Latest news with #Coca-Cola
Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Disney and Coca-Cola Stock Look to Strike Back with Star Wars Push
Coca-Cola (KO) and Disney (DIS) aren't just celebrating 70 years of partnership, they're reigniting two of the most recognizable brands on Earth at a time when both could use a bit of magic in their stock stories. The launch of Coca-Cola's new Star Wars -themed campaign, 'Refresh Your Galaxy,' isn't just a fizzy nostalgia play. It's a calculated brand offensive with shareholder implications. Confident Investing Starts Here: Brand Equity Goes Galactic At first glance, it's collectible cans and hologram gimmicks. But zoom out. You've got 30 limited-edition Coke designs hitting shelves in global markets from Asia to the Americas. It's not just about fans collecting, it's about reigniting emotional loyalty with one of the most commercially powerful fanbases in history. For Coca-Cola, this kind of cross-generational marketing doesn't just spike short-term sales. It builds long-term equity. We're talking retail uplift, social media engagement, and maybe most importantly: pricing power. Limited edition packaging gives Coke a reason to flex its premium branding muscle in an increasingly competitive beverage landscape. And yes, collectors will buy more than one. Disney's Content Flywheel Gets New Fuel On the other side of the can: Disney (DIS). The House of Mouse is juicing the Star Wars IP across platforms. From cinema ads to in-park exclusives, this campaign is a masterclass in ecosystem monetization. Theme park traffic? Boosted. Coke's exclusive designs are only available at Disney parks in Florida and California. That's incremental spend on-site, plus food, merch, and everything else that comes with a theme park visit. Disney also wins from eyeballs. The ad spot, a crowd of cosplayers using Coke bottles as lightsabers in a theater screening A New Hope, is engineered to go viral. Viral means reach, and reach means more subscriptions, more merch, more ticket sales. The Impact on Disney and Coca-Cola Stock For Coca-Cola, this isn't just brand theater. It's a margin story. Limited editions help drive volume, but more importantly, they support pricing in an inflation-heavy environment where differentiation matters. If the campaign drives even a modest increase in global sales velocity, it could meaningfully impact earnings, particularly in emerging markets where brand-led growth is key. For Disney, the campaign is a reminder that Star Wars remains a crown jewel, and a lever that can pull revenue across theme parks, streaming, merchandise, and more. In a year when Disney's streaming margins are under scrutiny and parks face post-COVID normalization, multi-channel campaigns like this offer synergistic upside. Is Coca-Cola a Good Stock to Buy? According to 16 Wall Street analysts, Coca-Cola is firmly in 'Strong Buy' territory. The consensus includes 15 Buy ratings and one Hold, with zero Sell recommendations in sight. The average 12-month KO price target is $79.53, a healthy 14.2% upside from its current level of $69.64. Why it matters? A global campaign tied to Star Wars nostalgia and AR-driven social engagement doesn't just move hearts, it moves units. If this cross-promotional campaign lands well (and early signs suggest it will), it could drive volume, especially in international markets where brand saturation still has room to grow. Is Disney a Good Stock to Buy? Meanwhile, Disney isn't far behind in analyst confidence. Out of 19 ratings, 15 are Buys, four are Holds, and, again, zero Sells. The average 12-month DIS price target of $125.12 suggests 3% upside from the current price of $121.61. Star Wars continues to be one of Disney's most monetizable IPs, from box office and streaming to parks and now partnerships. The AR campaign with Coca-Cola amplifies that flywheel, driving engagement in a way that touches nearly every corner of Disney's ecosystem, from Disney+ subscribers to theme park foot traffic.
Mint
13 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Soft drink makers catch the fitness bug. But is zero-sugar really healthy?
