Coca-Cola is shaking things up with a new way to enjoy its classic drinks — and it’s all about smaller sizes and old-school sweetness.
Starting early next year, the company will roll out mini 7.5-ounce cans of its most popular sodas to U.S. convenience stores, Reuters reported. Fans can expect to see Coke Zero Sugar, Cherry Coke, Sprite, Fanta, and other flavors in the new tiny cans. In regions where Diet Coke dominates, that version will be available, too.
Joel Bishop, Coca-Cola’s president of commercial leadership for North America, said the move is meant to attract price-conscious customers and those who want fewer calories without giving up the fizz.
“Affordability and recruitment are what we’re trying to do,” Bishop said. “There’s not a lot of under-$2 offerings.”
The mini cans, priced at about $1.29 each, pack 90 calories — far less than the 240 calories found in a standard 20-ounce bottle. Mini can multipacks have already been available in grocery and big-box stores, but this is the first time they’ll be sold individually in convenience stores.
Coca-Cola is also reintroducing something nostalgic: Coke sweetened with cane sugar in glass bottles. According to Bishop, this idea had strong backing from U.S. President Donald Trump, who pushed for a return to the old-school formula.
The Atlanta-based company hopes these changes will spark new interest and help reverse a slowdown in demand, particularly as spending among Hispanic consumers has dropped in recent years.
Many customers have already been turning to “Mexican Coke,” known for its cane sugar sweetness and glass bottles, which fans say tastes better than the high-fructose corn syrup version.
While Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has claimed high-fructose corn syrup contributes to chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, most medical experts say the real key is cutting back on added sugars overall — no matter the source.