Coca-Cola has confirmed that it will stop selling TaB across the world, including in South Africa. TaB was launched in 1963 - the company's first sugar-free cooldrink brand, aimed at consumers who wanted to "keep tabs" on their weight.

It was eventually eclipsed by Diet Coke, which came to the market in 1982.

In South Africa, TaB was popular as, for many years, it was the only diet brand that didn't contain caffeine.

But Coca-Cola said TaB was one the company's “select underperforming products” that will be "retired" by the end of this year. The Coca-Cola Company's local affiliate confirmed to Netwerk24 that TaB will also be discontinued in South Africa.

“If not for Tab, we wouldn’t have Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar. Tab did its job," Kerri Kopp, group director for Diet Coke, Coca-Cola North America, said in the statement. 

US brands like Coca-Cola Life, Diet Coke Fiesty Cherry and Sprite Lymonade will also be discontinued.

Coca-Cola said while it had plans to streamline its brands before the pandemic, the coronavirus disrupted its supply chain and "changing consumer behaviour" caused by the pandemic hastened the decision.