Coca-Cola’s latest restaurant-exclusive drink lands July 1 at Noodles & Company
Coca-Cola and Noodles & Company have teamed up to launch Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz, a limited-time fountain drink that combines three distinct flavors into one summer-exclusive soda, set to arrive at restaurant locations nationwide on July 1.
A 3-ingredient combination behind the new drink
The new soda brings together three flavors: 1. Fanta Cherry’s sweet-tart profile, 2. the creamy smoothness of Sprite Vanilla and 3. the citrusy brightness of Minute Maid Cherry Limeade. Rather than launching in a bottle or can, the drink will be dispensed exclusively through fountain machines at Noodles & Company locations across the United States, in both regular and zero-sugar varieties. The brand says the zero-sugar version is formulated to maintain the same flavor balance as the original.
The drink was developed to complement Noodles & Company’s mac and cheese menu, which features dishes like Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Garlic Bacon Crunch Mac & Cheese and Pulled Pork BBQ Mac & Cheese. The pairing concept leans on contrast — the drink’s cherry-vanilla-citrus brightness cutting through the richness of the food.
What the launch says about Coca-Cola’s strategy
Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz follows a growing pattern of restaurant-exclusive collaborations from Coca-Cola. The company previously partnered with Wingstop on a limited Sprite flavor, and Mountain Dew joined forces with Little Caesars on the Mango Rush. By keeping the new Fanta flavor exclusive to Noodles & Company, Coca-Cola continues its approach of using restricted, time-limited releases to test flavor pairings before any broader retail or bottler rollout.
For Noodles & Company, the timing is deliberate. The July 1 launch anchors what the chain is calling Mac and Cheese Month, a promotional push that runs throughout the month.
Now that the news is out, Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz is coming July 1. Pairs perfectly with our mac menu.😊
— Noodles & Company (@noodlescompany) June 25, 2026
Mac and cheese month deals
To mark National Mac and Cheese Day on July 14, Noodles & Company is offering 50 percent off any mac and cheese entrée when purchased with any other entrée. The promotion is part of a broader set of weekly deals running every Monday in July. On July 6, guests can get $5 off Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese. On July 13, Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese drops to $10, followed by Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese at $10 on July 20. The month wraps up July 27 with $3 off any mac entrée.
Where and when to get it
Fanta Vanilla Cherry Spritz will only be available at Noodles & Company restaurants starting July 1, and only for a limited time. No retail rollout has been announced, and there are currently no plans to release the flavor outside the United States. Given the company’s track record with similar exclusive beverages, there is no indication the drink will see a wider launch once the restaurant collaboration concludes.
SOURCE: allrecipes