Latest news with #CokeZero
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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Worried About a Bear Market? 3 Reasons to Buy Coca-Cola Stock Like There's No Tomorrow
Its product lines are not only always in demand, but enjoy strong pricing power. International tariff tensions and trade posturing don't pose major threats to its business. While not entirely immune to the effect of a bear market, the stock can be more comfortable to own. 10 stocks we like better than Coca-Cola › Stocks may have fought their way back from a bear market since April. But that recovery rally hasn't exactly been convincing. Several economic red flags are still waving, and now there's the potential for escalating conflict in and around the Middle East. The stock market could still be easily upended. If that's a worry for you, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll need to bail out of the market altogether. However, you'll want to try owning fewer stocks that are especially vulnerable to a bear market, while taking on more exposure to stocks that can stand up to economic weakness and recover reliably once it passes. The pick of the proverbial litter is arguably beverage behemoth Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), for several reasons, three of which stand out among the rest. There's the Coca-Cola you know. That's the company with the world's best-selling soda of the same name, along with its derivatives like Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and Cherry Coke. Then there's the Coca-Cola you may not know. This is also the company behind Gold Peak tea, Minute Maid juice, Sprite, Powerade, Dasani water, and Powerade, just to name a few. It's got choices for consumers' ever-changing preferences, and can serve all beverage markets ranging from bulk-grocery to convenience stores to foodservice. That's not quite what makes Coca-Cola stock such a great bear market buy, although it's closely related. Rather, this beverage giant does well in all kinds of markets because its products are so well-loved and frequently used that consumers worldwide don't think twice about buying them -- even when the future is bleak and money may be tight. For perspective, despite the rampant inflation of the prior couple of years, its total sales volume was up slightly in both 2023 and 2024, while price increases allowed for organic revenue growth of 12% in both years. In other words, consumers and commercial customers willingly paid higher prices for Coca-Cola-made drinks. It's unlikely that a bear market would cause anyone to rethink this affordable indulgence. Although economic weakness and geopolitical trade tensions don't inherently go hand-in-hand, it would be naïve to believe one wouldn't exacerbate the other if either worsened. Companies relying on overseas revenue could be caught up in a trade war in the near future, stymied by tariffs that are largely meant to be punitive, or used as leverage. That's not a particularly big worry for Coca-Cola, though. There's very little product being made domestically that's being shipped across any border. By and large, Coca-Cola products are bottled where they're sold. The company works with roughly 200 different third-party bottlers that collectively manage about 950 production facilities located all over the world. In countries where its branded beverages aren't made, they're readily supplied by nearby facilities that aren't facing the same steep import/export tariffs most U.S. companies and consumers are suddenly facing. The only real cross-border concern Coca-Cola faces is the taxation of its profits earned overseas that are repatriated back into the United States, which isn't exactly the worst problem to have. The lingering inflation that could not only help cause a bear market, but worsen because of one, is certainly nothing to dismiss. Just keep the company's business model in mind. Coca-Cola's bottom line is largely linked to the amount of its branded beverages that are consumed, rather than the actual profitability of those packaged products. Most of the cost-based risk here is ultimately borne by its third-party bottling partners and distributors, which cover the bulk of variable expenses like delivery, local promotion, and production. Finally, if you're worried a bear market is now inevitable, buy Coca-Cola stock because its above-average dividend could prove valuable in an environment where almost everything else is underperforming. Be careful of reading too much into this broad idea. While the idea that growth stocks underperform during bear markets as certain value stocks manage to climb makes superficial sense, most stocks still lose ground during prolonged marketwide sell-offs. There aren't actually any proven safe-haven stocks, including Coca-Cola's, which has often fallen in step with the overall market during each of the last several technical recessions. Don't lose sight of another way Coca-Cola provides value, regardless of the market. Newcomers will be plugging into a stock with a forward-looking yield of just under 3%, based on a dividend that's now been raised for 63 consecutive years. There's no end in sight to this streak, either. This cash flow might not fully offset any setback that Coke shares may or may not suffer during and because of a bear market. Obviously, nobody can predict the future. But you can limit your overall risk by owning more stocks of resilient income-generating businesses and scaling back your exposure to more economically vulnerable ones. That's often enough. Everybody "takes some lumps" during bear markets. You just want to be sure you're fully invested at the beginning of new bull markets, since that's when some of the market's best gains are made. A safer dividend-paying name like Coca-Cola allows you to do this comfortably, even though it's impossible to predict when a new bull market will begin. The fact that the stock also gives you a small chance of logging gains during the bear market itself is just a bonus. 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 $687,731!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $945,846!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 818% — 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 James Brumley has positions in Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Worried About a Bear Market? 3 Reasons to Buy Coca-Cola Stock Like There's No Tomorrow was originally published by The Motley Fool
