Keurig Kold, the much-anticipated at-home soda machine, has met an untimely demise, leaving consumers and industry experts alike questioning the reasons behind its failure. This in-depth analysis delves into the factors that contributed to the Kold’s downfall, providing valuable insights for businesses seeking to avoid similar pitfalls.
Price Point: A Major Stumbling Block
One of the most significant obstacles faced by Keurig Kold was its premium price tag. At $365 to $370, the machine was significantly more expensive than competing home soda makers, such as SodaStream. This high cost created a barrier to entry for many consumers, who were unwilling to invest such a large sum in a single-use appliance.
Limited Market Appeal: A Shrinking Soda Market
Keurig Kold’s launch coincided with a decline in the consumption of carbonated soft drinks. Health-conscious consumers were increasingly opting for healthier beverage alternatives, such as sparkling water and flavored seltzer. This shift in consumer preferences left Keurig Kold struggling to find a substantial target market.
Bulky Design and Inconvenient Operation
Consumers also expressed dissatisfaction with the Kold’s bulky size and inconvenient operation. The machine required a significant amount of counter space and took up to five hours to cool down after being plugged in. Additionally, the constant humming sound emitted by the machine was a nuisance for many users.
Lack of Value Proposition: High Pod Costs
Beyond the initial purchase price, Keurig Kold faced criticism for the high cost of its pods. Each pod, which yielded an eight-ounce serving, ranged from $0.99 to $1.29. This price point was significantly higher than the cost of canned or bottled soda, making it difficult for consumers to justify the investment in the Kold system.
Lessons Learned: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Innovation
The failure of Keurig Kold serves as a cautionary tale for businesses seeking to introduce innovative products. To avoid similar setbacks, companies should carefully consider the following factors:
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Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to identify consumer needs and preferences. Understand the competitive landscape and potential barriers to entry.
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Value Proposition: Ensure that the product offers a compelling value proposition that justifies its price point. Consider the total cost of ownership, including consumables and maintenance.
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User Experience: Design products that are user-friendly, convenient, and aesthetically pleasing. Address potential pain points and ensure that the product meets the expectations of target consumers.
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Market Timing: Consider the timing of product launches in relation to market trends and consumer preferences. Avoid introducing products that may face significant headwinds due to changing market dynamics.
By incorporating these lessons into their product development and marketing strategies, businesses can increase their chances of success and avoid the pitfalls that led to the demise of Keurig Kold.
It starts with a chiller.
The carbonation features of the Keurig Kold machine have received a lot of attention in the media, but the process begins with chilling, which is a difficult step in and of itself.
In December, Suzanne DuLong, a spokeswoman for Keurig, told Business Insider, “There are many ways to make something hot quickly, but there are few options to make something cold quickly.”
Users insert a pod containing their preferred soda flavor and turn on the machine, which draws water from the external water tank into a chiller. When an impeller rotates, cooling the water, the chilling process starts.
The water won’t absorb carbonation as well if it’s not cold enough. Plus, the sequence of events that transpires over the next ninety seconds is initiated by the water’s fluctuating temperature. Advertisement.
…but it doesn’t end there…
To carbonate the water, the released carbon dioxide must then return to the chiller.
(Once more, patent illustrations are not exact copies of the Kold; this one shows the Keurig-patented method of “carbonating liquid in a single pass through a carbonator,” with arrows indicating the water’s carbonation process. ) Advertisement.
Keurig Kold: Refund, 56 days later!
FAQ
What happened to Keurig Kold?
What factors contributed to Kold’s failure?
Is Keurig discontinuing the Kold?
The pod-based beverage company Keurig has just announced that it’s discontinuing the first and only generation of Keurig Kold, AP reports. The Kold, which allowed users to make soda at home using Coke-branded pods, has been available to consumers for less than a year.
What happened to Keurig K-Cups?
Keurig received backlash from suppliers and consumers, annoyed that traditional k-cups wouldn’t work with the Keurig 2.0 brewer. The company made the decision to move more towards cold beverages in an attempt to diversify their product mix and capitalize on an untapped market. However, Keurig KOLD quickly ran into problems.
Is the Keurig discontinued?
While the new Keurig models are now available on sale online and in stores, it is important for people to be aware of the fact that Keurig has discontinued some of its most popular models in order to promote the sales of the Keurig 2.0.