This week we’re going to go back to one of your favorite features on this blog; taking a stroll down drink vending machines memory lane. This week’s featured snack vending machine item: Mello Yello.
Remember a few months back when we discussed Surge, the Coca-Cola brand product created to compete with Mountain Dew? Well, Mello Yello was the original Surge, standing as Coca-Cola’s first citrus-flavored soft drink designed to compete with the Dew. Introduced in October of 1979, Mello Yello had three separate “spin-off sodas,” though none is available today: Mello Yello Cherry (released in response to Mountain Dew Code Red), Mello Yello Afterglow (peach-flavored) and Mello Yello Melon.
Unlike Surge, Mello Yello isn’t COMPLETELY lost to drink vending machines today. It’s still available, albeit in limited supply, in some Midwest and South Florida locations.
However, what I’ll always remember was the television commercials: