Cola as a carbonated cola beverage and distributed it across a broad set of international markets.

  Product launch
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1. Red Bull Simply Cola