Coca-Cola confirms cane-sugar cola for US market after Trump's announcement
'We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving,' Quincey added.The cane-sugar version joins a trend led by rivals. Both PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have offered sugar-sweetened alternatives in the US since 2009.Asked whether a prebiotic cola, like PepsiCo's newest release, might also be on the horizon, Quincey said Coca-Cola is 'currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it.'The announcement came alongside the company's second-quarter earnings, which beat Wall Street expectations despite a global 1% dip in case volumes. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar was a bright spot, with volume rising 14 per cent., while traditional categories like juice, dairy, and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent.Quincey noted regional challenges, including softer demand in India due to early monsoons and geopolitical tensions, and spending cutbacks by low-income consumers in the U.S. Still, the CEO struck an optimistic tone: 'I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient.'Coca-Cola reported a 58% jump in net income to $3.8 billion, with quarterly revenue rising 1% to $12.5 billion. Adjusted earnings came in at 87 cents per share, ahead of the 83 cents expected by analysts.With the cane-sugar version of its classic cola poised to launch, Coca-Cola appears ready to blend nostalgia with consumer-conscious innovation.'We're expanding our portfolio to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences,' Quincey said.- EndsWith inputs from Associated Press
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