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The company previously announced in July that it would add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to the U.S. market.
WASHINGTON — Coca-Cola has officially begun its transition to using US cane sugar in its cola following a push by President Donald Trump.
The company confirmed the rollout on Tuesday for 12-oz single-serve glass bottles in “select U.S. markets.”
“For over a century, the Coca-Cola Contour Glass Bottle has been an icon of refreshment and connection. This fall, we’ve introduced a new 12-oz single-serve glass bottle in select U.S. markets, offering consumers a classic and timeless way to enjoy their Coca-Cola Original Taste made with U.S. cane sugar,” a spokesperson for the company said. “This launch reflects our ongoing commitment to giving people more ways to enjoy the beverages they love.”
The confirmation comes after Coca-Cola’s Chief Financial Officer told Bloomberg that the rollout has been slowed due to supply chain issues with US cane sugar.
“It’s going to be a measured roll-out,” Murphy told the outlet on Tuesday. “There is only a certain amount of cane sugar available in the United States.”
Murphy also said the company has seen issues with its ability to ramp up capacity for its glass bottle production. Coca-Cola will have a “phased rollout” in a few markets before scaling the transition out in 2026.
“If you look at the success of Mexican Coke in the United States, it’s a combination of the product and the package and we’re very keen to offer that same combination using American cane sugar,” Murphy added.
Trump made his first public push for the change in July, posting on Truth Social that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the U.S., which has been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s. Coke didn’t immediately confirm the change at the time, but promised new offerings.
Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey then confirmed that the soda company 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 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 U.S. drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. Coca-Cola has also sold Mexican Coke, which is made with cane sugar, in the U.S. since 2005.
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