Coca-Cola follows rivals into caffeine-free market

The Coca-Cola Company introduced caffeine-free Coca-Cola, Diet Coca-Cola, and Tab. The firm is the largest and the last of the major soft-drink manufacturers to jump into the caffeine-free beverage market, which Coca-Cola said already has captured 7 to 8 percent of the soft-drink market. Atlanta-based Royal Crown introduced a caffeine-free cola in 1980, while Pepsi-Cola introduced Pepsi-Free last August. Coca-Cola said it would introduce its new drinks in 80 percent of US markets by year-end.