The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry
.png)
Following a surprising endorsement from US President Donald Trump, Coca-Cola has confirmed it will launch a cane sugar-sweetened version of its flagship drink later this year – alongside its existing high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) formulation.
James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, gave Fox News an exclusive first look at a prototype of the new product during an interview earlier this week. The prototype – shown in a glass bottle reminiscent of the popular Mexican Coke – highlights the company’s shift toward offering a ‘cleaner’ label version of the classic drink.
Quincey clarified that final packaging has yet to be decided: “That is one of the things we are just finalising. What to put on the front. Where to put that it contains US cane sugar. Just so everyone is clear. It may end up being just ‘Original Taste’ with ‘US cane sugar’ underneath – although marketing is trying to get more creative.”
Packaging the new formulation in glass would align with Coca-Cola’s other cane sugar-sweetened lines, which typically retail at a higher price and are often targeted at premium outlets and hospitality venues. Whether this new version will follow suit in terms of pricing remains unconfirmed.
Despite the higher cost of cane sugar compared to HFCS, Quincey described the move as a “really attractive commercial proposition,” noting that Coca-Cola has been working closely with US sugar producers to secure supply ahead of the anticipated autumn rollout.
The announcement follows Trump’s social media post, which claimed: “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”.
Initially, the company thanked the president for his support but later confirmed it would introduce a cane sugar option to complement, not replace, the original product.
The development also appears to dovetail with the US government’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative, aimed at reducing reliance on highly processed ingredients. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has previously criticised HFCS as “a formula for making you obese and diabetic,” although scientific consensus maintains that HFCS and cane sugar offer comparable nutritional value.
Adding a cane sugar variant without overhauling the existing recipe will likely be welcomed by US corn growers, who have benefited from HFCS dominance since the 1970s. The US is the world’s leading corn exporter, with more than 9,000 jobs tied to corn refining.
🥤How will a move away from HFCS impact the food and beverage industry? Find out more in our latest exclusive here.🥤
However, as consumers increasingly shift towards reduced-sugar or sugar-free beverages, the success of a cane sugar Coke will depend on whether it aligns with modern health-driven preferences or appeals more to nostalgic taste and premium positioning.
Coca-Cola has yet to confirm an exact launch date, but the product is expected to begin rolling out in autumn 2025.
See the full interview with Fox here.