New Delhi/Bengaluru: Coca-Cola Co. last week provided some evidence of the urban Indian's growing propensity to swap sugary drinks for sugar-free variants—'a record-breaking 2.5 million-unit cases" of its 'no-sugar" Thums Up XForce sold in just three months. Coca-Cola, which is the world's largest beverage company, its closest rival PepsiCo Inc., and Reliance Consumer Products, which revived the iconic Campa Cola two years ago as Campa, all have zero-sugar variants catering to India's growing obsession with counting calories. With consumers lapping up these 'healthier" fizzy drinks, beverage makers have been able to expand their product lines with zero-sugar or low-sugar variants at different prices without needing separate bottling investments. According to researcher Mintel Group's Global New Products Database, Indian non-alcoholic beverage brands introduced more products with 'minus" claims—such as low-sugar or no-sugar—than 'plus" claims between July 2019 and June 2024. In the five years to May this year, the number of products in India with 'low sugar' and 'reduced sugar' claims surged 483%, and products with 'sugar-free' claims increased 142%, according to Mintel. Urban consumers, especially those in metropolitan cities, are leading this shift, it added. 'Health consciousness is rising as preventive care and healthy ageing take centre stage, driven by escalating obesity and diabetes, even among younger adults," said Anamika Banerji, senior food and drink analyst at Mintel India. 'This has set the stage for innovations that prioritise low or no sugar." A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said demand for the company's diet and no-calorie variants—including Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, and Thums Up XForce—was gaining momentum in India, especially among young adults, fueled by changing lifestyles and choices. Coca-Cola declined to share specific data for these brands. In recent years, the company has introduced brands such as Bodyarmor Lyte, a drink with electrolytes; Charged, a sports drink; and Honest Tea in India. How safe is 'no-sugar'? The primary difference between regular and 'healthier" soft drinks lies in the sugar content, calorie count, and type of sweetener used. Thums Up X Force's nutritional information label, for instance, mentions 0 kilocalories of energy and 0 g of total sugars and added sugars per 100 ml. The regular Thums Up mentions 42 kcal per 100 ml, and 10.4 g of total sugars and another 10.4 g of added sugars. However, Thums Up X Force's ingredients list, per the company's website, mentions sugar and sweeteners (955, 950), which are 'International Numbering System' figures representing sucralose and acesulfame potassium, respectively. In 2023, after the World Health Organization raised concerns about the use of artificial sweeteners, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said it would look into the impact of such additives on the Indian population. FSSAI has also laid down safety limits for the use of noncaloric sweeteners such as stevia, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, and sucralose. Last year, the food safety regulator approved a proposal to display nutritional information related to total sugar, salt, and saturated fat in bold letters and a larger font size on the labels of packaged foods. It is also considering a front-of-pack nutrition-labelling system, along with a star rating to indicate a food or beverage's nutritional value. Last year, FSSAI also directed food business operators to remove any claims of '100% fruit juices" from labels and advertisements of reconstituted fruit juices. The regulator's increased focus on added sugars in beverages is pushing beverage makers to build a portfolio comprising no-sugar brands, said K. Ramakrishnan, managing director (South Asia), at market researcher Kantar's Worldpanel division. According to Kantar, the number of Indian households consuming no-sugar beverages has grown by 78% in the last four years. However, Ramakrishnan said this is still an urban, big-city category and has a way to go before reaching rural areas. The covid pivot PepsiCo's largest bottler in India, Varun Beverages Ltd, said low-sugar and no-sugar versions of brands such as 7UP, Pepsi, and Gatorade accounted for 44% of its volume mix in the country in 2024. Including its operations in Africa, Nepal and Sri Lanka, low-sugar and no-sugar versions accounted for 53% of its consolidated sales volume. 'Every product will slowly start moving towards mid-cal and no-sugar," Ravi Jaipuria, chairman of Varun Beverages, said during the company's third-quarter earnings call in February. A spokesperson for PepsiCo India said more than 50% of the company's portfolio comprised low-calorie and zero-sugar products. 'While there has been some consumer interest towards sugar-free and low-calorie beverages over the last decade, a noticeable shift came during and after the pandemic years," the spokesperson said. 'At-home consumption requirements and physical activity patterns evolved during this time. This pivot has encouraged innovation around zero-sugar formats across our portfolio." Dabur India Ltd, which sells fruit drinks and juices under the 'Real' brand, too, is focused on reducing sugar content across its beverage portfolio. In 2018, the consumer goods company pledged to reduce sugar by 5% on two-thirds of its beverage portfolio in three years, and by another 5% in half of its beverage portfolio by 2023. By 2022, Dabur surpassed its targets, reducing sugar by around 21%. '... We are currently working on sugar reduction to the tune of an additional 20% in Real core beverage range," said CEO Mohit Malhotra. Last year, Hector Beverages Pvt. Ltd, which sells the Paper Boat brand of non-aerated drinks, introduced a line of no-sugar sparkling water in multiple flavours. Duhkaar Food and Beverages Pvt. Ltd, which raised capital from Chennai Angels last year, sells nearly 200,000 bottles of its Polka Pop brand of sparkling water every month, according to the company. The Chennai-based startup, which was launched four years ago, is now gearing up to introduce no-sugar soft drinks, founder Gaurav Khemka told Mint.
