Latest news with #CocaColaCompany
Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Trump toasts victory as Coca-Cola confirms cane sugar version
President Trump is savouring the sweet taste of victory after Coca-Cola announced it would start selling a cane-sugar version in the US. Trump had announced, in an unexpected intervention last week, that Coca-Cola would switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar. 'It's just better!' he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Initially the Atlanta-based drinks company appeared reluctant to confirm his announcement. However, unveiling its quarterly results on Tuesday it promised to start selling Coke made with American cane sugar in the autumn. The company said the sugar version would complement Coca-Cola's 'strong core portfolio' and was part of its 'ongoing innovation agenda'. Cane sugar is used in countries outside the US, including Mexico, but the company moved to cheaper corn syrup in the US in the 1980s. Mexican Coke has a cult status in the US, where it is sold in glass bottles and regarded by connoisseurs — including Rishi Sunak, the British former prime minister — as superior in taste to the corn syrup version. American farmers across several states in the Midwest cultivate about $74 billion of corn a year, compared with about $1.35 billion a year of cane sugar, grown mostly in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Trump himself drinks Diet Coke, which uses the sweetener aspartame, and upon returning to the White House this year he reinstalled a button in the Oval Office to summon cans of his favourite drink. His interest in the full-fat version appears to derive from his friendship with José Fanjul, a Cuban-born cane sugar magnate and Republican donor. Trump held a meeting earlier this year with James Quincey, the chief executive of Coca-Cola. According to 2024, a new book on Trump's re-election by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf, during the meeting Trump called up Fanjul and put him on speakerphone, allowing the billionaire to interrogate Quincey over the company's use of corn syrup rather than cane sugar. Trump with James Quincey, who offered him a commemorative bottle for his re-election Doctors say cane sugar and corn syrup are equally damaging to people's health. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, who has attempted to reduce the number of additives and preservatives in American food, has previously described sugar as a 'poison'. But after Trump's intervention, Kennedy said a decision by Steak 'n Shake, a fast-food chain, to switch to cane sugar Coke was evidence that his Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement was 'winning'.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Coca-Cola changes recipe from corn syrup to cane sugar in sweet victory for Donald Trump
Coca-Cola has confirmed it is changing the recipe for its signature fizzy drink after an intervention by Donald Trump. The drinks giant will launch a Coca-Cola in the US this autumn that will be made with real cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. Food firms have scrambled to change ingredients and include healthier substitutes amid Health Secretary Robert Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again campaign. The US President has also pushed for the change, declaring that Coke made with sugar is 'just better'. In a post on his Truth Social platform last week, he said the company had agreed to make the changes. '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!' Trump wrote. Coca-Cola confirmed the move yesterday as it revealed revenues rose 2.5 per cent to £9.4billion in the three months to June 27.
Gizmodo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Coke Bends the Knee to Trump
President Donald Trump seems to have caught Coca-Cola off guard when he randomly announced last week that the company would be switching its signature soft drink brand from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar. The announcement seemed to surprise the folks at Coca-Cola, who wouldn't confirm any details at the time and defended the use of high fructose corn syrup. But now it looks like the company is on board for some kind of new Coke product that uses cane sugar. 'As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,' a spokesperson for Coca-Cola told Gizmodo via email. 'This addition is designed to complement the company's strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences.' Coca-Cola already sells a cane sugar version of its flagship product in U.S. stores, commonly referred to as 'Mexican Coke,' since it's imported from our neighbor to the south. But Coke seems to be making a distinction that this new product will use American-grown cane sugar. Louisiana, Florida, and Texas are the primary states where sugarcane is grown in the U.S. It's not clear how widely available this new unnamed cane sugar Coke product will be, but it sounds like it will not be fully replacing the Coke that uses high fructose corn syrup anytime soon. President Trump previously made his surprise announcement about the company using cane sugar while heavily suggesting it would be a switch for every Coke sold in the U.S. market. '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 Truth Social. '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!' Switching to cane sugar isn't something that makes soda any healthier for you, according to the FDA, but it is one big goal of the so-called Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Kennedy heir is oddly fixated on fast food and junk food, but not in the way that most doctors would recommend. The healthier alternative to soda is water or juice, not products filled to the brim with added sugars. Coca-Cola defended its use of high fructose corn syrup before Tuesday's announcement, tweeting last week that it contributes to obesity in the exact same way as sugarcane. 'The American Medical Association has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners,' the company wrote on July 16. 'Please be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances. All Coca-Cola brand products are wholesome beverages manufactured in compliance with the federal law governing food safety and labeling, the laws of all the states, and the laws of over 200 countries throughout the world where they are sold.' Pepsi also announced it would eliminate artificial colors and flavors from Lay's and Tostitos by the end of the year, something seen as another big victory by the MAHA folks. But, again, the healthy alternative to potato chips is whole fruits and vegetables, not a tweak to the way those processed foods are colored. Coca-Cola reported earnings Tuesday, and net revenues grew 1% to $12.5 billion. Earnings per share grew 58% to $0.88.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New cane sugar Coca-Cola to debut in US this autumn
