As consumers' tastes and preferences change, Coca-Cola New Zealand is acting to help Kiwis consume less sugar. With a change in the recipe that reduces sugar levels, alongside more low and no sugar offerings, the company want to be transparent.
Since 2015 Coca-Cola New Zealand has reduced the sugar content across the entire drink portfolio by 13 percent, the goal is for this number to reach twenty percent by 2025. The company is currently on track to achieve this, with one in every two Coca-Colas sold containing no sugar.
Four in ten drinks purchased across the entire range are low and no sugar. The Fanta Orange recipe now has 35 percent less sugar, and Schweppes Sparkling Duet Orange & Lemon has 26 percent less. Their sales of low and no sugar drinks have increased 23 percent in the past two years.
The Coca-Cola company stand by their long-time policy not to market beverages to children. They are also committed to the NZ ASA Children's and Young People's Code. They are also a founding signatory to the NZ FBC's public commitment to only directly sell water to primary and intermediate schools and avoid selling sugar-sweetened soft drinks or any energy drinks to secondary schools.
On product packaging, Coca-Cola continues using the voluntary Health Star rating system and is transitioning to using the energy star icons. They believe that understanding nutritional information shouldn't require serious homework.
