KANSAS CITY — Popular products are undergoing reformulations to keep pace with evolving consumer preferences, from “better-tasting” zero-calorie Coca-Cola to organic Lunchables to clean label Red Vines candy.
The Coca-Cola Co.’s new Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is a no-calorie soft drink the company describes as “the new and improved Coca-Cola Zero.” Consumer testing of the new recipe, which is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame K, took over a year.
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| Stuart Kronauge, business unit president of USA operations and senior vice-president of marketing for Coca-Cola North America |
“We’ve used our in-house innovation capabilities to make the great taste of Coke Zero even better and a lot like a Coke,” said Stuart Kronauge, business unit president of USA operations and senior vice-president of marketing for Coca-Cola North America. “To achieve this, we optimized the unique blend of flavors that gave Coke Zero its real Coca-Cola taste in the new and improved Coca-Cola Zero Sugar recipe. It’s delicious, refreshing and our best-tasting zero-sugar Coca-Cola yet. We’re confident our new and improved Coke Zero Sugar recipe delivers a great taste that Coke Zero fans in the U.S. will love. We also hope that people who love the unforgettable taste of Coca-Cola, but want less sugar, will try it and enjoy.”
Pizza Lunchables have undergone an organic makeover. The Kraft Heinz Co. is launching Lunchables Organic USDA certified organic lunch kits that are free of artificial preservatives, ingredients, flavors and colors. The new organic options are available in two varieties: Extra cheesy pizza and pizza with pepperoni.
Catering to the clean label craze, The American Licorice Co. is launching new Red Vines Made Simple. The candy contains just five ingredients: sugar, wheat flour, citric acid, a blend of naturally berry flavors and radish extract for color. Red Vines Made Simple is Non GMO Project verified, fat-free and preservative-free and “mimics the taste of Original Red,” the company said.