Coca-Cola has confirmed plans to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in many of its US soft drink products starting this autumn. The move is expected to coincide with higher prices at retail level, as the company aims to protect profit margins in the face of mounting production costs and changing consumer preferences. New formula rollout to begin this autumn The company announced that cane sugar Coca-Cola will begin appearing on U.S. shelves from autumn 2025. The shift marks a significant change in formulation for the brand's core soft drinks, which have relied on corn syrup in the US market for decades. This transition will not apply to Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar, which remain unchanged. Coca-Cola has used cane sugar in some international markets and limited-edition domestic releases, such as the 'Mexican Coke' variant, which has maintained a niche following. Higher shelf prices expected as costs rise Coca-Cola stated that the new formulation could result in a noticeable price increase at supermarkets and convenience stores. Executives cited elevated global sugar prices and supply chain volatility as key drivers. Retail analysts say the price hikes may impact household purchasing habits, particularly amid broader inflationary pressure in the food and beverage sector. The company's latest earnings report showed resilient demand, but acknowledged that maintaining profitability would require 'disciplined pricing' moving forward. Consumer demand and political backdrop influence decision The decision comes amid a broader cultural and political shift in the U.S. food landscape. Consumer interest in natural ingredients and clean labels has increased over the past decade, with cane sugar often perceived as a less processed alternative to corn syrup. The change also follows recent political developments, including former President Donald Trump's public endorsement of cane sugar Coca-Cola, which he claims is 'how Coke used to taste.' While the company did not comment directly on Trump's remarks, industry experts suggest such high-profile attention may have accelerated strategic planning. As Coca-Cola prepares for the launch, major US retailers are expected to adjust shelf space and promotional strategies ahead of the reformulated drinks hitting stores later this year. "New cane sugar Coca-Cola to debut in US this autumn" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
Sky News
22-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Coca-Cola to launch cane sugar-made drink in US after Trump said 'it's just better'
Coca-Cola will launch a version of its signature drink in the US made with cane sugar days after Donald Trump said he had spoken to the company about the move. The iconic beverage is sweetened with cane sugar in Mexico but has been made with high-fructose corn syrup in the US since the 1980s to save costs. However many US consumers, including Mr Trump, believe the Mexican version tastes better. The US president, known to be a big lover of both Coke and its diet variety, posted on his Truth Social platform last week that he had been "speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so". He added: "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 didn't confirm the move at the time but said it would share details on new products soon. In an earnings release this morning, the company said a version of its flagship drink made with US cane sugar would be available on the American market later this year, Sky News' US partner network NBC News reports. The drink will complement Coca-Cola's existing product line in the United States, the company added. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola chairman and chief executive James Quincey said in a conference call with investors today that the move shows the company is expanding its product range "to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences". He added: "We appreciate the president's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand. "This addition is designed to complement our strong core portfolio and offer more choice across occasions and preferences." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the Coca-Cola announcement. In the US, Coca-Cola made with cane sugar is colloquially known as "Mexican Coke" as it is often imported into the country from its southern neighbour. Sky News' US correspondent Martha Kelner is one of those who prefers the so-called "Mexican" variety. She told the Trump 100 podcast last week: "In support of the president of the United States on a very important issue... Coke in Mexico is way better than Coke in the US, there's no doubt about it." Coca-Cola in the UK and other European nations is mostly sweetened with beet sugar but some cane sugar is also used, the company said in 2011. Is sugar-switch a 'MAHA' move? The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative has pushed food companies to alter their formulations to remove ingredients such as artificial dyes. A report by the MAHA Commission, a panel convened by Trump and tasked with identifying the root causes of chronic disease, has earlier said substantial consumption of high-fructose corn syrup could play a role in childhood obesity and other conditions. However, while taste preferences may differ, the health impact of cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup is reported to be essentially the same. Mr Kennedy has been critical of the amount of sugar consumed in the American diet and has said that updated dietary guidelines released this summer will advise Americans to eat "whole food". Trump's Coke habit The US president reinstated his Diet Coke button to the Oval Office when he returned to the White House for a second term in January. He presses it to order a delivery to his desk. In 2012, Mr Trump wrote on social media that Diet Coke "makes you happy". During the same year he wrote on Twitter, now called X, that the "Coca Cola company is not happy with me - that's okay, I'll still keep drinking that garbage". More than a decade later in January this year, Mr Quincey travelled to Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and presented him with a custom bottle commemorating his upcoming inauguration.
