Latest news with #Coca-ColaCompany
Business Wire
a day ago
- Business
- Business Wire
The Coca-Cola Company Names New Leader for Europe Operating Unit
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company today announced that Luisa Ortega will become president of the Europe operating unit effective Sept. 1, succeeding Nikos Koumettis, who will retire in 2026 after a 25-year career with the company. Koumettis will remain with the company through Feb. 28, 2026, as a senior advisor. He will also serve on the board of directors of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd., a company-owned bottler in India. Ortega joined Coca-Cola in 2019 and currently serves as president of the Africa operating unit. In this role, she leads a complex business that operates across 54 markets. Koumettis has led the Europe operating unit since it was created in 2021. 'Luisa has done an outstanding job leading our African business, where our system has continued to make major investments to serve growing markets on the continent,' said Henrique Braun, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. 'As head of Europe, she will bring great international experience to one of our biggest and most important operating units.' The company thanked Koumettis for his many contributions. 'Nikos has been a valued colleague for many years, and he has played a vital role in strengthening our European business,' Braun said. 'The operating unit was honored as the company's top performer for 2023, which is a testament to the strong work of Nikos and his team.' Ortega will continue to report to Braun in her new role. Ortega's successor in Africa will be named at a future date. About Nikos Koumettis Koumettis, 60, joined Coca‑Cola in 2001. Over his career, he has led operations in more than 100 countries, with a consistent focus on delivering strong business results and developing talent. His early roles with the company included business unit president for Canada; president of the Adriatic and Balkans business unit; and Southeast Mediterranean Region general manager, with responsibility for Greece and Cyprus. He played a leadership role in several innovations, including the 2002 launch of the Sprite Zero brand, which originated in Greece. Koumettis served as president of the Central and Southern Europe business unit from 2011 to 2016. From 2016 to 2018, he was president of the company's Central and Eastern Europe business unit. In 2016, he founded and led the company's Global Franchise Leadership Council to help develop global general management and franchise capabilities. In 2019, Koumettis became group president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, overseeing six business units spanning from Western Europe to Russia to Southern Africa. He became president of the Europe operating unit in 2021 when the company's current operating model was established. Koumettis is a strong advocate of purpose-driven business and, in 2019, was one of the key leaders in the launch of the company's purpose statement: to refresh the world and make a difference. Throughout his career, Koumettis led operations that qualified for the company's top internal honors, including the prestigious Woodruff Cup, which Europe won for 2023. Prior to Coca‑Cola, Koumettis served in marketing roles with Kraft Jacobs Suchard; sales and distribution roles with Elgeka, a large Greek distribution company; and in commercial and logistics functions for Papastratos S.A./Philip Morris, the biggest tobacco company in Greece. After the transition in September, Koumettis will continue to co-lead the Global Franchise Leadership Council. About Luisa Ortega Ortega, 55, joined Coca‑Cola in 2019 as vice president and general manager of the South Latin business unit. She was later named deputy president and then president of South Latin. In 2021, she became president of the newly created central zone of the Latin America operating unit. She began her duties as president of the Africa operating unit in 2023. Prior to Coca‑Cola, Ortega worked at SC Johnson for more than 14 years in various roles in Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific. She served as general manager for the Western Europe region and, prior to that, was the global head of Insecticides Business. She also worked at Endesa, a utility corporation that serves mainly Spain and Portugal. Ortega, a native of Spain, has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Universidad Pontificia Comillas and an MBA from the IESE Business School, both in Spain, along with participating in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. About The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company's purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We're constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people's lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Coca-Cola to switch to cane sugar in U.S., Trump says
Partial view of the Coca-Cola Company's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on June 29, 2025 Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its U.S. production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday on social media. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages -- a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy his Make America Healthy Again movement. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them -- You'll see. It's just better!" The U.S. president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favorite beverage, Diet Coke. Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift. "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon," the company said in a short statement. HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar. Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios -- 55/45 in soft drinks -- while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together. These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes. A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health. The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels. Despite this, Mexican Coke -- which is made with cane sugar -- is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more "natural" flavor. Trump's prized Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame -- a compound classified as a "possible carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). © 2025 AFP
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
Trump Says He Convinced Coca-Cola to Use Cane Sugar