Scotsman
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
11 of your favourite old fizzy drinks which were discontinued
People were all shook up when these fizzy drinks were discontinued Sign up to our Retro newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... These are some of the fizzy drinks you'd most love to see revived Some lasted for many years, while others quickly fizzled out One 70s favourite went particularly well with a scoop of ice cream A 'lush' 90s drink contained a surprising ingredient and was hailed as 'revolutionary' These are some of the most popular fizzy drinks from the past, which readers feel were unfairly discontinued | Various How many of these popular fizzy drinks from the past do you remember? They are among the favourite soft drinks which readers feel were discontinued before their time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some were available for many years in the UK, while others were more of a flash in the pan. But they all had their fans and between them delivered refreshment to generations of youngsters. They include a schoolyard favourite, which came in some crazy flavours; a famously frothy concoction which left a 'syrupy residue'; and one bottled drink which was famous for the trucks in which it was delivered. Panda Pops These cheap and colourful fizzy drinks are fondly remembered by generations of youngsters. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They came in flavours including blue raspberryade, cherryade and, best of all, strawberry jelly & ice cream - all in lurid colours, which would scream at you from the shelf. Many of you remember using the change from your dinner money to buy a bottle of this budget pop from the school tuck shop back in the day. One person recalled: 'Getting one of these with a chippy tea was so special.' Panda Pops were axed in 2011 following pressure from health campaigners over the high sugar content. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Virgin Cola Virgin Cola was launched in the UK in 1994 as a rival to Pepsi and Coca-Cola | National World Virgin Cola was Richard Branson's ultimately doomed attempt to take on the giants of the carbonated drinks industry, Pesi and Coca-Cola. It was launched in 1994 with great fanfare, and was sold on Virgin Atlantic flights, Virgin Trains and at Virgin Cinemas, as well as in shops. The 500ml bottles were marketed as 'The Pammy', with their curves designed to mimc those of Baywatch star Pamela Anderson. Virgin Cola had a good run before being discontinued in the UK in 2009. It is still fondly remembered by many of those who gave it a go. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tab Cola Tab was Coca-Cola's first diet drink, launched in 1963, and was a popular alternative to the 'full fat' original during the 60s and 70s. Sales declined following the introduction of Diet Coke in 1982 but Tab was still made for many more years, before Coca-Cola eventually announced in 2020 that it was being discontinued. Variations over the years included root beer and ginger ale versions, and Tab Clear, a colourless variety created to rival Pepsi Crystal in the 90s. Quatro Quatro was a classic taste of the 80s. Launched in 1982, it was named after the four fruits which gave the green-coloured fizzy drink its flavour: orange, pineapple, grapefruit and passion fruit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The futuristic advert showed a vending machine malfunctioning before a can of Quatro bursts out of the top when given a sharp elbow. It featured the tagline 'it's a miracle, but we've made it'. One fan recalled: 'I drank so much of that when I was a kid, I loved it! Bring it back and bring it back now!' Corona Anyone of a certain vintage will remember waiting for the Corona truck to arrive each week, delivering new bottles of the popular soft drink and collecting the empties. The most popular flavours included cream soda, cherryade and dandelion & burdock. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lots of you have fond memories of adding a scoop of ice cream to a glass of cream soda Corona to create a truly indulgent drink/dessert. Many people also recall returning the used bottles to collect your 1p deposit, which was usually spent on sweets. Corona soft drinks began life in Wales in the 1920s and were sold for many years before being discontinued in the 90s. The 70s advert, showing cartoon bubbles being put through their paces on an assault course, featured the tagline 'every bubble's passed its fizzical'. It is remembered nearly as fondly as the drink itself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cresta Cresta was one of the best-loved thirst quenchers of the 1970s and 80s. It came in cream soda, blackcurrant, orange, pineapple, lemon & lime and strawberry flavours. It was marketed by an animated polar bear in sunglasses - surely one of the coolest cartoon characters in living memory - who uttered the unforgettable catchphrase: 'It's frothy, man!' One person described the drink as 'gorgeous', while another recalled how it 'used to leave a syrupy residue at the back of your throat'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hubba Bubba soda Hubba Bubba bubble gum was big in the 80s, and the soda version, launched in 1988, was an attempt to capture the unique flavour in liquid form. It proved short-lived, and judging by the reviews from those who tried it that's not surprising. One person wrote: 'Worst soda ever, and I'll try anything.' Lilt Lilt is just a sun-kissed memory after Coca-Cola announced in 2023 that it was being scrapped and rebranded as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit. But the drinks giant said when the rebrand was confirmed that the 'totally tropical taste' for which it was famous would remain unchanged, as would the ingredients. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fans didn't take the news well, with many calling the rebrand 'pointless' and saying they would continue to call the drink Lilt. Lilt was launched in 1975 and one of the most memorable ads from the 80s featured a 'Lilt man' - instread of a milkman - delivering the drink via a 'Lilt float' to parched recipients on a Caribbean beach. Tizer Ice Launched in the late 1990s, Tizer Ice contained menthol, which was meant to provide a refreshing cool sensation even when enjoyed at room temperature. It was branded as a 'revolutionary new soft drink' but sales were disappointing and it didn't last long. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tizer Ice was not without its fans, however. One person wrote: 'This drink was lush. Need to bring it back out.' Creamola Foam Creamola Foam drink crystals | TSPL This was a soft drink you had to mix yourself, but the extra effort was well worth it. It was made in Glasgow and sold around the UK from the 1950s until 1998, when Nestlé ceased production. The tins contained coloured crystals which dissolved in water to create a sweet, fizzy drink. It came in raspberry, orange, lemon and cola flavours. One person called it an 'unreal foamy sugary hit'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Creamola Foam was relaunched in 2019 with all the original flavours and many new varieties, including watermelon, pineapple and bubblegum. Coca-Cola Cinnamon Coca-Cola Cinnamon was only launched in 2019 as a limited edition flavour and has made a few reappearances, but it has not been added to the regular line-up despite its numerous admirers. Many people have described it as the best ever discontinued Coca-Cola flavour. One person wrote: 'I still dream of it. If I ever find a genie, it will be my first wish!' Another commented: 'This stuff was so good. It's like it enhanced everything I already loved about Coke.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
With a 63-Year History of Dividend Hikes, It's a King Among Kings
Investors might be looking to add safe and steady companies to their portfolios in uncertain times. This industry-leading beverage business announced a dividend increase in February, continuing a streak that's now at 63 years. With a powerful brand, global presence, and incredible profitability, this company's dividend looks very safe. 10 stocks we like better than Coca-Cola › It has been a turbulent year for markets. Investors are concerned about the state of the economy. And ongoing geopolitical tensions don't help alleviate worries. In this type of environment, it might be difficult to find places to invest your hard-earned savings. During uncertain times, which is the perfect way to characterize 2025 thus far, there's one monster dividend stock that investors might turn to if they want to earn steady income. This industry-leading enterprise is a king among kings that could be just what your portfolio needs. As of June 23, shares of Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) have climbed 12% in 2025. This gain trounces the S&P 500 index's 2% rise this year. It appears the market is placing a high value on a safe and stable business, given the uncertainty surrounding the future from both macroeconomic and geopolitical perspectives. Coca-Cola is as steady as they come. It sees durable demand for its popular beverages. Unlike many other companies in different industries, Coca-Cola just isn't as exposed to the whims of the economic cycle. Consumers still love to spend money on their favorite drinks, no matter what's going on. I think this will still be true decades from now. There is minimal threat Coca-Cola will become obsolete. For starters, it has one of the most iconic brands in history. This leads to tremendous customer loyalty and proven pricing power. Coca-Cola has a leading market share in the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink industry on a global scale. And it has a presence in more than 200 countries. Coca-Cola's profitability