In the United States, weight loss medications and non-alcoholic alternatives are causing consumers to hesitate in purchasing sodas. However, Coca-Cola reported strong second-quarter earnings, buoyed by robust global demand, leading the beverage company to increase its full-year projections.
Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey expressed satisfaction with the results during a statement, highlighting solid growth in both revenue and operating income in a shifting market. Nonetheless, the company experienced a 1% decline in volume sales in North America for the quarter. Quincey attributed the decrease in the U.S. division primarily to “softness in away-from-home channels,” which encompass various products such as water, sports drinks, coffee, tea, and soda.
This decline was somewhat counterbalanced by the popularity of Fairlife milk and Coke, which ranked first and second in retail sales growth, respectively. To address the volume drop, Coca-Cola is collaborating with restaurant chains to incorporate its soda into combo meals. The company is reportedly partnering with McDonald’s to enhance the fast food chain’s $5 meal deal, which includes a soft drink.
Despite the challenges, Coca-Cola’s performance surpassed Wall Street expectations, reporting $12.4 billion in revenue for the second quarter, translating to about $0.84 per share. Analysts had predicted revenues of $11.76 billion and about $0.81 per share.
The company has revised its outlook for organic revenue growth, now estimating it between 9% and 10%, an increase from the previous forecast of 8% to 9%.
Meanwhile, Pepsi is facing similar challenges in engaging U.S. consumers who are increasingly opting for products focused on weight loss and healthier options. In early July, Pepsi attributed its lackluster second-quarter performance to a series of product recalls.