Latest news with #DietCoke
CNBC
3 hours ago
- Business
- CNBC
5 things to know before the Wednesday open: Trade deal, egg prices, new member of memeland
Investors are turning their attention to earnings reports from Tesla and Alphabet due after the bell. They are the first megacap tech companies — a group that's been closely watched due to its market leadership in recent years — to release results this quarter. Tesla's report comes as traders continue assessing the business ramifications of CEO Elon Musk's political involvement. For those keeping score, it's the worst-performing "Magnificent Seven" stock so far this year. Meanwhile, investors are wondering what Google parent Alphabet will have to say, as the search and advertising landscape continues to shift amid the artificial intelligence boom. Big news on the tariff front: President Donald Trump announced what he called a "massive" trade deal with Japan on Tuesday. As part of the agreement, Trump said in a Truth Social post that there will be 15% "reciprocal" duties on Japan's goods, and that Japan will invest $550 billion into the U.S. The president said in the post that it was "perhaps the largest Deal ever made." The news comes ahead of the White House's Aug. 1 deadline for U.S. trading partners to start paying Trump's steep tariffs. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed before the bell on Wednesday, following the announcement. Follow live market updates here. Egg lovers who were left scrambling from shortages earlier this year should be able keep calm and carry on. Producer Cal-Maine said in its earnings report on Tuesday that its average number of laying hens in its fourth fiscal quarter of 2025 climbed 18% compared with the same period a year prior. What's more, Cal-Maine saw breeder flocks grow 48% at the end of the quarter versus a year ago, and the total number of chickens hatched during the three-month period jumped 56% year over year. While the Mississippi-based company acknowledged that future bird flu outbreaks — like the one that recently roiled supply — cannot be predicted, Cal-Maine said the data bodes well for shoppers hoping to see the staple food item on grocery store shelves. Over the last few days, the biggest companies in the soft drink industry have announced new offerings to woo increasingly health-conscious shoppers. The first headline came from PepsiCo, which on Monday shared plans to launch a prebiotic version of its namesake cola this fall. Pepsi's beverage will contain three grams of prebiotic fiber and five grams of cane sugar. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola said Tuesday that it will release a version of its titular soda made with cane sugar in the U.S. — also set for a fall debut. Coke has sweetened its soda in the U.S. with high-fructose corn syrup since the 1980s, but cane sugar is a familiar product for the company as it's already used for soft drinks in markets like Mexico. Believe it or not, there's a political angle here: Coca-Cola's announcement came nearly a week after Trump — an avid fan of the Diet Coke brand — said he was talking with the company about using cane sugar in its U.S. products. In Tuesday's edition of this newsletter, you learned about Opendoor Technologies, the real estate e-commerce company that fit the profile of a meme stock. The latest name to join the meme stock ranks is one you're likely much more familiar with: Kohl's. (Yes, Kohl's.) The stock soared more than 37% in Tuesday's session with no clear catalyst, to use Wall Street lingo. However, as CNBC's Gabrielle Fonrouge pointed out, the stock has become a topic du jour on the popular Wall Street Bets Reddit page, given its high level of shorting interest and status as a household name. Opendoor investors, on the other hand, had a bad day, with shares finishing Tuesday's session down more than 10%. —
LeMonde
6 hours ago
- Health
- LeMonde
Trump urges Coca-Cola to use cane sugar, sparking backlash from Midwestern corn producers
Would you rather have corn syrup or cane sugar? That question has been on Americans' minds since Coca-Cola confirmed on Tuesday, July 22, that it would now produce a portion of its sweetened beverage using cane sugar in the US market. Donald Trump, a well-known fan of Diet Coke – which substitutes regular sugar with aspartame – spilled the beans on July 16, praising the shift by the Atlanta-based company. "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," the president said in a message posted on his Truth Social platform. "This will be a very good move by them – You'll see. It's just better!" High-fructose corn syrup has come under fire from Trump and his health secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., who has made the fight against junk food his top priority. "MAHA wins," Kennedy posted on X on July 19, referencing the acronym MAHA – modeled after Trump's MAGA ("Make America Great Again") – which stands for "Make America Healthy Again." But is that really true? Kennedy declared in April: "Sugar is poison." No one disputes this in a country plagued by endemic obesity, and all experts agree that it's necessary to reduce sugar consumption. "What makes soda unhealthy is that it's liquid sugar, providing empty calories with no nutritional benefits. Swapping one type of sugar for another does nothing to make soda healthier," Eva Greenthal, a researcher at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told CNN.