is hard to ignore. Since it primarily offloads the capital-intensive bottling and distribution process to third parties, the company can operate a more efficient business model. This explains how the company posted a superb 32.9% operating margin in Q1 (ended March 28). The leadership team seems fairly confident as it looks ahead. Coca-Cola expects organic revenue to rise 5% to 6% in 2025. And to add a level of optimism, executives believe the ongoing tariff "impact to be manageable." Coca-Cola's profitability is impressive. Management is intensely focused on returning its excess cash to shareholders in the form of dividends. This company is a Dividend King, having raised its payout in a jaw-dropping 63 straight years (and counting). The last bump was announced in February, with the current dividend yield now at 2.87%. That dividend is a boon for investors with sizable stakes in the beverage giant. Just look at Berkshire Hathaway, which owns 400 million shares. This brings in $816 million in annualized income for the Warren Buffett-led conglomerate. To be clear, I think Coca-Cola makes sense as a worthy investment candidate only for those who care mostly about dividend income. It's difficult to predict what the future will hold, but there's certainly a good chance the company will continue to increase its payout indefinitely. And if broader macro concerns are on your mind, owning Coca-Cola could provide much-needed peace of mind for your portfolio. But for those investors who want to generate market-beating returns from the stocks they own, it's probably best to avoid Coca-Cola. Even including dividends, the stock has underperformed the S&P 500 in the past three-, five-, and 10-year periods. That's not exactly a track record that attracts growth investors. I see no reason to expect this trend to change over the next decade and beyond. Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Coca-Cola wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $704,676!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $950,198!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,048% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 175% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. With a 63-Year History of Dividend Hikes, It's a King Among Kings was originally published by The Motley Fool
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Viral Now: UK Chef Makes "Aloo Gobi Pizza," Indian Foodies Have A Lot To Say
Fusion foods have never ceased to captivate us with their unique blend of two completely contrasting ingredients. From ramen burgers, Coca-Cola omelettes to Gulab Jamun cheesecake and butter chicken momos, foodie enthusiasts time and again showcase how creativity in foods knows no bounds. The latest innovation? A delicious aloo gobi pizza prepared by a UK-based chef, Jake Dryan. In a video shared by him on Instagram, the chef can be heard saying, 'I've been a bad, bad boy. I've made an aloo gobi pizza,' while posing with a delectable plate of the unique dish. Also Read: American Influencer Dips Pizza In Butter Chicken, Calls It 'Insanely Good' Jake Dryan then gives a virtual tour of his recipe, which begins with him preparing a spicy, thick paste. Seemingly prepared from mashed tomatoes, onions, green chillies and coriander leaves, the gravy itself looks every bit mouthwatering. He then sets aside a portion of the gravy in a small bowl. Meanwhile, he adds chopped potatoes and cauliflower, alongside a few more coriander leaves, and gives it a proper cook. On the other hand, he takes '48-hour fermented pizza dough' and kneads it perfectly to prepare a soft and smooth base. Then, oil the dough with the gravy, followed by the addition of cheddar cheese and the cooked aloo gobi sabji on top. That's it, Jake then leaves the pizza to bake in the oven. Finally, before savouring a juicy, smooth piece of it, he oils the sides with butter. Undoubtedly, as he dives into the delectable pizza, his expression reveals his honest feelings about the same. 'I'm sure there are a lot of sceptics out there, but just think aloo gobi sandwich, but better,' he concludes. Take a look at the aloo gobi pizza recipe here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by JAKE DRYAN (@plantfuture) This aloo gobi pizza recipe video has received a lot of interest online. One person said, 'Oh my days, awesome, I might have to make this weekend.' Another food creator dropped three fire emojis. One user added, 'I'm in!!! This is my dream pizza.' 'Leftover aloo Gobi sabzi on a pizza is such a good hack,' mentioned one more social media user. A fan of the aloo gobi pizza recipe stated, 'I do this weekly.' 'Indian moms when child refused to eat roti sabzi,' read a hilarious comment. Another person on the internet added, 'Damn! That's a nice one. Next up in my kitchen.' Someone called it a 'Brilliant idea.' 'That's creative. Looks scrumptious,' wrote one more social media user.
