Virgin Cola withdrawn from news chain

Virgin Cola has been withdrawn from Martin the Newsagent only two months after going on sale.

Virgin officials confirmed this week it would no longer be supplying its own-brand cola to Martin’s 780 UK shops. According to Virgin it decided to withdraw the product after Martin demanded a listing fee for the product to be stocked in fridges.

“Martin asked for a £100,000 listing fee and we were so stretched by other launches we have decided to withdraw it,” says Virgin spokesman Will Whitehorn.

Newsagents said they had yet to be told of the product withdrawal and that they were continuing to order new supplies. Shops reported strong sales, even though Virgin Cola has had to be kept out of Coca-Cola fridges. Even unchilled, however, Virgin Cola had been outselling Coke.

Virgin signed up Martin for the cola last December. Some London newsagents said they had only received stocks of the Virgin product last week.

No one at Martin was available for comment.