Coca-Cola will launch a version of its flagship cola sweetened with real cane sugar in the U.S. this fall, the company announced Tuesday — confirming a claim made last week by former President Donald Trump.
Trump had posted on social media that Coca-Cola agreed to swap high fructose corn syrup for cane sugar in its main product, a formula change many consumers have called for. The beverage giant has used corn syrup in U.S. Coke since the 1980s.
While the company initially declined to confirm Trump’s statement, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said in a call with investors that the new product is part of a broader strategy to give consumers more variety.
“We’re expanding our offerings to reflect growing consumer interest in differentiated experiences,” Quincey said. “We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our brand, and we’re using the full range of sweetener options available to us.”
Coke already uses cane sugar in some U.S. beverages, like Simply lemonade and Honest Tea, and has sold Mexican Coca-Cola — made with cane sugar — in American stores since 2005. Competitors PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have offered cane sugar versions of their sodas in the U.S. since 2009.
Quincey hinted the company is open to further innovation, such as health-conscious options. When asked about rival PepsiCo’s new prebiotic cola, he noted Coca-Cola is already testing a fiber-infused Coke in Japan.
On the business side, Coca-Cola posted better-than-expected results for the second quarter of 2025. Net income jumped 58% to $3.8 billion, and revenue rose 1% to $12.5 billion, with higher prices helping offset declining volumes.
Key highlights:
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar saw a 14% boost in sales volume, while traditional Coke volumes were down slightly.
- Global case volumes slipped 1%, with juice, dairy, and plant-based drinks down 4%.
- U.S. sales to Hispanic consumers rebounded after falling earlier this year due to false social media rumors about the company’s cooperation with immigration authorities. Quincey said the issue has been largely resolved.
The company also revised its full-year earnings outlook, now expecting 8% growth in adjusted earnings per share — at the lower end of its original forecast. Coca-Cola earned $2.88 per share in 2024.
Despite the positive earnings, Coca-Cola shares dipped 1% in early Tuesday trading.