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Legendary musical confirms 2026 run at Glasgow's King's Theatre
The reimagined production will arrive at King's Theatre from June 9 to 20, 2026, as part of a major UK and Ireland tour. Scottish dates have also been announced for Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The tour stars Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer, with Julianne Pundan making her professional debut as Kim. Read more: Thug back behind bars after large-scale probe into serial abuse 'Do not be a hero': Armed robber raids Glasgow pharmacy for methadone and Valium Major Glasgow convenience store to give away free personalised Coke Zero cans Moore returns to the role following an international tour that earned the Filipino-Australian actor the Critics' Choice Award for Best Performance in a Musical at the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards. To buy tickets, go to General sale starts on Thursday, June 26. Cameron Mackintosh, who oversaw the production, said: "Since we first announced this new production, I have been genuinely delighted at the enthusiasm of the public determined not to miss Saigon, with tickets flying out of the box office and several of the announced cities already nearly sold out. "We have now completed our search for a really fantastic cast, full of exciting discoveries, that will bring Boublil and Schönberg's extraordinary, powerful musical back to thrilling life. "I can't wait to see Miss Saigon reborn again." Other cast members include Jack Kane as Chris, Dom Hartley-Harris as John, and Emily Langham as Ellen. The musical, which first premiered in London in 1989, has become one of the most successful musicals in history. The original Broadway run began in April 1991 and lasted nearly a decade, with more than 6.3 million people seeing its 4,097 performances. Miss Saigon tells the story of 17-year-old Kim, who is forced to work in a Saigon bar run by a notorious character known as The Engineer during the final days of the Vietnam War. She falls in love with American GI Chris, but the two are separated by the fall of Saigon. The musical follows Kim's journey of survival and hope as she tries to reunite with Chris, who does not know he has fathered a child.
Health Line
20-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke: What's the Difference?
There isn't much difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke. You can drink either coke if you want to reduce your sugar intake, as both of them contain artificial sweeteners. You've likely heard that limiting the amount of added sugar in your diet is important for your health. People who regularly consume sodas may try switching to sodas made with artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners to reduce their added sugar intake. These alternatives make products taste sweet but don't lead to the blood sugar increases that traditional sugar may cause. Diet drinks are a way to avoid added sugars in beverages, but more recently, sodas with 'zero' in their name have hit the market alongside them. Coca-Cola is a popular example of a brand with both 'diet' and 'zero' varieties. If you're wondering about the differences between Coke Zero and Diet Coke — and how to determine which is a better choice for you — read on. Nutrition facts and ingredients of Coke Zero and Diet Coke Below are the ingredients and nutrition facts for both Coke Zero and Diet Coke. In this section, we'll break down some of the key differences and similarities you may want to consider. Coke Zero nutrition facts Coke Zero's ingredients include: carbonated water caramel color phosphoric acid aspartame potassium benzoate (to protect taste) natural flavors potassium citrate acesulfame potassium caffeine It also contains the amino acid phenylalanine, so people with phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid it. A 12-ounce (355-mL) serving of Coke Zero provides: Calories: 0 Total fat: 0 grams (g) Sodium: 40 milligrams (mg) Total carbohydrate s: 0 g Total sugars: 0 g Protein: 0 g Potassium: 60 mg Caffeine: 34 mg Coke Zero contains no added sugars since it uses artificial sweeteners instead. It comes in a variety of flavors, including cherry, cherry vanilla, orange vanilla, and vanilla. Coke Zero also has less caffeine than Diet Coke. Caffeine-free Coke Zero is also available. Diet Coke nutrition facts Diet Coke's ingredients include: carbonated water caramel color aspartame phosphoric acid potassium benzoate (to protect taste) natural flavors citric acid caffeine Like Coke Zero, Diet Coke contains the amino acid phenylalanine, so people with PKU should avoid it. A 12-ounce (355-mL) serving of Diet Coke provides: Calories: 0 Total fat: 0 g Sodium: 40 mg Total carbohydrate: 0 g Total sugars: 0 g Protein: 0 g Caffeine: 46 mg Diet Coke contains no added sugars since it uses artificial sweeteners instead. Regular Diet Coke uses aspartame, but you can also purchase a variety of Diet Coke that's made with Splenda, a brand of sucralose. Flavor varieties of Diet Coke include ginger lime and feisty cherry. Like Coke Zero, Diet Coke also comes in a caffeine-free version. Key differences between Coke Zero and Diet Coke These products are essentially the same, especially regarding their main selling point: not containing sugar. What differs between the two is the type of sweetener they contain, as well as their caffeine content, although these two differences are still unlikely to be significant to most people. While Diet Coke uses aspartame as its sweetening agent, Coke Zero uses both aspartame and acesulfame potassium, also called 'Ace K' or 'acesulfame K.' Acesulfame potassium is another calorie-free sweetener that passes through the body without raising blood sugar levels. Per Diet Coke's ingredient label, its primary sweetener is aspartame, and since ingredients are listed in order by weight, it's reasonable to assume that it contains much less acesulfame potassium. This means that these drinks are quite similar in terms of ingredients. The other key difference is caffeine content. Coke Zero has less caffeine than Diet Coke. However, both beverages are well below the recommended daily caffeine limit of 400 mg per day for adults. One debatable difference is