In 1996 the global convenient store franchise 7-Eleven launched their own cola in USA, called Classic Selection Original Cola. Classic Selection was the American 7-Eleven’s own private label which already included bottled water.

Around the same time the Japanese convenient store chain Ito-Yokado launched Classic Selection Cola with a design and taste that was very similar to 7-Eleven’s private brand in the US.

Also, in either 1996 or 1998, a Korean convenience store chain launched Combi Cola. Again with a design and taste strikingly close to the American and Japanese.

It is not clear to me how the three were connected.

The American Classic Selection Original Cola was discontinued in 2004, and it was the same for the Japanese Classic Selection Cola. This happened around the same time when Seven-Eleven Japan and Ito-Yokado merged to create the company 7 & i Holding Co. which now owns both the 7-Eleven and Ito-Yokado franchises in Japan.

The Korean Combi Cola was bottled by Haitai Beverage until 2007.

American Classic Selection Original Cola, Japanese Classic Selection Cola, and Korean Combi Cola. Photos from colawp.com.