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Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola hopes a major change will win back customers
Coca-Cola hopes a major change will win back customers originally appeared on TheStreet. Coca-Cola () is continuing to see a startling pattern in its sales as customers shift gears on their drink preferences. In the company's second-quarter earnings report for 2025, Coca-Cola revealed that while its operating income in the U.S. increased by 18% year-over-year during the quarter, concrete sales in the region remained flat and unit case volume declined by 1%. 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰💵 In the report, the company said that the decrease in unit case volume was mainly due to a 'decline in Trademark Coca-Cola.'During an earnings call on July 22, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said that the company's U.S. business is suffering from 'the continued uncertainty and pressure on some socioeconomic segments of consumers.' 'There's some pressure in those with lower incomes,' said Quincey. He said that Coca-Cola will continue to swiftly take action to reverse low sales, including doubling down on affordability. 'Our granular action plans to win back consumers with contextually relevant advertising, more focused value and affordability initiatives, and close customer partnerships are working,' he said. Coca-Cola confirms major change to beverages In addition to these initiatives, the company also confirmed that it will be going back to sweetening its Coke beverages with cane sugar to help attract health-conscious consumers. 'We're gonna be bringing a Coke, sweetened with U.S. cane sugar into the market this fall,' said Quincey. 'And I think that will be an enduring option for consumers.' He also indicated that Coca-Cola may experiment with using other sweetening options consumers may prefer for its beverages."Actually, we use cane sugar in a number of our other brands in the U.S. portfolio from lemonades to teas, some of the coffee stuff, some of the vitamin water drinks," said Quincey. "So that is blended into some of our other products, and so we are definitely looking to use the whole toolbox, the whole toolkit of available sweetening options to some extent where there are consumer preferences." Coca-Cola's announcement comes after President Donald Trump said in a July 1 post on Truth Social that he had a conversation with the company about making this change. '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,' wrote Trump in the post. '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!' Coca-Cola leans into changing consumer behavior Many Americans have gradually become more health-conscious about the food and beverages they consume, a trend that spiked in popularity amid the Covid pandemic in 2020. This has impacted the sales of many food and beverage giants. In the beverage industry specifically, the consumption of soft drinks and other sweetened beverages has been declining since the mid-1990s, according to a recent survey from financial services firm Lazard. The Lazard survey also revealed that many consumers are choosing to purchase natural, healthy beverages, which contain fewer ingredients and promise health benefits. Consumers are even less focused on the price of natural, healthy beverages, as 68% of the survey respondents claimed that the drinks' ingredients are a top concern and 67% said that they are concerned about the drinks being all natural. In 1984, Coca-Cola, like many of its competitors at the time, began rapidly increasing its use of high fructose corn syrup in its soft drinks in the U.S. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customers T-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customers AT&T makes generous offer to older customers While high fructose corn syrup, which is made from corn, is a less expensive alternative to sugar, it is linked to health issues such as obesity and fatty liver disease since the liver metabolizes fructose. Consumption of high fructose corn syrup is considered more risky to human health than cane sugar due to its higher levels of CRP/inflammation. So it is no surprise that consumers are straying away from beverages that contain this ingredient. Instead, new soda brands such as Olipop and Poppi have recently grown in popularity among consumers due to its healthier ingredients. During the earnings call, Quincey said Coca-Cola will always lean toward evolving consumer preferences. 'We're always, I don't think just us, but I think the industry, given its size, its attractiveness, and its growth potential, we're always looking for opportunities to innovate, and see where there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving towards,' said Quincey. 'Remembering that actually most innovations don't work in the long run, but I think it's a good sign that, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things.'Coca-Cola hopes a major change will win back customers first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 24, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBS News
12 minutes ago
- CBS News
How long will it take to pay off $40,000 in credit card debt?
Credit card debt has reached alarming heights for millions of Americans, with many cardholders now carrying balances that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. For example, the average cardholder now carries about $8,000 in total credit card debt, but with so many people now reliant on their credit cards to make ends meet, some cardholders are carrying a lot more than that. And if you're dealing with a hefty level of credit card debt — let's say $40,000 worth — even the most disciplined cardholders can find themselves trapped in a cycle where the monthly payments barely make a dent in the balance. That's because at today's nearly 22% average credit card rate, the mathematics of this type of high-rate debt can work against you in brutal ways. When you're carrying $40,000 worth of debt across multiple cards, the interest charges alone can easily cost you hundreds of dollars per month, and if you're only making the minimum payments, that money is going almost entirely toward interest rather than reducing what you actually owe. This creates a situation in which years of payments can pass without meaningful progress. How long will it realistically take to dig out of a $40,000 credit card debt hole, though, and what strategies can help you do it faster? Here's what you need to know. Find out whether you qualify to have your credit card debt forgiven now. Let's look at several realistic repayment scenarios for a $40,000 credit card balance at the current average rate of 22.76%: If you stick to minimum payments, which is typically around 1% of your balance plus interest, your minimum payment would start at about $1,166.67 per month. Here's how long it would take to pay off what's owed: If you can commit to a slightly higher fixed payment of $1,200 per month, here's how long it would take you to pay off the full balance: Here's how long it would take to pay off with a more aggressive $1,500 fixed monthly payment: And, here's how long it would take for those who can make more substantial monthly payments of $1,800: Note, though, that these calculations assume you're not adding any new charges to your cards, which is a critical factor that's easy to overlook when planning your debt elimination strategy. Learn more about the debt relief strategies available to you today. When you're dealing with $40,000 in credit card debt, traditional budgeting and payment increases might not be