the taste of these two drinks. Some say they cannot taste a difference, while others swear by either Diet Coke or Coke Zero as tasting closest to the 'real deal.' Taste comparison As of late, Coca-Cola writes on its website and in its most recent marketing materials that it has developed a new recipe for Coke Zero. The company doesn't go into detail about how it has changed but maintains that it 'has more real Coca-Cola flavor, still without any sugar'. Coke Zero has a slightly different aftertaste than Diet Coke, likely due to its acesulfame potassium. Diet Coke tastes more like regular Coke to many people. However, for some, it's the reverse. Neither tastes just like the original Coca-Cola. Depending on multiple factors — like whether you get it from a beverage fountain, in a can, or in a bottle — each type may have a slightly different taste. Potential side effects For most, not many harmful side effects come from drinking carbonated beverages in moderation. However, caffeine and artificial sweeteners may negatively affect some people, even at moderate intake levels. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that adults have no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. That's about 4 cups of coffee, or nine or eleven 12-ounce (355-mL) cans of Diet Coke or Coke Zero, respectively. So, you're unlikely to exceed the limit by drinking these sodas in moderation. If you're highly sensitive to caffeine, though, you may want to watch your intake of these beverages. Otherwise, they contain a relatively low amount of caffeine. Aspartame may cause headaches for some people, according to the American Migraine Foundation. While this effect may vary, it's good to know ahead of time so you can connect the dots if you start experiencing headaches after drinking these beverages. In addition, some research has indicated that aspartame may be carcinogenic. More long-term, high quality human studies are necessary before we can connect aspartame to cancer. A concluded that products containing aspartame are safe to consume by the general population at current levels. However, it may pose certain health risks for certain populations, such as: people with seizures neurological conditions people with phenylketonuria people who are pregnant Those who take a more cautious approach to ingredients in foods may want to avoid aspartame, and that's OK. However, it's worth noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers aspartame safe. Similar to aspartame, acesulfame potassium has been evaluated for potential carcinogenic effects. Again, however, the evidence is unclear, and more long-term, high quality human studies are necessary. Acesulfame potassium is FDA approved. Which is a better choice? There are very few differences between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. As such, there is no concrete, measurable reason to suggest that one is superior to the other. Nutritionally, there are no significant differences. Their ingredient and caffeine contents are similar as well, so neither is healthier than the other. Remember that diet soda is not considered a healthy drink. It's a fun treat that can be consumed in moderation — and switching from original sodas to diet ones is a great starting place if you're trying to cut back on added sugars. Whichever you choose will depend largely on which tastes better to you. Coke Zero has been said to taste more like regular Coke, but some people feel differently and even prefer Diet Coke over regular Coke. Tips for reducing diet soda intake With the conflicting evidence surrounding artificial sweeteners, you may be wondering how you can get your fizzy fix while limiting your artificial sweetener intake. Here are some ideas you can try: Flavored waters: Calorie-free flavored waters can be refreshing and hydrating. Consider them as a healthy addition to your fridge or cooler. Kombucha: Kombucha is a probiotic-filled beverage that promotes healthy gut bacteria and is naturally fizzy due to the fermentation process. Most kombuchas have less sugar than regular sodas, but compare labels to ensure you're not overdoing it on added sugars. Probiotic sodas: Some brands of probiotic 'soda' are similar to kombucha. They're designed to taste similar to soda but have far less sugar. Their benefits are similar to those of kombucha due to the probiotics. Stevia sodas: Several brands of fizzy drinks mimic popular soda flavors and contain no artificial sweeteners. Instead, these sodas use plant-based alternative sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit. They still taste similar to soda but have no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sparkling water: If it's fizz you're after rather than the sweetness, sparkling waters may come to your rescue. While they're not always sweet, they still provide carbonation without any sugar or artificial sweeteners. The bottom line If you want to limit added sugars, sodas made with artificial sweeteners — like Diet Coke and Coke Zero — may seem like a good choice. While some of the artificial sweeteners in these two drinks have faced controversy over their potential negative health effects, consuming either beverage in moderation should not be a concern, especially when compared with the negative effects of their sugar-laden alternative. Coke Zero and Diet Coke are essentially the same nutritionally. They differ mostly in their flavor.
Glasgow Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Free personalised Coke Zero cans at SPAR in Glasgow
The event will take place at SPAR Cardonald at 50–52 Allanton Crescent on Saturday, June 21, from 12pm. Customers will have the opportunity to visit the Coca-Cola "Share a Coke" personalisation station to get their names printed on Coke Zero cans. Read more: Man arrested after early morning 'armed robbery' Major new housing development in Glasgow district put on the market Beloved member of Glasgow's Deacon Blue sadly dies The first 500 customers will get their customised can for free. Paula Middelton, head of marketing, said: 'Names are a big part of identity, and this event brings a bit of joy to something so simple, we are looking forward to Saturday's event with Coca Cola and the glorious sunshine forecast too. "We love doing things that bring the community together, and this is one of those small but memorable experiences we're proud to host.'