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Coca-Cola plans US cane sugar alternative after Trump push
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Coca Cola currently uses high-fructose corn syrup for many of its US products. WASHINGTON - Coca-Cola on July 22 said it would release a version of Coke in the United States made with US-grown real cane sugar, a move requested by President Donald Trump. 'We're going to be bringing a Coke sweetened with US cane sugar into the market this fall, and I think that will be an enduring option for consumers,' said CEO James Quincey on a call with analysts. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) for many of its US products – a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda. Mr Trump last week said that the company had agreed to use cane sugar in the United States version of Coke. 'This will be a very good move by them – You'll see. It's just better!' Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. Coca-Cola at the time did not confirm the move even if it said it appreciated Mr Trump's 'enthusiasm' for its brand. In announcing the new option, Mr Quincey insisted that the main Coke product would still be made with corn syrup, with the cane sugar version offered as an alternative. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport Opinion Most companies onboard wrong – here's how to get it right Life Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath's bat-biting frontman turned reality TV star, dies aged 76 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Mexican Coke – which is made with cane sugar – is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more 'natural' flavor. The US 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, Mr Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office that summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. 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 Mid-western region that has been a stronghold of support for Mr Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose, but differ at the structural level. Those differences don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes, according to research. Mr Trump's preferred Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame – a compound classified as a 'possible carcinogen' by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. AFP
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola leaned on marketing to navigate choppy economic waters in Q2
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Coca-Cola saw organic revenue grow 5% in Q2 despite global unit case volume declining by 1%, per an earnings report. The company still expects to deliver 5% to 6% organic revenue growth this year. Marketing campaigns were cited by executives as contributing to the growth of different brands, including original Coca-Cola, Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke. The beverage maker is navigating a volatile global economy and recently announced plans to use U.S. cane sugar in its signature beverage, a change first announced by President Donald Trump. Dive Insight: Coca-Cola's Q2 earnings, which beat Wall Street's expectations, demonstrate how the CPG giant is driving growth despite facing different challenges around the globe. The company's organic growth rate is in line with its guidance for the full year even as volumes soften. '[While] the external environment continues to be dynamic, and there is no doubt that much uncertainty remains in the downhill, we remain growth-orientated,' said CEO James Quincey on a call discussing the results with investors. 'We're continuing to pivot our plans as needed, and we are harnessing our all-weather strategy to deliver on our growth ambitions.' Part of that 'all-weather strategy' rests on marketing, which executives cited as bolstering a number of brands during the quarter. The company used contextually relevant advertising to push messages of value and affordability in Q2, and saw volume growth for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Fanta, Fairlife, Bodyarmor and Powerade. A relaunch of the 'Share a Coke' campaign was activated on more than 10 billion bottles and cans in more than 120 countries and included over 30,000 names tailored to local markets. The effort contributed to single-serve transaction growth in the category and helped Coca-Cola Zero Sugar see double-digit volume growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. Meanwhile, Diet Coke's 'This is My Taste' campaign, which was inspired by social media insights, contributed to the product's fourth consecutive quarter of volume growth in North America. Coca-Cola's marketing was also a source of productivity-related savings that improved the company's margins. The marketing transformation that the company has undertaken for the last few years is finding not just effectiveness via digital and segmented advertising, but also efficiencies in advertising production and media buying, Quincey explained. 'They're going to need to make investments in different areas of the company to drive future sales, but they also like to get productivity enhancements to offset some of those investments so… they can grow the top line and improve margins,' said Dave Novosel, senior bond analyst Gimme Credit. 'The fact that they've been able to do both is encouraging… The advertising productivity is a big part of that.' Coca-Cola's marketing transformation has also helped the company quickly test ideas, share learnings and scale campaigns across its portfolio. To that point, the company saw consumer perception improve significantly in Mexico as it launched initiatives like its 'Juntos Posen' campaign and an activation around the World Cup. The use of targeted, contextual advertising also helped Coca-Cola push back on claims about how its product is made that have dogged the company in several markets and demographics. The company also made official plans to expand its flagship product with an offering made with U.S. cane sugar as a way to offer consumers more choices. The plan was first announced last week by President Trump. 'As you may have seen last week, we appreciate the President's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,' Quincey said on the earnings call. Recommended Reading How Coca-Cola's marketing transformation led to new Smartwater campaign
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Coca-Cola confirms cane sugar version coming to the US
Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US 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 US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not 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 on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US 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 US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not 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 on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US 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 US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not 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 on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA Coca-Cola says it will add a cane sugar version of its trademark cola to its US line-up this year, confirming a recent announcement by US 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 US instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Coke did not 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 on Tuesday. "We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options." Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other US drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. In the US, Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar is already available at a higher price. Unlike in other countries, Coca-Cola drinks containing sugar have been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in US production since the 1980s. The syrup is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. It has been criticised as unhealthy primarily by Trump's Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump himself is known to drink sugar-free Diet Coke, which contains sweeteners. Nevertheless, he wrote last week that everyone would soon realise that Coca-Cola with cane sugar was "just better". "We're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving," Quincey said. "It's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things." Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the US since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its cola - as PepsiCo did this week - Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fibre in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1 per cent globally and 1 per cent in North America but Coke said on Tuesday that pricing rose 6 per cent for the April-June period. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which registered a growth in volume of 14 per cent. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. Global case volumes of juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4 per cent, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3 per cent as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. with DPA
