‘Exploring natural sweeteners is our number one R&D priority’: Coca-Cola South Pacific

Australia looks to ‘next generation’ of Coca-Cola Life

By Rachel Arthur

- Last updated on GMT

Coca-Cola Life markets include US, Europe, Argentina, Australia & NZ. Coca-Cola Life. Pic: Sweden can / iStock / Tommy Alven
Coca-Cola Life markets include US, Europe, Argentina, Australia & NZ. Coca-Cola Life. Pic: Sweden can / iStock / Tommy Alven
Coca-Cola South Pacific and Coca-Cola Amatil are exploring the ‘next generation’ of Coca-Cola Life, further reducing calories in the beverage. 

It follows Coca-Cola Great Britain’s announcement last month that a reformulated version of Coca-Cola Life, with further reduced sugar content, will be launched in its market in April.

Coca-Cola Life was launched in Australia and New Zealand ten months ago.

New types of stevia

The current version of Coca-Cola Life in Australia, which is sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia-leaf extract, has 35% less sugar and kilojoules than the flagship Coca-Cola beverage.

Coca-Cola Life was initially launched in Argentina and Chile in 2013, followed by a number of other markets including the US and UK. It was launched in Australia and New Zealand in April last year.

Coca-Cola South Pacific says the drink “plays an important role in [its] strategy to offer more choice”​ to consumers.  

Coca-Cola Life (current Australian version)

Energy: 285kj / 68 Cal per 250ml serving. 114 kj / 27 Cal per 100ml.
Sugars: 17g per serving. 6.6g per 100ml. 

In June 2015 Coca-Cola Life represented 2.5% of total trademark volumes in Australia that month.

A spokesperson told BeverageDaily: “As new types of stevia become available this allows us to reduce kilojoules even further, without compromising on taste.

“Even before the launch of Coke Life it was always our plan to explore a next generation of Coke Life with even fewer kilojoules but the same great taste.

“We are always innovating when it comes to our products and exploring natural sweeteners is our number one R&D priority, for both Coca-Cola South Pacific and Coca-Cola Amatil.”

Coca-Cola Great Britain announced last month that it will release a new version of Coca-Cola Life with a further reduced sugar content (now containing 45% less sugar and calories, as opposed to the launch recipe which had a third less sugar and calories).

Coca-Cola South Pacific and Coca-Cola Amatil's reformulation would apply to Australia and New Zealand only, and no details on when a new product may reach shelves are available. 

Coca-Cola's global 'Taste the Feeling' campaign,​ which was launched last month, aims to unite all Coke trademark brands and extend the appeal of the full calorie flagship drink to Coca-Cola Light / Diet Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola Life.  

Related topics R&D Soft drinks Coca-Cola

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