Coca-Cola Co. to introduce Diet Coke with Splenda

<p>The Coca-Cola Co. said Monday it will begin selling Diet Coke sweetened with sugar substitute Splenda in the spring.</p><p>Diet Coke with Splenda will have a distinct label with the name of the sweetener on it as well as a yellow streak. The world's largest beverage maker will continue to sell traditional Diet Coke, which is flavored with aspartame, separately.</p><p>Diet Coke with Splenda is expected to be launched in the second quarter, the Atlanta-based company said in a statement.</p><p>The launch follows Coke's rollout of other flavors of Diet Coke, including lime, lemon, cherry and vanilla.</p><p>Offering more varieties is part of the beverage giant's effort to boost sales in North America.</p><p>Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. plans to reformulate its single-calorie drink, Pepsi One, to sweeten it with Splenda. The launch of the reformulated drink is planned for March, spokesman Dave DeCecco said. Its Diet Pepsi drink is sweetened with aspartame.</p><p>Splenda has grown in popularity since its introduction in 2000, appearing in everything from soda and ice cream to candy and jams. Demand for it has been spurred by a surge in anti-sugar diets such as Atkins and South Beach.</p><p>Splenda is sold to consumers as a table and baking sugar substitute by McNeil Nutritionals, a Pennsylvania-based unit of Johnson & Johnson.</p><p>Coca-Cola shares rose 3 cents to $42.50 in mid-day trading Monday on the New York Stock Exchange. Pepsi shares fell 55 cents to $54.76 on the NYSE.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x2866550)</p><p>HASH(0x28665f8)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/2/151956