In the United States, consumers are increasingly opting for weight loss medications and non-alcoholic drinks, leading to a decline in soda purchases. Despite this trend, Coca-Cola reported strong second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, buoyed by significant global demand for its beverages, which prompted the company to raise its full-year forecasts.
Coca-Cola’s CEO, James Quincey, expressed optimism about the company’s second-quarter performance, highlighting solid revenue and operating income growth in a shifting market. However, in North America, the company experienced a 1% decline in volume sales during the quarter. Quincey attributed this downturn to “softness in away-from-home channels,” impacting categories including water, sports drinks, coffee, tea, and soda.
Part of the volume decline was mitigated by growth in the Fairlife milk line and its flagship product, Coke, which ranked first and second in retail sales growth during the quarter. To address the sales decline, Quincey mentioned plans to collaborate with food chains to integrate its soda offerings with combo meal promotions, specifically mentioning ongoing efforts with McDonald’s to enhance a $5 meal deal that includes a soft drink.
Overall, Coca-Cola’s performance exceeded Wall Street expectations, posting $12.4 billion in revenue for the second quarter, translating to earnings of about $0.84 per share. Analysts had anticipated revenue of $11.76 billion and earnings of approximately $0.81 per share. The company has adjusted its forecast for organic revenue growth to between 9% and 10%, an increase from its previous guidance of 8% to 9%.
In a similar vein, Pepsi has faced challenges in appealing to U.S. consumers, who are gravitating toward products that support weight loss and healthier lifestyles. A Gallup poll has indicated that young adults in the U.S. are consuming significantly less alcohol than before. Earlier in July, Pepsi attributed its lackluster second-quarter performance to a series of product recalls.