Coca-Cola said it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its US lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump.
Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the United States instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke didn't immediately confirm the change, but promised new offerings soon.
On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range “to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences”.
“We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said in a conference call with investors Tuesday.
The new offering will not replace the original formulation of Coca-Cola. The company also currently sells Mexican Coke, which is made with cane sugar, in the US.
“This addition is designed to complement our strong core portfolio and offer more choice across occasions and preferences,” Quincey said.
High-fructose corn syrup has come under fire from US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who says it contributes to the country’s high rates of obesity and diabetes.
But health experts say that replacing one type of sugar with another will not necessarily make Coke less unhealthy.
Notably, consumer demand for zero-sugar versions of Coca-Cola has been growing quickly in the US, though traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety.
Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes.
Global case volumes of Coca-Cola fell 1 per cent, mostly due to weaker sales in Latin America.
Revenue for the Atlanta company rose 1 per cent to $12.5 billion (€10.7 billion), in line with Wall Street’s forecast.
Coke said Tuesday it now expects full-year adjusted earnings to grow 8 per cent.
