Coca-Cola is testing a new blend of sweeteners aimed at lowering the calorie counts in sodas, Sprite Select and Fanta Select, following on the heels of its rival, PepsiCo Inc., which introduced the 60-calorie Pepsi Next at the end of March, according to The New York Times. For the full story, click here.
Editor’s Insight: The big cola companies continue to seek ways to stem the decline in their core offerings.
While alternatives to carbonated beverages overall continue to grow, the core carbonated drinks still command the lion’s share of the cold beverage business. Hence, the demand for core beverages carries a major impact on the segment’s performance.
The Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC), which studies beverage data, reported liquid beverage refreshments business slowed in 2011 following a mild increase in 2010. BMC reported beverage sales increased by 0.9 points in 2011, compared to a 1.2-point growth in 2010. BMC attributed the slowdown to higher prices in 2011 as consumers responded to price increases. 05-16-12 By Elliot Maras