President Donald Trump has long been a fan of Diet Coke, the zero-calorie beverage that is artificially sweetened with aspartame. During his first term, the President reportedly guzzled 12 Diet Cokes a day, and he has a dedicated button in the Oval Office to call for the soda. Now, he wants Coca-Cola to use cane sugar. 'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon. 'This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' Trump's announcement did not offer further details, though his Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to crack down on ultra-processed foods that include sugary beverages and sweeteners as part of his 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. Coca-Cola has used corn syrup to sweeten most of its U.S. products since 1980 to reduce production costs against rising sugar prices. The syrup is also more shelf stable than regular sugar. The Coca-Cola Company neither confirmed nor denied Trump's announcement but said in a statement that it appreciates 'President Trump's enthusiasm' for the brand and that more details on 'new innovative offerings' will be shared soon. TIME has reached out for comment. Here's what to know about Coca-Cola's product line, cane sugar, and what it could mean for prices. What sweeteners does Coca-Cola use? The company's original U.S. line of Coca-Cola (and its flavored versions) use corn syrup but Diet Coke and Coke Zero (and their flavored versions) use aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. But Coca-Cola already has several offerings that use cane sugar, including Mexican Coke, or MexiCoke, which has developed a cult following. Coca-Cola began importing MexiCoke from Mexico in 2005—before that unauthorized independent dealers had brought it in across the border to sell. The company also makes a yellow-capped Kosher-for-Passover Coke and a 'local tastes' line, which includes a Georgia peach flavor and a California raspberry flavor, that use cane sugar. Coca-Cola has versions of its product in different countries that use more or less cane sugar and artificial sweeteners based on price and availability. Is cane sugar healthier for you? Kennedy has blamed high fructose corn syrup for the country's obesity epidemic, describing it as 'just a formula for making you obese and diabetic.' 'American kids did not suddenly get gluttonous and lazy,' he said during his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 30. 'Something is poisoning them.' Kennedy has proposed barring people from using food stamps to purchase soda and candy under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He also plans to release new dietary guidelines before August that will encourage Americans to 'eat whole food; eat the food that's good for you.' High fructose corn syrup has documented links to health issues, including obesity, but it isn't necessarily worse for you than sugar, according to a study published in food science journal Frontiers in Nutrition. 'Sugar is just sugar,' Lisa Sasson, a clinical professor at New York University's Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, told TIME in 2014, when PepsiCo unveiled a 'Made With Real Sugar' version in the U.S. While many of Kennedy's moves have been controversial, including his anti-vaccine stance, his views on high fructose corn syrup and ultra-processed foods are shared by some scientists and physicians. High fructose corn syrup consumption has already fallen steadily in the last two decades, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Even so, North America accounts for around 40% of the global market, which stands at almost $10 billion. Could Coke become more expensive? Swapping corn syrup for cane sugar would likely increase costs. One estimate in January by Investopedia using aggregated research suggests that switching from high fructose corn syrup to other sweeteners could cause the cost of certain products to increase by 10 to 15%. Moreover, Trump's tariffs on the rest of the world, including a threatened 30% tariff on Mexico and 50% one on Brazil, might contribute further to higher prices, as both export cane and beet sugars to the U.S. Higher production costs could be passed on to consumers, and products like MexiCoke that already use cane sugar are typically more expensive. 'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,' said Corn Refiners Association President John Bode in a statement following Trump's announcement.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump reveals Coca-Cola ingredient change that could completely alter taste
While the diet version appears to be Trump's drink of choice he has reportedly been in discussions with Coca-Cola to change one ingredient in the original Coca-Cola recipe in the US Donald Trump appears to have confirmed Coca-Cola could be about to change in the US after discussions about one specific ingredient. Coca-Cola, hich was founded in 1892, uses sugar cane in Mexico and in some other countries, but not in the US. In the US, Coca-Cola is typically made with high-fructose corn syrup, according to Coca-Cola's website. It is the second ingredient after carbonated water in a can or bottle of Coke, according to the company. But, that could all be about to change thanks to Donald Trump. The president famously installed a red button on his desk that allows him to quickly get a Diet Coke, his favorite drink. Technically, it's not the first that this has happened. In 2017, he made headlines when he first installed a red button in the Oval Office that would have an aide fetch him a Diet Coke. Now, it's been confirmed that he had it reinstalled on January 1st, just in time for his second term debut. The reintroduction of the Diet Coke button was part of this redesign, reports the Mirror US. The publication recalls a quote Trump gave to reporters in 2017, at the start of his first presidency. He had jokingly said: "Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button." While the diet version appears to be Trump's drink of choice he has reportedly been in discussions with Coca-Cola to change one ingredient in the original Coca-Cola recipe in the US. If his vision goes to plan, soon American coke could soon taste much more like Mexican Coke. Trump championed the recipe change as a 'good move' by the Coca-Cola Company. Yesterday Donald Trump took to Truth Social to share the news, he wrote: "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!" The company moved away from using sugar in Coke in the US during the 1980s, switching to cheaper high fructose corn syrup, reports MailOnline. In an email to CBS News, Coca-Cola said, "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon." The company didn't add details about whn or where the 'innovative offerings'.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola Stock Rated Buy as Pricing Power Fuels Long-Term Growth
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) ranks among the best FMCG stocks to buy. Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained a Buy rating for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) with a price target of $81 on June 27. One of the primary causes behind the update is Coca-Cola's excellent pricing power, which has been supported by efficient marketing and sound execution. Compared to its competitors, this price power is anticipated to propel greater long-term organic sales growth, especially in emerging regions where The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is well-established. This optimistic outlook is further supported by the company's historical volume growth and strategic commitment to balancing volume and pricing across various geographies. Another important factor in future growth, according to Mohsenian, is the prospect for Coca-Cola's Fairlife expansion. With additional production facilities anticipated to be operational by the end of 2025, Fairlife is well-positioned to broaden its product portfolio and innovate further, which could significantly boost Coca-Cola's overall growth. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a multinational beverage company that produces, develops, and sells a broad variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Coca-Cola's brands include Fanta, Fresca, Schweppes, Sprite, and others. While we acknowledge the potential of KO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Read More: and Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