enough. Here are debt relief approaches specifically designed for large balances: Debt settlement, also referred to as debt forgiveness, is often the most viable option for substantial credit card debt. Through this process, you or the debt relief company you work with negotiate with your creditors to settle the debt for a lump sum payment that's less than what you owe. While it can vary, the average debt settlement typically results in paying 50% to 70% of the original balance. While debt settlement will impact your credit score and may have tax implications, it can provide a realistic path to becoming debt-free in two to four years rather than decades. Consolidating your debt can be a smart approach if you have decent credit and can qualify for rates significantly lower than your credit cards. A $40,000 debt consolidation loan at 12% APR over five years would cost about $889 monthly but save you tens of thousands in interest compared to making just the minimum payments. Transferring your balance to a card with a 0% promotional interest rate can be more complex with large amounts of credit card debt because most cards have transfer limits. However, you might be able to move portions of your debt to a card with a 0% APR promotional offer, giving you breathing room to attack the principal more aggressively. If you enroll in a debt management program, the credit counseling agency you work with can help you come up with a realistic payment plan and negotiate reduced interest rates and fees with your creditors, often cutting your rates to a fraction of what they currently are. This approach keeps your accounts in good standing and is less damaging to your credit than debt settlement. Filing for bankruptcy might be appropriate if your debt-to-income ratio is unmanageable and other debt relief options aren't viable. Filing for Chapter 7 can eliminate credit card debt entirely, while Chapter 13 creates a structured repayment plan. Carrying $40,000 in credit card debt is undeniably serious, but it's not an insurmountable issue. It's important to recognize, though, that making just the minimum payments will keep you trapped for decades while costing you a hefty amount in interest. So, it's important to come up with a plan that lets you tackle this amount of debt in a better way, whether through aggressive payment increases, debt consolidation or another type of debt relief. The longer you wait, though, the more expensive your debt becomes, so evaluate your options and choose the strategy that aligns with your financial situation and your long-term goals.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PepsiCo struggles to reverse concerning customer behavior
PepsiCo struggles to reverse concerning customer behavior originally appeared on TheStreet. PepsiCo () , which owns popular food and drink brands such as Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, Quaker, Tostitos, and more, continues to suffer from a dramatic change in customer behavior, and it is making bold moves to address the problem. In PepsiCo's second-quarter earnings report for 2025, it revealed that U.S. revenue from its food brands declined by 2% year-over-year. Its convenient foods volume in the U.S. also dipped by 1%, while its beverages volume decreased by 2%. 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰💵 Despite low sales, the company's net revenue increased by 1% year-over-year during the the earnings report, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company is 'effectively navigating through a challenging environment.' PepsiCo announces major product changes to attract back customers The decrease in sales comes during a time when consumers are watching their spending as they battle inflation and higher costs of living. During an earnings call on July 11, Laguarta acknowledged that consumers have become more value-conscious and said that going forward, PepsiCo will address affordability with 'more precision.' Many Americans are also shifting more toward healthier food and beverage options as concerns over potential health risks associated with ingredients found in processed foods continue to erupt on social media, which is also impacting sales. Amid this challenge, PepsiCo is making a huge effort to attract health-conscious consumers, which it hopes will help fix its struggling sales. Part of this effort includes gradually removing artificial colors and artificial flavors from its food and beverages. 'We're following the consumer, and if the consumer is telling us that they prefer products that have sugar, and they prefer products that have natural ingredients, we will give the consumer products that have sugar and have natural ingredients,' said Laguarta during the part of this initiative, PepsiCo plans to soon 'introduce extensions of Cheetos and Doritos' that will contain no artificial colors or flavors. The company is also relaunching its Lay's and Tostitos brands to 'elevate' their healthy ingredients and remove artificial ingredients from their products, starting during the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year. In addition, PepsiCo is also decreasing its reliance on seed oils in its food products. These oils have recently faced scrutiny from consumers on social media for being overly processed and contributing to inflammation in the human body. 'We will expand the use of avocado or olive oil across certain brand platforms and enhance certain products with protein, fiber, and whole grains later this year and into next year within our Frito-Lay and Quaker portfolios,' said Laguarta and PepsiCo Chief Financial Officer Jamie Caulfield in prepared remarks. The company will also focus on providing smaller portions of its food products to consumers by increasing multipack, variety pack, and single-serve options. It also plans to join the growing protein trend, in which consumers are focused on implementing more protein into their diets to improve health and wellness. 'I think protein is clearly a sub-segmenting in our food and beverages categories that is growing fast, consumers are adopting protein solutions in the diets at a pace that was not the case a few months back, a few years back,' said Laguarta. 'So as we always do, we follow the consumer.' PepsiCo faces pressure from consumers and the government The increased focus on healthier food options comes after a survey by the International Food Information Council last year found that 79% of Americans consider whether a food product is processed when deciding to purchase it. Also, 63% of Americans avoid processed foods, while over half follow a vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based diet to be healthier. More Food + Dining: Papa Johns makes major menu change to win back customers Steak 'n Shake's beef tallow fries aren't as healthy as they appear Chick-fil-A angers customers with major change in stores Amid this trend, PepsiCo has acquired brands Siete Foods and Poppi, which both recently gained traction among consumers for their healthy ingredients. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also been pressuring food companies to remove processed ingredients from their products. Recently, he announced his goal to phase out synthetic dyes in food and beverages, which has prompted some food companies to alter their ingredients. 'For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,' said Kennedy in an April press release. 'These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development. That era is coming to an end.'PepsiCo struggles to reverse concerning customer behavior first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
